<p>Hello
I am choosing between the McIntire School of Commerce at U. Va and the School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell.
I just learned that McIntire admitted only 10 out state students this year, and a bunch of talented students got waitlisted. I dont wanna be a ***** holding up the spot, thus I want to make the decision soon. </p>
<p>Academic
I will be majoring in Management at Mcintire (U.Va) or Applied Econ + Strategies at AEM (Cornell).
Personally I think an econ education is more solid then a management education as an undergrad, and I will probably be able to take part in some researches if I get lucky at Cornell. However, the program at McIntire seems to be more pratical - lots of hands on business experiences, intense teamwork projects, strong sense of small community (very important). Bottomline: Cornell may train me intectaully and academically while U Va will enhance my real-life skills - communication, leadership, problem-solving and entreprenuership. Which education will be more beneficial in the long run?</p>
<p>Career
I am aiming to enter a strategic consulting firm after graduate (McKinsey, Bain, BCG. Ok, may not be very feasible, but it's always good to aim high, right?). U Va seems to have the geo location advantage, while Cornell holds the Ivy-guaranteed-interview tickets. Which school's education will prepare me better? What about alumni network?</p>
<p>Misc
- McIntire's program is two year long, which means everyone will enter the school equally as newbie, whereas I will be labeled as a "transfer" at Cornell.
- Paying 7000 more each year will get me an Ivy league degree. I know. This is simply vanity. But an Ivy league degree is an Ivy league degree. Will you turn it down for a public school?
- How about the student bodies in both schools? Are students from Cornell really rich (and thus a lil bit hard to get along?) I am currently attending a big ten, and people here are REALLY, REALLY nice. Hotness of girls? Size?</p>
<p>Thanks for reading through this long post. Really need your opinions!</p>
<p>Neither. I am an international student currently studying in Indiana.
Correct me if I am wrong, last time I checked the tuitions, Cornell was around 35k and U Va was around 27K, so the difference is 7 -8 K per year.</p>
<p>While Cornell and UVA are both excellent universities, Cornell is the superior school when taken as a whole, IMHO. As is frequently recommended on these boards, I’d go with “fit.” At which campus would you feel more well suited? Are you willing to weather somewhat colder winters at Cornell for its marginally more well regarded overall academics?</p>
<p>Also Cornell’s diversity is a bit more international in scope. Cornell is 33% instate and 67% OOS, while Virginia consists of 67% instate and only 33% OOS. So Cornell has a more inter-regional and international makeup, with a particularly high percentage of Asians, who make up about 16 percent of Cornell’s student population.</p>
<p>The undergrad business programs at both schools are well regarded , however, Cornell’s key advantage resides in its capacity to integrate many high-caliber academic disciplines as an adjunct to its business program: architecture, engineering, the physical sciences, international relations, et cetera — along with its world class research. UVA has an academic reputation that does not quite reach Cornell’s, when they are both taken as a whole, but it is nevertheless a great university. So, if the location, or the marginally lower cost, or a particular department at UVA outweighs the schools taken as a whole, then it may still be the right school for you. It ultimately depends on your unique personality, interests, and preferences. Good luck.</p>
<p>hoffman, my son came down to the same two choices for graduate architecture. He eventually went with Cornell but it wasn’t a clear cut choice. He felt that Cornell had the edge (albeit slight) with Boston/New York firms while Virginia was better connected in Washington, and the South of course. If you’re looking for the ilk of “McKinsey, Bain, BCG” you’ll be well placed at Cornell.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you compare the summer internships.</p>
<p>Cornell kids are definitely not “really rich (and thus a lil bit hard to get along?)” Cornell is the most egalitarian of all the Ivy League and attracts a student body much like the Big 10 as you would find at a big midwestern university. I wouldn’t say they are more friendly than Virginia which has a reputation for Southern hospitality and balanced lifestye, but there’s a reasonable all-American representation. Cornell also has a HUGE international community, especially Asian. We are Americans who live in Southeast Asia and Cornell is the college of choice here. Very little recognition of UVA. This, in itself, isn’t a reason to choose Cornell, but it may make a difference in your home country.</p>
<p>This may be somewhat superficial, but don’t forget that the McIntire School was ranked #1 by BusinessWeek for undergraduate business schools. When I visited both schools, Cornell felt bland and boring, but UVa was amazing. The weather was nice, the buildings were absolutely gorgeous, and although Cornell IS an Ivy, I’d pick UVa over Cornell any day, just because I feel that UVa is a better fit for ME.</p>
<p>That’s my honest opinion. All I have to say is that you can’t go wrong with McIntire, and Cornell’s Ivy status gives you good connections. Overall, I’d say McIntire might offer a slight edge in terms of job opportunities. A degree at McIntire is prestigious. But then again, so is a degree from an Ivy.</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinions!
