<p>with the big undergraduate body, it is much like a public school; I also think the class size
is big, from a few hundred to a thousand ?</p>
<p>can anyone convince that ( class size
is big, from a few hundred to a thousand ) ?</p>
<p>yeah well because it is such a large school there are so many more opportunities available for intellectual growth and play. It is because it is so big that it is a great institution teeming with students from different studies and backgrounds who all share a common expression to learn.
By the way thanks for pointing out the obvious in a thread with an unfounded title; I hope that this lackluster quality of expository writing doesn't stay with you forever, and the fact that it has stayed with you since middle school speaks volumes. I'm not sure that even a one-on-one with a professor could cure someone unnamed from ignorance and mediocrity.</p>
<p>Cornell's student body is not all that big. I grew up in a town with a public school that has 35,000 undergrads which is about 2 1/2 times what cornell has, and it is only the fourth or fifth largest school in the country (I think ASU has like 53k ugrads). I believe there is only ONE class (psych 101) that has over 1000 students and that is because they do not limit the enrollment since the professor is famous and it is a very popular course. I am taking 4 classes right now, three have less than 50 students and two less than 30 (one only has 22). My largest class which is the only in a lecture hall have about 150. Don't open your mouth unless you know what you are talking about, not that I could understand half of what you wrote anyways.</p>
<p>Considering that all seven of Cornell's undergraduate colleges are smaller than Dartmouth -- yet offer an intellectual breadth umatched by any other private school in the country, I don't think Cornell's size is anything to worry about.</p>
<p>My title might be misleading, but I really appreciate all of your inputs as I do not like big
classes ( over a few hundred students)</p>
<p>I was surprised. Does this kind of guy really roam around Providence? Or is he just another Brownie wannabe?</p>
<p>Most of the big classes aren't the way you are probably imagining them to be. The professors still generally ask questions to the class and still call on anybody who raises their hand. I find I have pretty much the same face time in a 40 person class as I do in a 500 person class. You definitely notice a difference when the class is supposed to be a seminar though.</p>
<p>@brown
your title is very misleading, you state it as a an attack: i thnk cornell is overrated. If you were looking for some reassurance about Cornell you might have clarified a bit.</p>
<p>ChaoticOrder,</p>
<pre><code> I agree with your comments, but how to delete my post ?
</code></pre>
<p>I'm not really sure the value in coming onto this forum and slandering another school based on heresay.</p>
<p>If you're curious about class size at Cornell, ask about it. Then, wait for a response before formulating an opinion. Hopefully as you enter college you will develop this level of critical analysis.</p>
<p>Very few classes are large after the intro level in most programs. The larger lectures tend to have breakout sessions where you have 10-20 students in close interaction with the professor.</p>
<p>Almost all of my classes were very small. I built close relationships with professors that last until today - spent time at their homes on the weekends, having a drink after classes. </p>
<p>Cornell's not that big, and the breadth of the school's offerings are perfect for someone like me whose intellectual interests included but could not be contained by a traditional liberal arts education. On a personal level, I was also exposed to people from such divergent worldviews and experiences that that alone was worth the price in terms of learning how people from vastly different socioeconomic cultures than me think and operate.</p>
<p>Please withhold your judgments in the future. Cornell's nothing like you think it is.</p>
<p>Class sizes were large at Cornell, when I attended. This is (was) a relative negative of the school, IMO, compared to some others. At that time. Positives included the depth and breadth of curricular offerings. The shear amount of stuff you can learn there is amazing, and cuts across its colleges.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, you compare your options, which for each college will include a number of positives and negatives, and then make your selection. There are other pluses, and other minuses. About which many people may differ.</p>
<p>Interestingly some of the most popular courses were huge lectures with hundreds of people in them. At least one of those guys, Maas, is still teaching intro psych there. I never took it, but I've heard his lectures are amazing. The class has like 1,000 students or something. And there's still a waiting list to get into it. Is this right, you current people?</p>
<p>Upper level courses in one's major are typically much smaller. But how small depends on the subject. And perhaps these same upper level courses may be smaller yet at some other places.</p>
<p>IIRC class size was the main ding on Cornell in those rankings everyone throws around; otherwise it would be ranked yet higher. So I guess they must have found some other rather significant positive factors.</p>
<p>hi applejack</p>
<p>your answer is really helpful; thanks :)</p>
<p>You're welcome. </p>
<p>I don't spend a ton of time on this forum anymore, but when I do I always find these misconceptions pop up and do my best to try to explain them from someone who was there. </p>
<p>People aren't quite sure what to do with Cornell because it is a private school founded on a very egalitarian mission and one with broad curricula ("any person..any study") that runs contrary to the elitism and rather narrow liberal arts selections that many people associate with the "Ivy League". It wasn't until I studied at Harvard that I gained a profound respect for the unique experience and education Cornell provided me that a school like Harvard never could have.</p>
<p>I, personally, think it should be respected for opening the door to world-class education across social boundaries and conventional disciplines (even if some classes are larger), but others have different ideas.</p>
<p>monydad and applejack</p>
<pre><code> thanks for sharing your "real" experience , that really helps me.
