is it worth it?

<p>Ive been to cornell and loved the campus, and the surrounding area but there just wasn't anything in Ithaca. I think UMich would help me better in the business world as well with there rly good football team... something the average person can relate to rather than Big Red hockey (which is fun to watch)
I havent applied to either but what do yall think?</p>

<p>I would definitely not write Cornell off only because it's football team isn't nationally televised. I can appreciate the UMich enthusiasm but...this is your education we're talking about here. You could still be a diehard Michigan football fan at Cornell. Sure connections and likeability matter in business, as in most fields, but the education that you'd be getting at your school would probably matter a bit more, especially nowadays. </p>

<p>Technically, Michigan's undergraduate business program is ranked a little higher than Cornell's (in USNews), which, if you are interested in business, may sway you mid-westward (bad joke). However, it's only a few spots and Cornell's AEM program is very highly regarded as well. On the flip side, Cornell overall is ranked quite a bit higher than Michigan (also USNews). Regardless, rankings are not that reliable and I wouldn't really go by them when choosing a school, but if you want to get down to it, there they are.</p>

<p>Basically, if you think that you could NOT survive at Cornell because there is nothing to do in Ithaca (which is not completely true...), then go to Michigan, another great school. But if you only like Michigan better than Cornell because of its football team, then I would definitely reconsider this as the deciding factor in your choice of school (although it can certainly be a factor). Both schools are great, just figure out where, on the whole, you would fit in better.</p>

<p>Go with UMich. You're absolutely right about the fact that there really is nothing in Ithaca, including decent restaurants near campus. You seem to be someone who values extracurricular entertainment. You'll find that at UMich. You won't find it at Cornell.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>wrong on so many levels!!! Go to visitithaca.com and there's a few magazines they give out for free if you're looking for stuff to do. Believe me, there's plenty to do off campus at Cornell. Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than any other cities in the US - and they're ranked among the best in the US according to SEVERAL food and dining guides. </p>

<p>"extracurricular entertainment. You'll find that at UMich. You won't find it at Cornel"</p>

<p>not if you're friends with this kid here. Come on, there's over 700 registered student clubs on campus, I dont know where you get this stuff from. You can look all of them up online at rso.cornell.edu. Do a bit of research to see what you would like. </p>

<p>"if you only like Michigan better than Cornell because of its football team, then I would definitely reconsider this as the deciding factor in your choice of school"</p>

<p>I agree!</p>

<p>At least apply to both schools even if you like one better than the other.</p>

<p>"Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than any other cities in the US"</p>

<p>I'm willing to believe that. But then why aren't any of them located nearby campus? Try staying on campus for fall break once and see if you enjoy eating Subway and/or Collegetown Bagels for four days straight.</p>

<p>Gomestar, you throw out impressive sounding numbers (700 registered clubs...oohhh wow!) but fail to realize that a quarter or more of those clubs are what we can consider inactive (very few to no active events). The advance publicity for events is terrible...Cornell's event website is still reporting stuff from 2005. And the events that happen are rarely ever non-academic. Watching Cornell's sports teams get creamed by crappy opponents is not fun. Most of the students here are trashed on the weekend so probably don't remember what was fun or not fun about the weekend.</p>

<p>"But then why aren't any of them located nearby campus? Try staying on campus for fall break once and see if you enjoy eating Subway and/or Collegetown Bagels for four days straight."</p>

<p>You realize that you pass maybe 8-9 restaurants on the way to Subway, right? Off the top of my head I can name Rulloffs, Stellas, Peace, CTP, The Thai Place, Alladin's greek place, plus the half-dozen I havn't been to before you even reach Subway ... I only go out to eat maybe twice a month at most yet even I know there's a ton of restaurants in collegetown. All you have to do is open your eyes - Rulloff's is even right next to college town bagels and Alladin's is right accross the street from Subway. </p>

<p>"fail to realize that a quarter or more of those clubs are what we can consider inactive"</p>

<p>I don't see where you get this number from and don't think it's true, but lets say it is. You're left with between 500 and 550 clubs. If you can say where you get this 25% from, maybe you'll have a bit more credibility. </p>

<p>"Most of the students here are trashed on the weekend so probably don't remember what was fun or not fun about the weekend."</p>

<p>Actually, numbers released from a study by Cornell indicate your "most" is actually a minority and that most don't drink on the weekends. The greek system is large, yes, but don't confuse this with "most students are drunk all weekend."</p>

<p>Save your "rah rah" Cornell spirit for the football games, Gomestar. I'm presenting it like it is. The fact remains Cornell cannot compete with UMich.</p>

<p>Actually, ALL of centuria's posts seem to be quite negative towards Cornell. He may be "presenting it like it is" as long as you're a bitter disgruntled unhappy student. </p>

<p>What's ironic is that for all of centuria's whining about his poor FA package, the FA package I got from Michigan was a lot worse than from Cornell. Michigan offered me $3,000 in loans and expected me to pay $32,000+ upfront. Cornell at least offered me $13,000 in grants and another $6000 in loans.</p>

<p>I've noticed the same thing about centuria's posts. He/she has complained about the food on and off campus, though half a dozen food magazines and student reviews have said the exact opposite ... so much for "presenting it like it is." Just a whiney poster. </p>

<p>Also, my girlfriend's financial aid package was better at Cornell than any other of the schools she applied to - and this includes those she got a huge academic scholarship too as well. I couldn't comment on my own situation, I don't apply for aid.</p>

<p>Ithaca has some great restaurants, and some right near campus. (Some personal favorites are Japanese, Thai and tapas restaurants.) But restaurants shouldn't be the deciding factor in choosing a college. Ithaca -- a small city -- along with Cornell's large campus and Ithaca College nearby is a great college environment with plenty of on-campus and other social activites. I just heard on the Ithaca radio that Lewis Black, for example, will be in Ithaca shortly and other comedians and groups routinely perform there. Jon Stewart was there two years ago. There is plenty to do there beside watch sports teams. There are numerous active clubs so even if some are now inactive, there is ample opportunity for interested students to get those going again or to create new clubs. </p>

<p>Don't underestimate Cornell's campus environment.</p>

<p>i agree. who the hell cares about restaurants. i've been to both towns and they didn't seem hugely different to me, really. i like them both.</p>

<p>Having grown up in midwest and now having a son at Cornell.....I would take CU or UM anyday of week.</p>

<p>And as for bashing local food in Ithaca, I tried Boatyard Grill last Fri Pm....EXCELLENT
and then Garcia's Mexican on Route 13 on Sat and would rate it highly (and cheap)</p>

<p>But the bottom line is WHERE will you get a better education? My $$$ is on Cornell. Go Big Red!</p>

<p>Is Garcia's that place near Cortland with the colorful sign? I've seen it a few times and have considered going there.</p>

<p>I just finished reading the article in Gourmet magazine on the hot truck....I would wager, too, that Cornell's undergrad business is more of a direct line to this nation's financial centers than is Michigan's, and that within four years the still-nascent AEM program in Ithaca outstrips Ann Arbor's in both prestige and efficacy.</p>

<p>gomester....garcia's has a colorful sign but its on the south end of town.Next to a Jiffy Lube and the Comfort Inn. (The Walmart is nearby too) I guess it opened about 3 months ago and was packed (most college crowd) on Sat PM
Give it a shot</p>

<p>Ross>AEM
Cornell Undergrad>Michigan Undergrad (Rankings)
Debatable between which is the better school - I applied to both.</p>