I’m planning on majoring in Econ, but I’m not certain enough to say I won’t switch majors sometime.
I’m also an introvert, not really into the whole partying/Greek life/preppy atmosphere and all, although I’m not totally opposed to joining a frat or something.
Financial Aid is just about the same at both schools, both giving me enough aid to not have to consider going to a state school.
I guess my main concern is the atmosphere and culture at the schools. With academics, social scene, and everything else factored in, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Northwestern has more than its share of non-partying focused-on-studies types who self-identity as nerds. If this sounds like u, u will not be alone there. Don’t know about. Cornell.
I attended Cornell.
I raised my kids mostly in the midwest.
What I noticed from my kids’ shool was, the same exact kids who would have likely gone to Cornell if we’d been back east went to Northwestern.
The very same type kids, in every respect. IMO.
A couple like that also went to Wash U, but mostly Northwestern.
Of course there are undoubtedly some additional “types” at each U, reflecting the diferring mix and types of colleges at each university. But the core group is probably very similar, save for a different geographic representation balance.
Obviously, both are fine schools with excellent academics, professors, and students. However, two MAJOR differences clearly apply: (a) university size and (b) lovely suburban or truly rural venue. While you certainly know this, are either of these two pronounced variables important to YOU? If so, they (especially urban versus rural) are strikingly differences between Northwestern and Cornell.
As has been stated, the similarities between the two schools are many. Top Tier has noted one of the biggest difference is location. Cornell is in a beautiful but rural location with a fun college town within walking distance but that’s about all you can walk to, NU is a suburban town with a beach on campus and a fun college town within walking distance but also a major city (Chicago) with an easy pubic transit commute.
NU is on a quarter system, Cornell on a semester system. Both my kids have experienced each and prefer a quarter system, but again, that is personal preference.
And FWIW Ithaca is a city. Albeit a small city. It’s a college town. There is certainly rural around it. And in it too. But the point is,once you head down the hill from Cornell to downtown Ithaca you encounter a string of bars, restaurants, entertainment (eg movies) & shops on the Ithaca commons. Not bales of hay and tumbleweed, which is the image you might otherwise be getting. And the surrounding area has great natural beauty.
Another variable is that N.U. is pretty easy to get to (fly to O’Hare, train to Evanston), whereas to get to Ithaca it’s a bush pilot flight to a lake, then snowshoe it for 2 days to a trading post where you rent a.mule to get you the rest of the way there.
You’ll note, I specifically said “lovely suburban.” Isn’t that sufficient? My second reference was intentionally concise.
Ithaca (IMHO) is far more a town (almost a village) than a city (and I have been there hundreds of times, my cousin is 4+ decade professor at Cornell). However, the essential point is there’s almost nothing but woods (and small farms) for MANY miles around Ithaca, and that’s potentially very germane to the OP’s decision.
This is a real pain in the neck. Taking the blue line all the way into the city, then the red and purple lines back out to Evanston is at least a two-hour affair, maybe slightly less if you happen to be traveling during weekday rush when the purple line goes downtown. That said, a cab from O’Hare is still a lot cheaper and simpler than getting to Ithaca.
That’s probably,true, for most, if you have to fly there.
I don’t know where OP lives, did I miss that??
IMO generally people often prefer to drive, where that’s feasible. Or take a bus.
There’s a pronounced geographic tilt to attendance at most schools.
For example, last I looked (2007 numbers) over 40% at Northwestern were from the Midwest. 60% of Cornell is from the Northeast.
My guess is, a good chunk of the 60% are probably not flying there. Lots of the 40% too.
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There are certainly people who find it worth it to make the trip though. E.g., Over 11-12%% of Cornell students are from the west coast. But it’s certainly harder to get to than flying non-stop to O Hare.
As I reported before, most of the suitable midwesterners at my kids’ school in the midwest didn’t find it worth it. They went to Northwestern. Fewer than 8% of Cornell students are from the midwest.
We visited both schools and would recommend that you do the same. I really think that is the only way to make an informed decision. My D liked Cornell a lot but her overall impression was that the location was “isolated.” Yes, there is Ithaca for an occasional meal out but she concluded she might go stir crazy by her junior year. Now keep in mind that this is someone who predominantly applied to urban schools, so her ideal situation was to end up in a city environment, which she eventually did. The Cornell campus itself is beautiful and “polished” but D did find Ithaca a bit dreary.
My D went to a city too. Hated it, said she couldnt afford anything, didn’'t really feel like a college student, other complaints. Decided she wanted a campus.Transferred to Cornell and loved it there, did not go “stir crazy”, almost never came home because she was having so much fun up there, stayed on several years afterwards, till work caused her to seek new vistas.
This to me comes down to purely personal preference - can’t go wrong either way.
Hanna is right though - if you fly into O’Hare, take a cab to Evanston, don’t use public transport. But you can easily use public transport from Evanston into the city.
I’ve never done it, but if anybody cares, FWIW this is what I gleen are the most common approaches for getting to Ithaca if your trip involves plane flight:
Fly to Ithaca airport, or Syracuse airport then some sort of taxi/limo/car service.
From the vast preponderance of departure points this will require a connecting flight. Ithaca airport has few flights per day, which are expensive typically. Syracuse has lots more but is not JFK (or O'Hare) either. In such circumstances, bad weather cancellations/delays can cause real problems. So these are best booked for Spring/summer/early fall IMO.
-Fly to LGA or JFK, taxi to Manhattan then take the Cornell Campus-to campus bus from Manhattan right to the campus in Ithaca. Short Lines is cheaper, but takes longer.
If you are already a student: arrange with whichever of your friends are driving up from (NJ, NYC, Philly), fly there and drive up with them.
Someone who can/will rent a car would fly direct to [LGA, JFK, Newark, Philly}, rent the car there, then drive up. Or fly direct into Rochester or Buffalo and do same, if that is an option from where you live.
Though some people who you’d think would fly may not fly there. Some guy posted he takes Amtrak to Syracuse.
@moneydad (re post #10): Where in the world did anyone, every get the idea that “rural” equated to “nothing of any use?” Last time I checked, one thing almost every human has in common is the REQUIREMENT to ingest nutrition. Gee, I’ll bet none of that food was grown or raised in the local Safeway.
Here is the thing if you go to Cornell and study economics you will have hardship finding any networking abilities and internships in Ithaca. If you go to Northwestern in two to four years you will be able to attend the Kellogg School of Economics which is great and you will live close to Chicago where there are numerous job and networking sources than in Ithaca. Sure Cornell is great, I attended Cornell but it is isolated and most of its classes are very hard to transfer.
