<p>Another cliche thread comparing these schools....</p>
<p>Anyway, I am a current senior who is applying EA to UChicago. I was planning on applying RD to Cornell, but I am really torn if I should do ED.</p>
<p>I want to major in chemical engineering, so of course Cornell would be perfect. The campus is beautiful, and the food looks amazing as well. I went to a local presentation and the representative impressed me. Earning a degree from Cornell would probably seem much more valuable, right? But I really like the Institute for Molecular Engineering at UChicago, and it looks like it will be available as a major by the time I arrived (if accepted). I just feel like it is more risky to pursue engineering at a very new program. However, I love Chicago itself and UChicago's campus so much. I have not been to Cornell, but I prefer a city over a rural area.</p>
<p>I am retaking the ACT in October as well as a subject test or two. I just don't know if it is worth it for me to enter a binding decision for Cornell.......</p>
<p>I’d say go with Cornell. Even at U of C, I wouldn’t go with a brand new department. U of C has no engineering program that they are currently building on, either. If you are certain about engineering, go with Cornell. HOWEVER, don’t apply ED anyplace without visiting. Terrible idea.</p>
<p>On which campus – and in which community – do you want to reside for four years (exclusive of academics, intellectual environment, and professional/career opportunities, which likely are quite similar)? Ithaca and Hyde Park/Chicago are VERY different (as you are aware). </p>
<p>@TopTier I feel like I would do fine in either environment. I do adore Chicago, but I can’t really say that Hyde Park is the nicest area despite the beauty of the campus. I come from a suburb in the Midwest where there is not much to do, so it isn’t like I’m accustomed to an urban environment. It looks like Ithaca does have some things to do and isn’t boring but obviously lacks a city feel. But NYC is only four hours away, right?</p>
<p>^ ^ ^ ^
I’m glad both environments are fine for you. Having spent a good deal of time in New York, I’d be a little guarded with that “four hours” estimate, especially because that’s (optimistic?) driving time AND parking in Manhattan is both difficult and EXPENSIVE. You might want to check public transportation? </p>
<p>If you talk to some students at U of C I think you will find that they rarely get a chance to take advantage of Chicago. And you are right about the location - tough sell for our family despite the prestige and beauty of the school. Cornell does not have an accessible city but Ithaca is a very nice town with enough to do to provide a distraction when you need to get off campus. Engineering program is well established and respected. Great co-op program as well. You said you haven’t been to Cornell - make a visit and see what you think. Have you considered Northwestern?</p>
<p>I would first check carefully into the new program to be sure it will be up and running, will be accredited etc. Then I would visit Cornell before applying with a binding ED program. Assuming that all checks out, you have two excellent schools with very different locations and vibes and I would go where you feel most comfortable.</p>
<p>Re: living in Chicago. I agree with @harvestmoon1 U of C/Hyde Park is like an island with limited public transportation in and out. It is not that easy to get into downtown Chicago and there is really no place to go on the south side. I found it fairly oppressive, especially during the long winter. It was 100% different living and working on the North Side after graduation - I could hardly imagine that it was the same city.
Re: major. If you are confident about majoring in engineering, I would be cautious about U of C. New programs need time to find their feet and there is likely to be a learning curve for the faculty. I would suggest U of C as a strong interdisciplinary program for now, not a strong engineering major. </p>
<p>I am a proud U of C grad and think its a great place - probably stronger general reputation than Cornell, but of course, no reputation in engineering since the program does not yet exist. I would not go there to live in Chicago (Northwestern is better on that score - much as it pains me to admit anything positive about Northwestern). Go to Chicago for the Core, reading great books, being maximally academically challenged. There was a great David Brooks quote many years ago to the effect that “the University of Chicago has attracted the greatest concentration of juvenile neurotics than any time since the Children’s Crusade”. It was true when I was an undergraduate and as far as I can tell is still true today. It was (and is) the perfect place to be a Type A personality intellectual elitist (man we loved talking about reading Thucydides and Foucault). If its the right place for you, maybe you go there and major in chemistry and then get a masters in ChemE. It is very different from Cornell. Just because they have similar mean SAT scores, does not mean you will find similar cultures.</p>
<p>Northwestern is strong in chemical engineering. I highly recommend that you take this discussion over to the engineering major thread here at CC. You will get lots of good advice there:</p>
<p>I emailed someone from UChicago, and he said that an engineering major will be offered next year. Although it will not be accredited for awhile, he said that he was previously a head at Berkeley in the same situation, but students had no problems afterwards.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the insight! Appreciate it. I am going to think about applying ED at Cornell. Not sure yet.</p>
<p>If you prefer the city, let me caution you that Cornell is in the middle of nowhere (IMO). Also, if you want ChemE, Minnesota and Wisconsin are top 5 schools.</p>
<p>“I emailed someone from UChicago, and he said that an engineering major will be offered next year. Although it will not be accredited for awhile, he said that he was previously a head at Berkeley in the same situation, but students had no problems afterwards.”</p>
<p>Berkeley has been in the engineering business for many decades and is well known as a top three school for it. It would make me hesitate to attend a school where engineering has always been a nonfactor. I’m sure Chicago will become a strong program eventually, but for me I would go with the sure thing as of now. </p>