<p>Hey guys, I went to Notre Dame this past year and decided it wasn't for me. I've been accepted to Cornell's College of Arts & Sciences and Brown for transfer next year, planning to major in either Chemistry (with a Pre-med focus) or Math/Economics (with a finance and econometrics focus).</p>
<p>I visited Cornell over the past week and thought it was incredible, but I didn't get to meet many current students, so I don't know all that much about student life there. Brown seems terrific as well, but I don't really know much about it except that it seems academically less rigorous than Cornell (this makes it less appealing to me). Socially though, I don't know much about either of these schools, so I'd be interested to hear thoughts from current students.</p>
<p>I plan on playing club tennis and maybe joining a cycling club. I am looking for a dynamic, well-rounded student body with lots of interests outside of class and an ability to let loose and party (in moderation). I am an athletic and sociable guy, though I see intellectual pursuits as my foremost passion.</p>
<p>Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.</p>
<p>I think Brown would be a better option than Cornell, but that’s just my personal experience. Students at Brown report having a better social life but that may be because it’s in Providence vs. middle of nowhere Ithaca. Also, Brown is academically better than Cornell.</p>
<p>I’m graduating with my degree in chemistry from Brown in one week… if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.</p>
<p>FWIW, you could pretty easily do both chemistry and math-econ at Brown at the same time, especially if you do the chemistry A.B. I don’t really think that a chemistry degree is the path of least resistance if the goal is to be a doctor, and you’d be able to be pre-med while majoring in math-econ as well…</p>
What makes you say that? Just curious. The three guys I know who did math-econ or applied math-econ are doing pretty damn well-- one is making six figures next year, two are going to UChicago for econ grad school.</p>
<p>airbag, academically you can’t go wrong with either Cornell or Brown. I don’t know that I would agree that Brown is less rigorous, though you may get more grade inflation.</p>
<p>Socially, politically and in physical environment they are very different: it’s hard to imagine that you would be drawn to both equally. From the way you describe yourself you sound like more of Cornell type.</p>
<p>momrath, I think you are pretty perceptive, since that’s what I’m leaning towards right now. I feel like Cornell is more diverse than Brown and slightly less elitist/pretentious.</p>
<p>Cornell’s graduate programs are a bit more distinguished than Brown’s in sciences and <em>I think</em> economics as well, but I don’t know how relevant this is to an undergraduate education, except perhaps in course offerings and rigor.</p>
<p>Brown is probably the least pretentious and elitist of all the Ivies, in my experience. We’re generally the Ivy people apply to when they don’t apply to any other Ivy. Our program is unique enough that we attract people for reasons other than we’re a member of a football league and old.</p>
<p>As for diversity, it’s not something I have felt is lacking in my experience, but I’m not a student on the ground at Cornell to compare. Again, I do think each place is quite distinct and wherever you felt right when you were at the school is probably your best choice, but I doubt you’d be unhappy here based on your description.</p>
<p>I went to summer @ Brown and literally fell in love with the Brown campus, but I did feel like it lacked in some areas, but no campus is perfect. I also would like to add that Brown has basically no core curriculum which is really nice and gives you freedom no other college offers.</p>
<p>“Brown is academicaaly better than Cornell” wow, that is a broad, absurd statement. There is no difference between the 2, it’ll vary program by program</p>
<p>“I went to summer @ Brown and literally fell in love with the Brown campus, but I did feel like it lacked in some areas, but no campus is perfect. I also would like to add that Brown has basically no core curriculum which is really nice and gives you freedom no other college offers.” - NuclearPakistan1</p>
<p>Actually, there are other colleges with no core curriculum. I believe Wesleyan U and Oberlin College fit the bill, and there are several other Liberal Arts Colleges that have no core curriculum. What about Amherst?</p>
<p>They both seem great, but I am leaning more towards Cornell at this point. I really like Ithaca…modestmelody, why did you choose Brown and how have you liked your experience there, with the open curriculum, etc.? Also, socially, how is the party scene and off-campus culture?</p>
<p>I love Brown. I think the Open Curriculum completely changes the environment and culture of the school. My classes have been more engaging because of the motivations of students to be in that classroom, and the trust that faculty and administration have in students is remarkable. We’re involved in all of the decision making, professors are keenly aware and interested in utilizing all of our widely varied experiences to enrich courses, and students take ownership in everything that they do. I love the social scene-- it’s incredibly varied. If I had to explain the difference to most people I’d say that there are more parties going on than their should be for this many students, meaning, our parties tend to be smaller (I’ve been to very few that were over 50 people) but more numerous. People hop around a lot here from place to place. There’s plenty to do off campus.</p>
<p>I’m not entirely sure what you’re looking for at Brown or Cornell-- it’s impossible for me to begin to sum up “the life at Brown” in just a few paragraphs… if I could I would. I’d be much better at answering to specific concerns.</p>
<p>Though I don’t know where people get the number from, I’ve often heard that Applied Math at Brown is top three in the country. Again, I can’t point to the number, but I’ve been assured from many sources that it’s considered one of the best places in the country to study that.</p>
<p>I know little about econ, but I can off the stories of the three guys I know who did Applied-Math Econ:</p>
<p>2 are going to UChicago for Econ grad school
1 is making 6 figures next year in Chicago working for some kind of financial firm</p>
<p>Cornell’s tuition would actually be $3,000 more than Brown’s (per year), despite the fact that it’s much bigger and that they won’t guarantee me a spot in one of the closer dorms OR that I would get all the classes I wanted to take (Also, they charge $150 a year to use the athletic facilities at the school). Are all classes guaranteed at Brown?</p>
<p>My biggest concerns with Brown:
The campus, when I visited as an ignorant high school student 3 years ago, did not impress me at all. It seemed tiny. After being in college for a year, I have come to realize that things being closer together is actually generally a good thing, yet I cannot get over that negative impression I had of the campus.
The people seem to be very keen on creating an image of themselves as “hip” and “elite,” and though I could fit that bill if I wanted to, I have gotten over the whole social hierarchy-inspired impetus to behave in a certain way and am completely comfortable with being myself. I also like an environment where people can comfortably be themselves without feeling pressure to act a certain way. Modest, how would you describe Brown students?</p>