Should I attend?

<p>At least here in Michigan, they say that one of the few places where MSU holds an advantage over Michigan is veterinary. A veterinary degree from MSU isn't going to hold you back anywhere.</p>

<p>Could you possibly take the MSU deal for two years then transfer to cornell??</p>

<p>if so you'd get your bachelors from Cornell and save thousands in your two years at MSU.</p>

<p>ok well whatever you decide good luck!</p>

<p>i must say that is an awesome package they offered. wait for cornell's fin. aid offer. And think about how much of a factor money is for you? I mean, if your family can pay for cornell easily, then i'd still go with cornell. as nice as the offer is at msu, cornell is ...cornell. sorry, lame argument. but just my 2 cents. and i totally agree with ace1054, if you can transfer. that's the best situation.</p>

<p>I'm pre-vet at Cornell right now. I'm a freshman and wasn't offered any special programs, but I got a position as a research assistant in the animal science department. Not only am I paid, but I'm learning things I would never learn in basic science courses. Since I started working about three weeks ago, I've learned how to do an immunohistochemistry (we're doing research on the effects of certain antigens of specific tissues) and my supervisors will actually use my results in their research papers. I've also learned how to extract granulosa cells from chicken ovaries. The research has to do with ovarian cancer, so after processing the granulosa cells, I have to prepare slides and stain the cells to observe the results. Lastly, I assist in performing necropsies on deceased chickens, which gives me great hands-on experience with anatomy - much more than doing the customary dissection of a frog in Bio.</p>

<p>Basically, I'm saying that the research opportunities at Cornell are fantastic. Although I'm only an assistant now, my advisor makes it clear that she's prepping me to conduct my own research in the next year or two, which would give me honors credit.</p>

<p>Lastly, if you plan on specializing in anything after vet school, you will most likely need to be a competetive applicant from a top vet school like Cornell or Penn to get accepted to the best internships and residencies. Cornell's vet school accepts almost 1/4 of their class from Cornell undergrads.</p>

<p>P.S. Let me know if you have any more questions about being pre-vet at Cornell.</p>

<p>Look at the brightside, should Cornell reject you, your decision has become easier.</p>

<p>It's important to see what kind of package Cornell offers you first.</p>

<p>The question is a variation of the common: "Would you be just an average player at the top team or the top player at an average team"</p>

<p>As for me, I would rather be the average player in the top team (and push myself to become a top player there).</p>

<p>"Would you be just an average player at the top team or the top player at an average team"</p>

<p>A top player on an average team has better chance of making it to the pros than an average player on a top team (maybe excluding the top couple teams)</p>

<p>ditto hopeful4cornell</p>

<p>dont forget, you might do very well at Cornell. </p>

<p>True, if you put in the same amount of effort at both school your cornell GPA would be alot lower, but work hard at Cornell and there isnt any reason why you shouldn't do well.</p>

<p>If the OP is serious about Vet though, its hard to go wrong with in-state tuition at Ohio State for vet school, and like I said their admissions staff are idiots. They'll give the higher GPA at MSU the edge. Penn or the top top schools won't though.</p>

<p>If your sole goal in attending college is to further your career goals (which would make the sports analogy pertinent), then you should seriously consider MSU. But if the four years at college is to provide you not only with a path to your chosen career, but also with a place to develop, mature, meet like-minded peers and have fun, then you should seriously evaluate both schools with these factor in mind as well. It would be sad, I think, to sacrifice the better college atmosphere (assuming you conclude that Cornell would provide this) just to get the higher GPA for vet school. Dedicated people will attain their career goals regardless of where they go to college.</p>

<p>great post Odyssey...</p>

<p>dear thelarson,</p>

<p>don't forget to consider the amenities at both universities. </p>

<p>cornell is very cold and in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>i don't know much about michigan state but, i know it's probably cold there too. </p>

<p>anyways, just don't forget to consider weather, location, etc...</p>

<p>Cornell is NO COLDER than any other college in the Northeast (Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, etc...) - somehow people don't choose to bash the weather in those locations...</p>

<p>As for "middle of nowhere" - Ithaca is located on Lake Cayuga in the beautiful Finger Lake Region...many people own vacation homes in this area...you're likely going to have to live in a big city to get a job once you get out of school...why not go to college in "vacation land" now instead of waiting till you're old and gray before you can afford a second home...just a thought...</p>

<p>fantastic thought on the location, wharf rat.</p>

<p>ah but those schools don't have lake effect snow and a giant hill to contend with</p>

<p>dcircle,</p>

<p>Your geography is a bit off...the places that get the big lake effect snow are on the northern tier, closer to Lake Ontario. Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse are the big snow cities...the southern tier is more normal...</p>

<p>The hill comment..yeah that's valid...really only if you live on West Campus at the bottom of libe slope...but its also very fun to sled down that hill!</p>

<p>Aren't there hills in Providence?</p>

<p>Wharf</p>

<p>I agree with what Alfonzo said originally, basically I would go with Cornell, you will regret the decision of going to MSU in the future.</p>

<p>"Should I attend?"</p>

<p>The short answer, given your situatin, would be YES. There is no doubt in my mind, but the decision is ultimately yours.</p>

<p>You should only go to Michigan if you feel that the school is a good match for you, and you really feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. </p>

<p>From personal experience, I had a nearly full ride at Union College, and 22,000 merit aid and a $3000 laptop from RPI. Cornell gave me slightly over 16,000 merit aid per year.</p>

<p>I almost went to RPI, but then realized I really wanted to go to cornell. I realized that in the long run $24,000 saved would be enough to buy me a decent car, but I'd much rather have a great four years at Cornell and a degree I will be incredably proud of when I leave. I felt it was important that I went to the school that I really wanted to go to, otherwise I'd feel like I'd sold my college experience. It was the best decision I've ever made. . .</p>

<p>follow your gut feeling and go with it. Do what's best for you.</p>

<p>Also really put that $2500 in perspective, you might find a research job here that would be comparable. Also in the long run, $2500 per year really isn't all that much especially compared to tuition room and board.</p>