<h2>HELP--Please </h2>
<p>In need of desperate help</p>
<p>I attended Cornell my first year. Many parents might remember me from a while back. Well, here are my dismal results. I had a 'rough' first semester (I perceived it that way) at least. I did fine academically (~3.6 gpa), and second semester, I really knocked it up a notch in terms of my performance (~3.95) in 5 courses. I really didn't like Cornell, and I did put in transfer applications. However, the results weren't that great. I basically got admitted to every school I got accepted to last year. I didn't get into one 'reach' school. I ended up with 2 waitlists at Duke and Columbia. And I got rejected at one of them the other day. I REALLY did not enjoy my experience at Cornell. It was a combo of Ithaca, the weather, and the intensity of the workload there. I feel like I need to be closer to a city. However, I am really NOT thrilled with my alternatives, which are still Northwestern, Wash U, U Chicago, and Rice. At this point, I am leaning towards NU, which I don't know is a smart thing to do. In fact, I feel like I am inclined to go here b/c it seems to offer a full collegeg experience, when I am probably a better fit for Chicago as a person. I have very mixed feelings. I really wanted to go to Penn, Duke, or Columbia, and not one of them came through, even though I made it to the waitlists at 2 of them (both took under 5 percent in competitive pools). What should I do? Is it worth transferring for the sake of transferring if Northwestern isn't really my dream school. Should I go back to Cornell and try next year, but apply to more reaches and less matches. After seeing the results of other CCs on the transfer board, I wish I had applied to Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, etc, since admissions are so random. I am so torn. By the way, I am a New Yorker, and I am in the college of arts/sci at cornell, and my parents and so do I think it is a waste of money to be paying so much to attend Cornell, when so many of my friends are paying about half. What can I do? Switch schools at cornell to study something I don't want to study? </p>
<p>I would appreciate any advice, as I am in a desperate situation right now.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Bball</p>
<p>anyone--alexandre or slipper, or any CC veteran!!!!</p>
<p>i'll try to come across this as non-biased as i can, and i will hopefully be able to help you out with your decision. </p>
<p>here are some questions that you might want to ponder ...</p>
<p>what about WUSL, UChicago, the rest appeal to you in a regards that Cornell does not?</p>
<p>Why do you want a city? Have you actually taken the time to go out with a group of friends and explore downtown ithaca, the commons, some vineyards, or some of the parks down by the lake? Have you just thought 'no city, this sucks' or have you taken the time to utilize the things that are unique to ithaca (outdoor type stuff, ie - mountain biking, kayaking, sailing, hiking, etc). </p>
<p>Are you 100% positive you've taken advantage of the social offerings Cornell has? For instance, are you the 'only study' type, or have you taken the time to join a few clubs or intramural sports? I did this and it was a great experience and helped me make a bunch of new friends. </p>
<p>do you really believe that you will thoroughly enjoy your experience at one of your listed schools over your current school?</p>
<p>truth is, you didn't seem very enthusiastic about Cornell before you arrived on campus and you don't seem very enthusiastic about any of the schools that you are considering as a transfer. What makes you think that things will truly be different the second time around?</p>
<p>I hope that maybe i've added a small dose of input to help you out with your decicion. I'm sorry to hear about the rejections but congratulations on your acceptances. Many would beg to be in your situation with the "fall back plan" being Cornell University.</p>
<p>thanks gomestar---and good luck to yourself</p>
<p>If you did not like the "intensity of the workload" at Cornell why do you think it would be better at Columbia or Penn? Have you visited these "lesser" schools you were accepted to?
You seem very conflicted, why did you take the time to apply to these places if you don't like them?
You sound like you chose the top schools to apply to: Cornell, Columbia, Penn, Duke, and you "wish" you had applied to Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth.
A dream school isn't necessarily an ivy - a dream school is a school where you fit.</p>
<p>I suppose I count as a CC veteran. :p First, I'd like to point out that you're only a rising sophomore- if you decide to stay at Cornell and REALLY don't like it next year, you can transfer for your junior year. </p>
<p>
[quote]
It was a combo of Ithaca, the weather, and the intensity of the workload there. I feel like I need to be closer to a city. However, I am really NOT thrilled with my alternatives, which are still Northwestern, Wash U, U Chicago, and Rice. At this point, I am leaning towards NU, which I don't know is a smart thing to do. In fact, I feel like I am inclined to go here b/c it seems to offer a full college experience, when I am probably a better fit for Chicago as a person.
[/quote]
Well, one can't really say that Ithaca is Chicago, but the rest of your reasons need examination. Rice is certainly much warmer than Cornell, and WUStL is too most of the year. Northwestern gets its fair share of nasty weather, though. The workload will be intense wherever you go. Cornell is tough, but the other three will certainly not be a walk in the park. Your mention of the "college experience" is interesting. College is something you can only do once- but Chicago will be there for the rest of your life (presumably). Durham's not that great of a city, but there's so much on campus that it doesn't matter much; I assume the same holds true for Cornell. As far as paying tuition goes, I don't see any problem as long as you're happy at Cornell. Cornell is a world-class university, but paying a lot of money to be unhappy isn't smart. Make a list of advantages and disadvantages (there will be plenty) for each college. Are there things at Cornell you didn't take advantage of? It took me most of my freshman year to even <em>begin</em> to find my niche, but I keep finding things that make me so glad I chose the way I did. There's reasons you chose Cornell in the first place- have these changed in some way?</p>
<p>also, i WOULD NOT take the route of staying at Cornell with the idea of applying to harvard, yale, stanford, dartmouth, columbia after your junior year. Then, you'll only be prestige hunting and will probably end up unhappy for not picking a college that'd be a good fit.</p>
<p>bball87-
You had a great freshman year academically. 3.6 and 3.95 are outstanding gpas at Cornell. Maybe your expectations for yourself are unreasonable. I can understand the workload stress. I thought I was going to lose it a few times. But, freshman year is the hardest. I also question whether you would be much better off at any other college. It is possible that you are just a little depressed or have post-freshmanyear-traumatic stress disorder. lol </p>
<p>Do one of the statutory colleges have a major you would like? That would save you money.</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Maybe you should try to decompress this summer and give Cornell another chance. Perhaps you need to build some fun into your schedule. Maybe you will have settle for a 3.3 or 3.4 but you might be happier.</p>