<p>I already posted this in the Penn forum, but I wanted to know from the Cornell side too....</p>
<p>I'm having a really hard time deciding which to apply early to.
Penn had always been my dream school because of Wharton, but now that I decided that I want to major in something else, I'm looking for a school with a good overall education, because I'm not sure what I want to major in yet. (Not any type of science or engineering - which is what Cornell is good at, but I am hoping that Cornell is known for other good things too?)</p>
<p>I like the fact that Penn is in a city, but Cornell's collegetown is growing on me.</p>
<p>Can anyone give advice as to the differences/similarities between the two?</p>
<p>academically, the two schools are probably nearly identical. There isn't a better choice of which one will give you a "better" education. There are certainly certain aspects such as Architecture, some hard sciences and engineering that Cornell may excel in, though you appear to be interested in something more general. </p>
<p>One advantage that Cornell has is its size. Penn is a big school as well, though Cornell is a bit larger and (most importantly) has more offerings as far as courses and majors. As a student at Cornell, you can take most any classes in any college so it's possible to be an english major and take a few cooking classes from the hotel school, an engineering class, an agricultural sciences class in CALS, an art history class in AAP, or an international economics class in ILR. I point out these things since they are unique to Cornell. This would be an edge for Cornell, though it may be only a minor detail to you in the end. </p>
<p>A big difference is the location. As you know, penn is in a city. Cornell is in a small city but with a huge collegtown all around the campus. Penn doesn't seem to have this around campus, and the areas around campus seem really really skeevy and possibly dangerous ... I was at Penn for a bike race last spring and I had to pull out due to the fact that I got a flat tire from running over a hypodermic needle. This was right next to campus, by the way. If you think you'd want to go deep into the city a few times a week (not sure why you would), Penn would be the place to be. Cornell, on the other hand, isn't in a large city. It's a town that caters hand and food to college studnets for the most part. Some people say it's in the "middle of nowhere" but they fail to realize Ithaca itself is not "nowhere." Everything you'd ever need from malls to shopping centers to large retail outlets are here. Collegetown is full of student housing and is often full of students all nights of the week (the later in the week you get, the later studnets are out). Ithaca also has a huge selection of A+ restaurants. My rationalization is this: Ithaca is located in a beautiful region at the tip of a gorgious lake. Many people from NYC buy expensive vacation homes on the lake's shore. You will most likely have to work in a big city when you graduate, so why not spend your college years in "vacation land" while you can afford it. </p>
<p>Most importantly, however, is to visit both schools. Like I said, neither school is an academic runaway from the other - they're probably identical. Either one will suit you perfectly for the education part. Base your decision on the vibe you get when you visit the school and choose on fit. There isn't a prestige difference either, though many confuse UPenn with Penn State, especially the farther you get away from the northeast. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision, feel free to ask any specific questions about the Ithaca area or the Cornell experience as well.</p>
<p>Since you're unsure of what you're doing yet, Cornell definitely has more offerings and opportunities. Penn may be in a large city, but Cornell's HUGE collegetown setting makes up for the city.</p>
<p>Check into the housing situation at each school. One very favorable aspect to Cornell is that all of the freshman are housed together on north campus with convenient facilities.</p>
<p>Visit!!!!!! I cannot stress that enough right now! I visited Cornell and it has made me absolutely positive of my decision of applying there ED. I also visited my other top choice (MIT, which I actually prefered before visiting both schools... I loved MIT, but Cornell just has a better overall feel to it..).</p>
<p>EDIT: The food at Cornell is great as well ;) Also, from what I have gathered, Cornell might be willing to shell out more money for you than Penn.</p>
<p>Actually, I am visiting Cornell this week.. I'm from the west coast.
(I will also be visiting Penn)
Hopefully, like Moose0884, I will be able to solidify my decision as well!!</p>
<p>Good luck! Im from Arizona, so the trip wasn't as easy as it would have been if I lived in New York or Rhode Island or something :/</p>
<p>I would suggest that after taking a campus tour and information session, that you, alone (so..without your parents or whoever), walk the campus for an hour or two. </p>
<p>By the way, my tour guide was Alex, he was really good ;)</p>
<p>do a campus tour, very important. Like moose said, also try to walk around campus for a little bit, get a feel for the environment. Here are some suggestions I would do-</p>
<ul>
<li>Take a look inside of one of hte libraries, preferably the A.D. White room in Uris library.</li>
<li>Check out a dining hall, in particular the one in Appel Commons on north campus. OR go to eat in collegetown. There are dozens and dozens of great places to eat. Check out collegetown bagels in particular as it's a very popular student hangout. I mention this since you are putting emphasis on the college-type town. </li>
<li>Check out some of the gorges - they are beautiful! </li>
</ul>
<p>If you have any specific questions about where things are and so forth or good restaurant suggestions, just ask!</p>
<p>one thing that I should warn you about penn though...</p>
<p>it has Wharton - but to many that's it. I have friend both at the Wharton school and at the arts and sciences school, and there appears to be a type of divide between the two types of students. The Wharton ones a pretentious and go abouts their lives like they are significantly better than the arts people, while the arts people sometimes feel that they are constantly put second next to the Wharton students. It's like this weird social divide that my friends at both schools have noticed ... you're either in Wharton or "that other school." </p>
<p>I don't want to dissuade you from considering Penn, but it's an important social aspect that they will not discuss on the tours.</p>
<p>my cousin who is in arts/sci said that many kids in AS and ENGR believe they are better than the others in the cornell community (specifically over Hotel, Hum Ec, ILR, Agrilcutlre, etc...)</p>
<p>Bball, quit trolling around the Cornell forum. </p>
<p>yeahhhbaby - bball is an ex-Cornell student who decided to transfer out initially stating he "wanted a school with higher SAT averages." He is looking to climb up the prestige latter and based on his other posts he wants to transfer to what would be his 3rd school before he's a junior in college. In fact, classes have only been in session for a week or two and he's ALREADY decided that his new school isn't good enough. Do yourself a favor and ignore what he says. </p>
<p>I will tell you for a fact that I have NEVER met any student at Cornell who has thought that because they were enrolled in one college as opposed to another than they assumed they were "better" than the other students at Cornell. I don't doubt that they exist, but I am surrounded by 14,000 Cornell undergrads each and every day, and this hasn't once been the impression I've picked up. Besides, the stats from college to college are very similar to begin with anyways, so arguing that one college is better than the other is like arguing whose a richer billionaire.</p>
<p>bball you are absolutely pathetic. How many SN's do you have now? I've been at Cornell for 3 years and while the people you describe might exist I have met no one who has expressed that sentiment to me. In fact, the only person I know who has ever indicated that they think they're better because they're at A&S/Engr instead of the other colleges is YOU.</p>
<p>If you're not sure where to apply ED then don't. Don't feel pressured to make a 4-year committment because you are worried about not getting in.</p>
<p>You guys should seriously stop attacking bball. You're making his situation worse. Both NW and Cornell are good schools, so no one should feel bad about going to either. Feel lucky enough that they actually accepted you. Think about the millions of illterates that can't even go to school.</p>
<p>That's wat we r saying fudge. The problem is that all bball does is complain and INSULT other people and schools. This is not tolerable on any level.</p>