Pre-Med: Columbia vs. Cornell

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>So I am having to decide between Cornell and Columbia for early decision. I am trying to choose (my decision is needed in a couple days for certain "sport" reasons) but it is getting quite hard.</p>

<p>I LOVE the city, the urban diversity, and the small campus of Columbia. </p>

<p>But Cornell has a better science program. And it allows more options for electives (no core curriculum - which I haven't decided if I am for or against)</p>

<p>I have visited both and like both campuses. I could see myself at both. The main argument in my head is "Cornell has a better program, but Columbia is in NYC"</p>

<p>So my questions are: Does it really matter that Columbia is not as science focused? Would it affect my admittance into Med School? Will the Core eat away any chance I have at exploring anything besides sciences?</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>They are both good schools, and I see that you have already made some good considerations. Yes, Cornell is stronger in the sciences, but Columbia is not too far behind either. So in terms of getting a solid premed education, you will be fine at either school. </p>

<p>Your next point about electives is definitely very interesting. Because the premed track is pretty intense, you will be taking almost only premed and core curriculum courses at Columbia. This is not to say that your schedule will be full of electives either at Cornell, since you are premed, only that you will have much more options as to what those classes are. Cornell offers about three times as many courses as other similar schools, so if you really do have a lot of intellectual curiosity, you will be happier with the choices at Cornell.</p>

<p>Another thing that is very important, as many CCers have agreed upon, is the campus. Cornell and Columbia have very different campuses, probably as different as campuses can be. But you've seen that already, so I won't say too much about that. Except that everything at Cornell is more campus-centered so you have much more student dance groups, literary magazines, a capella groups, political clubs, ethnic associations, theatre productions, and people just hanging out in the dining halls discussing philosophy, and at Columbia students look toward the city for all their amusement.</p>

<p>And one more thing: Columbia is, by it's nature, a much smaller campus so lab space in Columbia is rather limited and they don't welcome undergrads as much into their labs. Something to think about if you want to get involved with undergraduate research.</p>

<p>So overall, both schools will serve a premed well, though I think Cornell will be a good fit for you. I am trying to be unbiased, but it's hard because I had four very wonderful years in Ithaca romping around gorges and waterfalls and eating delicious food. Anyway, you will just need to make your decision upon the how much you want to be in the City for undergrad. (Oh, Cornell has a medical school in New York City...just to let you know)</p>

3

<p>if you like both then base your decision on acceptance rates at this point =OoO</p>

<p>but yeah...i'd go with cornell b/c at cornell you'll have more options as far as upper level science courses...</p>

<p>you want to take as much bio as you can and not useless artsy core courses...</p>

4

<p>Since you are making a decision NOW because of sports, I assume that you are a recruited athlete. I would look at <em>fit</em> for both schools, and the team you'd be joining. You'd get a good pre-med education at either school -- so look at the fit for location and athletics.</p>

5

<p>don't forget you can live for the rest of your life in NYC after you graduate. And trust me, living in NYC with a job is much more fun than living in NYC as a broke student.</p>

6

<p>Thank you all very much!! Your information and opinion is much appreciated!!</p>

7

<p>haha I beg to differ with gomestar. My life was consumed by work at Goldman over the summer even though I had more money than ever but I enjoyed being a student in NY way more than an employee.</p>

<p>Cornell has serious perks, and I love the community, but if you really enjoy the city and have friends there already, I would go with fit and choose Columbia. I went to NYU and transferred Cornell and even though I made the right choice, I miss the city like no other and go home once a month. Ironically, I actually have more to do at Cornell than I did in the city, but, like I said, it's just a personal fit. It really just comes down to urban vs. rural because everything else between the two schools are seemingly equal (even food: columbia=city; cornell=top 10 in nation)</p>

<p>Like everyone else said, both are awesome schools for pre-med and Cornell may fit you more academically because of the breadth of electives, but don't center the next four years of your life on just academic criteria. Hope I didn't confuse you even more.</p>

<p>Just my unbiased 2 cents.</p>

8

<p>well, you worked at Goldman Sachs. When you do that, you give up your life and kiss away your free time to enjoy NYC with money.</p>

9

<p>I won't deny that you'll have a lot of work to do at Goldman and that they pay very well for your time spent, but a lot of people utilize the exit opportunities that come bundled with the prestige of working there and a lot (think 45%) of employees leave after three years to utilize those opps. Law school, private equity, your own hedge fund, anything. Just a fun fact: the admissions director of columbia is actually a MD at goldman.</p>

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<p>Yeah, i'd totally give up my life to work at Goldman.</p>

11

<p>Here's a description of med school:
1. 100-170 people in your graduating class; by week 3, you're tired to seeing the same faces over and over again
2. Med schools are generally located in urban areas, for better or for worse. That means ridiculously expensive housing.
3. Small campus. You'll pretty much spend the entire year in the same lecture hall. </p>

<p>If your college experience resembles your med school experience, you definitely got ripped off in college. Join frats/sororities and play intramural ultimate frisbee. Hook up with a random stranger. Go sledding down the slope during the winter. You're not going to be able to do any of that in med school. Enjoy campus life while you can.</p>

<p>If you're into clubbing or going out to bars or going to museums, great. That's all we do in med school. It's not hard to get together people to do that stuff. You will have plenty of time to do that in med school. However, it's hard to run an intramural sports league when your entire graduating class is only 150 people. It's hard to find a good slope to slide down in the city. Your hookup choices are a) Random Bar Girl (and her accompanying STD's) or b) classmate (NOT a good idea). And Phi Rho Sigma, the med school frat, can't use funds to purchase alcohol. Do the college stuff in college and do the city stuff in med school.</p>

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<p>Jay1020- I'm confused... I thought you posted in prior threads that transferred from St. Johns - and chose Cornell over NYU Gallatin. I'm too lazy to search, but I thought that was you.</p>

13

<p>CayugaRed usually makes this point, but I'll reiterate the statement above that at Cornell you can truly have the once-in-a-lifetime quintessential college experience. </p>

<p>Ithaca is a quirky, isolated collegetown with beautiful natural features perfectly suited for a period of withdrawal, personal reflection, and intellectual inquiry that is often associated with college. Cornell life is very focused on Cornell, which can be good or bad. I found it to be good. </p>

<p>Big cities are seriously a lot more fun as a paid professional able to get into bars and you'll have plenty of time to spend in them over the ensuing 10-60 years. Cities sort of become an addiction. People start to need their urban fix and that level of distraction and entertainment to keep their mental sanity. I certainly fell into that category after graduating and moving to one. I'd visit my parents in the suburbs and just pace their house. I couldn't stand it. Made me appreciate that period of withdrawal sitting under waterfalls and wandering around that Cornell afforded me.</p>

<p>So, if Cornell's a better school for you than Columbia, I don't think you should let NYC be the deciding factor.</p>

14

<p>I agree with norcalguy and applejack... I applied ED to a city school (Wharton) and got rejected - but it all worked out in the end. I am so happy at Cornell. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. I think it's an idyllic college experience in all ways.</p>

15

<p>Nicely said, Applejack. The appeal of a place like Cornell is that you probably will not get another opportunity to spend a couple of years in an isolated but completely stimulating environment.</p>

<p>That said the fact that you are a recruited athlete definitely means you need to consider the team environment. Get to know the coach and the other athletes well before you commit -- having a team you like and respect will make or break the experience for a college athlete.</p>

<p>P.S. It never hurts to choose the school with more academic options, just in case you want to explore a little bit more...</p>