<p>I just submitted all of my applications, and Princeton, Cornell, and MIT are my three top schools, but I'm not sure in what order. </p>
<p>I want to study engineering, probably mechanical or chemical. From an academic standpoint, I figure MIT will have the best programs. From what research I've done so far, it seems as if Cornell has better programs than Princeton for engineering, and it definitely seems to have more practical stuff (like with student teams like Formula SAE, etc.). Is this true? Also, I just kind of have a tough time thinking about turning down Princeton for Cornell if I get in there, but Cornell really does seem to be stronger in engineering. From an academic perspective, which is better for engineering - Cornell or Princeton?</p>
<p>For MIT, I've heard all kinds of things about how the students are all nerdy and spend so much time working and stuff. To what extent is this true? Sure I know I would have tons of work at MIT, but how is the social life compared to Cornell or Princeton? I'd like to have a good combination of academics and social life.</p>
<p>MIT actually has a really good social life since 50% of the guys are in frats, and as a friend told me, the people who go there aren’t always the people who partied a lot in high school… so they’re making up for it in college hahaha. I have a couple friends at MIT and none of them have complained- they all have a work hard, play hard mentality. I even have friends from other schools in the area go to MIT parties over ones at their school. There are definitely some nerdy, socially awkward students, but that’s true anywhere. I would probably agree that a good number of MIT students are quirky- in a good way, though.</p>
<p>I would say MIT for the same reasons as RML. Then Cornell, then Princeton. In my opinion, Cornell has the better engineering program and a lot more variety in the types of engineering they offer, in case you change your mind at any point.</p>
<p>“For MIT, I’ve heard all kinds of things about how the students are all nerdy and spend so much time working and stuff. To what extent is this true?”</p>
<p>Like navie64 said, MIT has quite a lot of crazy partiers.</p>
<p>Cornell is stronger than Princeton for engineering. In fact, Cornell is one of those schools highly identified as an engineering powerhouse. I just don’t know how anyone would turn down a Princeton offer for Cornell. Most students that turned down Princeton have done it so for HYSMC offers.</p>
<p>I actually know off 2 int’l boys (coming from different batches though) who have done it so. That isn’t a good number. But given Caltech’s reputation in engineering and physical sciences, and the quality of their students, I’m almost confident that a number of their students have also been admitted to its real peer schools (HYPSM).</p>
<p>I turned down Princeton for the Cornell to do my undergraduate in Civil Engineering. Cornell has a very strong engineering program. Although it is 250 miles away from New York, Ithaca is a very beautiful and lively town.
I think the new technology school opening at Roosevelt Island, NY will make Cornell a leader in technology & innovation discipline.</p>