Yeah I agree with all of you.
While Cornell’s overall reputation is better than that of U.Va, McIntire is undoubtedly among the best business school. And when it comes to the campus factor, it’s Cornell’s diversity Vs. U Va’s nice location.<br>
Btw, to me this is also a choice between the subject that I will major in. Applied Econ (Cornell) Vs Management (UVa). As I said I would like to enter a consulting firm, which type of academic curriculum will be a better preparation for me in the long run?</p>
<p>Oliver, would you be inclined to attend a football game in a sweatshirt and jeans (Cornell), or in a coat and tie (U.Va.)? You won’t be able to cheat and wear the sweatshirt at U.Va., because your date will be wearing a sundress. :)</p>
<p>So, I guess Cornell’s spectacular views of Lake Cayuga high up on its East Hill perch, its eclectic mix of beautiful buildings and quads, majestic gorges, exquisite waterfalls, et cetera … are “bland and boring”? Please give me a break.</p>
<p>Hoffman, winter wonderlands can be very conducive to cozying up with lovely lasses by romantic crackling fireplaces. Plus, at the same time you’ll be in the university with a far superior worldwide academic ranking:</p>
<p>“Oliver, would you be inclined to attend a football game in a sweatshirt and jeans (Cornell), or in a coat and tie (U.Va.)? You won’t be able to cheat and wear the sweatshirt at U.Va., because your date will be wearing a sundress.”</p>
<p>Not true. First, people don’t wear coats. Many wears shirts and ties, but with shorts and flip flops. It’s very nice. And also, not EVERYBODY does that anymore. There’s some sort of rivalry between those that do and those that don’t, but it’s nothing serious. You could get away with wearing a t-shirt (must be orange) if you wanted to.</p>
<p>To address the question, I think either would be fine. I think Cornell’s overall rep is equal to the rep of McIntire. What it comes down to really is fit. </p>
<p>As for Cornell, the kids are not all that wealthy. Most are fairly well to do, but none are overly snotty. Most of my sister’s friends there are very nice. Not all. She did live with some snotty people her freshman year, but once she was out of the dorm it was fine. And Cornell hockey games are AMAZING. There is nothing else like it. </p>
<p>Personally, I would go UVa. I’ve always loved it there, and always will. My oldest sister went there so it was the first college I’d been to a lot and it just feels, to me, like everything college should be. </p>
<p>BTW, you said 10 OOS got into McIntire. That’s just for transfers, right?</p>
<p>This completely discredited suicide myth is utterly false. It is contemptible that ignoramuses and/or deceitful partisans occasionally falsely assert it. The Cornell suicide rate is below the national average for college-aged students. This rumor is probably propagated every so often because of the many beautiful gorges on Cornell’s campus. It’s more dramatic to claim that somebody jumped off a bridge than if they might have had a tragic accident, or if they got hurt from some other non-intentional means. The highest suicide rate belongs to another top school, though not an Ivy. Cornell’s actual statistic is below the national average.</p>
<p>I hear it often, about Cornell having the highest suicide rate… may read it on blogs, articles etc… Though everytime I think of Cornell haveing the highest suicide rate, I assume it may be the large/ rigious workload on the students, maybe a combination of a competitive environment and lack of social life?</p>
<p>This statement has no meaning since you assume – or purport – clearly erroneous “statistics” about Cornell. You clearly are either misinformed, or you are trying to spread disinformation. Whenever you “hear something somewhere,” do you just assume it must be true? Because it is not.</p>
<p>Cornell is often described as the Ivy party school, so it’s hard to imagine that students there lack social life. I heard the environment is very competitive though, but probably not in my major. Students there always make jokes about AEM, and how laid back AEM kids are. Not sure if this is true or simply a misleading stereotype.</p>
<p>After checking up on the question of the rigor of the Applied Economics and Management program, I’ve learned that there may be a slight hint of truth to it being partially “laid back.” However, while the curriculum generally has a good percentage of handle-able classes, there are several challenging classes in the mix as well. Finance is said to be one of the tougher ones, for example.</p>
<p>If you are still looking for more info on the AEM program from current students, you might consider posting in the Cornell forum. Good luck to you.</p>
Plus, at the same time you’ll be in the university with a far superior worldwide academic ranking:</p>