</code></pre>
<p>
[quote]
runs contrary to the elitism and rather narrow liberal arts selections that many people associate with the "Ivy League".
[/quote]
What do you mean by this? I remember from the Harvard info session that they offer 3,500 courses, and Dartmouth 2000, in tons of areas.</p>
<p>According to 2007 data posted by collegehelp recently, Cornell offered 58 majors vs, Harvard 36. Dartmouth offered 40.</p>
<p>That there would be more should be no surprise, since Cornell has 7 undergraduate colleges with particular areas of focus, not just a college of arts & sciences and an engineering program. </p>
<p>What may be a surprise is that numerous offerings of its various colleges may have appeal that crosses college boundaries. As an Arts & Sciences student, I found it in my interest to take a number of courses in various of the other colleges, and would gladly have taken more.</p>
<p>These extended offerings sweeten the pot for many, many people there. Even those who don't realize this will be the case going in.</p>
<p>But Harvard and Dartmouth evidently have relatively a lot for Arts & sciences colleges+ small engineering programs by themselves; many such colleges have less than that.</p>
<p>PS: though I shared my experience, and I stand by it for the time, my experience is dated and should only be relied on to the extent it corroborates contemporary accounts.</p>
<p>I attended Cornell and I have a child there now. In this economy, it seems hard to justify the expenditure of any money, but I can honestly say that every penny I send to Cornell is well spent. </p>
<p>My child LOVES Cornell and has found that there is a place for everyone. Each student is able to find small groups of people with common interests in many different areas. My child has a variety of small groups that share the same interests, which has enabled my child to have a wide group of friends and learning experiences. </p>
<p>When I went to Cornell, I did have a few larger classes, but the sections personalized the classes and my child is having the same experience. At every university, certain introductory classes will be larger, but most classes will be small. Potentially because Cornell is in a rural environment, the professors tend to go out of their way to get to know students. </p>
<p>My Cornell education has opened literally hundreds of doors. It is a well-regarded institution that has produced thousands of powerful alumni. I had no idea how valuable my Cornell education and contacts would be when I attended in 19xx, and in my opinion, I undervalued Cornell.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What do you mean by this? I remember from the Harvard info session that they offer 3,500 courses, and Dartmouth 2000, in tons of areas.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>anyone can make an elective course with a fancy title but at cornell you actually have the diversity in courses b/c professors are not just teaching with a liberal arts focus, but with a focus on their particular college/school and major/department within cornell...</p>
<p>professors are teaching you to think (liberal arts focus) with real world issues CALS/HOTEL/ILR/ETC</p>
<p>@monydad
Cornell must offer more than 58; are you sure that's not just CAS?
Also, Harvard offers 46 concentrations, not 36.</p>
<p>look up collegehelp's thread on this subject, all I did was report his findings.</p>