<p>Hi everyone!
I have a strong interest in Biology with a focus on Pre-Med, and I've been thinking about attending Cornell for a while now after many of my friends have told me great things about the campus/courses. My extracurriculars include things that focus on science research, math honor society, and (community service also shows) communications (journalism, broadcasting/covering school events, newspaper, etc). I am out of state and I'm currently a Junior. </p>
<p>I've narrowed down the colleges to Human Ecology and CALS but I'm not completely sure which one would be a better fit for me/I have a better chance at. After looking at the site, I saw that a strong interest in agriculture is preferred for CALS and I fear that Human Ecology has a similar interest.</p>
<p>If anyone has applied to/currently attends either school, can you give me some feedback? What is your experience at that school and what things were you involved in when you applied? </p>
<p>Greatly appreciated in advance! :)</p>
<p>Hi! </p>
<p>If you’re interested in Biology, your choices are more specifically between Biology and Society in Human Ecology, Human Biology Health and Society in Human Ecology, Biology and Society in CALS, or Biological Sciences in CALS. You’ll probably take similar classes in all four. I recommend searching for the course requirements in each major (as an example, here’s the link for the majors in Human Ecology <a href=“http://www.human.cornell.edu/registrar/degree-progress/2014-2015-curriculum-sheets.cfm”>http://www.human.cornell.edu/registrar/degree-progress/2014-2015-curriculum-sheets.cfm</a>) which are all easily accessible with a quick google search, and deciding which set of requirements is the best fit for your interests. The Human Ecology majors tend to be more social science based, but I don’t know much about the CALS majors. </p>
<p>When writing your application, keep the key differences between the pre-med majors in mind and demonstrate why you selected the one that you did. For example, Human Ecology has the highest percentage of undergrads involved in research, so if you’re interested in that definitely indicate it on your common application supplement as a reason for choosing Human Ecology. Another way you can choose is by looking at the other classes/minors offered in each school. I think that in CALS you have to take quite a few credits within CALS but not in your major, so if you’re interested in Communications which is in CALS that could definitely be a reason to choose CALS (Bonus points if you can describe how you will use Communications classes as a doctor in your essay). </p>
<p>As with any major/college at Cornell, make it very clear why you are a fit and how that major will help you achieve your goals, spark your interests, etc. As a general rule, you have the best shot at acceptance to the major to which you can best demonstrate you are a great fit. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any more questions!</p>
<p>Hi! @erg2017 is completely correct about fit. Pick the major that fits you and your interests and passions, that’s what gives you the best chance of getting in!</p>
<p>I’m actually a biology and society major in CALS, while two of my friends are human biology health & society (HBHS) in HumEc and biology in Arts & Sciences. For your reference:</p>
<p>Biological sciences is offered in Arts and in CALS</p>
<p>Biology & Society is offered in Arts and CALS and in HumEc </p>
<p>HBHS is offered in HumEc</p>
<p>If, for example, you know you want to be a bio major, the classes you take for the major are identical (with maybe say, you need to take CALS stat instead of HumEc stat). What is different are the colleges distribution requirements, etc. </p>
<p>***ALSO: I am in no way interested in agriculture, nor did I imply that on my application. I’m actually concentrating in Public Policy with minors in Business and Law (pre-law student). It’s really about distribution requirements. </p>
You mention you have friends in the above… Is one school harder than the other? Is the workload the same or would you say CALS is more or less rigorous than Hum Ec?
@arubadude No, one school is in no way shape or form easier or harder than the other. The beauty of cornell is that while you need to take classes within your college (roughly 55 credits for CALS, i don’t recall the exact number for human ecology) you also have the remainder of credits to explore classes in any college. Consequently, neither CALS nor HumEC is ‘harder’ than the other–each college and your respect courseload will depend on your courses that you choose to enroll in, your major, your scheduling, etc. Do what you love and pick the college wit the distribution requirements for that college that interest you (majors that are cross listed are the same classes, but distribution requirements vary from college to college) and you won’t find the work load to be a burden. That being said–come prepared to work hard. Lmk if you have other questions 