Hey all! I am humbled to have been accepted to Scripps and Cornell (they let me know earlier so that I can attend their fly in diversity program), however, I am extremely conflicted between the two, and don’t know which one to attend. In all honesty, I don’t know my major, but I am heavily leaning towards a program/degree that is involved in the social sciences or anything social work like. I aspire to be a refugee aid worker one day, and have been looking deeper into the schools and both seem to offer relatively the same quality programs. I will attend the fly in program for Cornell, and will visit Scripps during break (its only an hour away). Although, I know in the end it’s my decision, I would really be grateful for your guidance and wise words. Thank you so much, and sending my best wishes to all!
You need to look into the classroom experience (and institutional) differences between an LAC and a Research U. Both are obviously fine schools but you will get more personalized attention from faculty at Scripps than C, and classes will be smaller than C. But C will have more institutional recourses. Then add variables such as east vs. west coast and that Scripps is a women’s college, and I guess you have to visit (as you will) to decide! good luck!
Scripps may be a women’s college but it will have all the resources and students of the Claremont consortium, so in essence it is a small college within a larger school. Best of both worlds. I also have many connections with the Cornell community that have given me the impression that the academics and atmosphere at Cornell are very similar to that at UC schools, particularly UC Berkeley. In the sense that Cornell’s classes are large and have many GE requirements to fulfill, so you don’t get to fully delve into your major until the 3rd year–half of college.
I personally feel that you would learn more and grow more intellectually at Scripps. If you can get past the difference in rankings, you may really enjoy Claremont!
Good luck, and congratulations.
I am a Scripps Alum, and you sound like a Scripps student to me. The classes are so small, and the access to Pitzer and the other schools seem like an ideal fit for you. Best of luck
Most Americans and people around the world have never heard of Scripps, but they have all heard of the Ivy League, of which Cornell is a part. You also are interested in social sciences – an area where an Ivy background can help, because some think tanks or government agencies or consulting groups etc may give preference to someone from an Ivy. With Cornell being a research university, you can seek out opportunities to conduct research with faculty on subjects that interest you, giving you an advantage when you apply for graduate school or an internship or job. Cornell is a much larger university as well, which means lots of alumni in positions of influence, that can help you get jobs later or otherwise further your career. While Scripps might be great in comparison to another LAC, I don’t think it holds a candle to an Ivy research university.
@mommyrocks , you have a point about the Ivy reputation opening doors… but then again, most people who are serious about the social sciences will go to grad school, and then it’s the “name” of the grad school that will matter. Scripps has all the top-notch resources of the 5C’s, excellent study-abroad and internship resources, and a great record for getting students into top graduate and professional programs. The leadership opportunities in terms of social justice initiatives, and the support students get for student-led projects, are extensive. I don’t think it’s wise to make an Ivy “name” a knee-jerk priority for an undergraduate education. Think about what you, as an individual, want to do and accomplish as an undergrad, and look at which institution will do the most to help you get there. Both types of institutions have their strengths - the important thing is to make sure those strengths align with your strengths and priorities.
@NoDAPL , congrats on both admissions! Are they financially similar for you? You’re looking at life goals where you’re not going to want loans that will force you to prioritize earning potential - plus you’ll need to take the possibility and potential costs of grad school into account.
My D also applied to both schools - got into Scripps with the JES Scholarship, but was waitlisted at Cornell. So, that simplifies that particular decision, lol, but she still has some options to weigh. We’re also going down to Claremont during spring break. Good luck with your decision!!
Congratulations to her that is so amazing! Both are financially similar (full ride at Cornell, but $3,000 at Scripps per year). I really don’t know how I am going to do this, it seems quite hard lol. But thank you for your advice. I was just wondering if you know how large the undergraduate class at Cornell or the student teacher ratio (really is): because as always, colleges say low numbers, but once you’re there, you can’t imagine how. PS: She’ll love it here at Scripps. The environment in Sunny LA- you can’t beat.
I applied to Pitzer (my dream school) but was waitlisted. It’s okay. I love Scripps and my heart’s telling me to choose it but I know Cornell is giving me a better financial package, and that’s a bit more luring. I really don’t know. Thank you for your advice. If I have more questions, may I contact you later on? Thank you so much!!!
@NoDAPL - you mean, may you contact me in particular? Sure, feel free to PM me.
It sounds like you’re from SoCal? So, of the $3K/year difference, at least half would be spent on air travel to/from Cornell. Basically the $ difference isn’t enough that it should swing your decision either way, in my opinion.
I truly think that whether a Cornell or Scripps/5C’s undergraduate education is “better” is very individual to the person. They have different strengths and opportunities - it depends what is important to you. No one person can actually avail herself of all the opportunities a college or university has to offer. It’s like choosing between two buffet restaurants - do you care that one has 100 entrees and the other has 30? Or do you care which one has more of your favorites? Either way, one stomach can only hold so much! 
There are students for whom Cornell is unquestionably better that Scripps. They may even outnumber the students for whom Scripps is better. But all that matters is what’s better for you. It sounds like you have a clear favorite, but you’re worried that you should make the other choice. It’s important to look at the reasons behind that “should” and see if they’re really better than your reasons for feeling the way you do. Each has things to offer that the other does not. What do you want and need, and what’s the better match?
My knowledge of Cornell isn’t firsthand, but I do have an older D who is graduating from Rice this year (tied in the USNWR rankings with Cornell, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt, for whatever that’s worth). There have been fantastic things about Rice, but it’s part of the reality that “average” class sizes are only averages - underclassmen for the most part will “pay their dues” in larger, lower-division classes before getting to the smaller, upper-division classes. My D really did not develop any personal relationships with the professors she took classes from until her junior year. If it’s important to you that your professors know your name and function as mentors from day one, Scripps will definitely offer more of that. I can’t necessarily say you would have no small classes in your first year or two at Cornell - you may have some, and it probably varies by major/program. But on the whole you will have to work your way up to the level where you get more individual attention.
That said, there are amazing, top-tier research programs at Cornell, and a phenomenal variety of course offerings and programs that a small LAC, or even five of them, can’t rival. The trick is deciding what your top-priority wants and needs are.
Any are good.