<p>I was accepted by both Cornell and UCLA into their respective engineering colleges. Alumni scholar offer at UCLA and dean scholar offer at Cornell. I'm not sure which field of engineering I'll end up committing too but it will most likely be bioengineering/biomed or environmental engineering. I could also see myself abandoning that completely and going into pre-law. Which would you decide on and why? What seems like a better fit academically for me? Any opinions or experience in regards to programs at either would be appreciated! Thanks guys.</p>
<p>What else are you looking for? Environment is a big deal… Cornell and UCLA are different in large ways (obviously). Are you a CA resident? Can you give us a little more about you so we can provide perspective.</p>
<p>Yeah I grew up about 3 hours from UCLA and have quite a bit of family down there but I also know people and have in aunt in Ithaca. Financial aid packages are similar. I’m not entirely worried about being too far away from home… Yet at least. I love the vibe at UCLA and how huge it is doesn’t feel like an issue just because all of the alum scholars I talked to have mentioned that being in the program really makes the school smaller and provides a sort of family atmosphere. I’ve also heard great things from the people I know at Cornell about the program and research opportunities/interactions with professors and the like. And winters will be gnarly but it would be a change of pace and a new experience that I’m open to.</p>
<p>So basically that entire paragraph was a roundabout way of saying that I’m not entirely sure what will make or break either school for me and from what I’ve experienced so far I like both environments even though they’re basically opposite.</p>
<p>To me, it sounds like this a decision you need to figure out on your own about what you want out of your college experience. Three hours away from UCLA is still decently far, so it won’t be like attending the commuter school next door. That was one big thing for me - I grew up in the SF Bay Area and Berkeley was way too close (I would’ve jumped for Stanford if they had taken me off the waiting list though). </p>
<p>A close friend from high school went to Cornell, I almost attended as well, but his experiences were mixed. I feel like he enjoyed it, but it was also tough to be isolated out there. When I visited Ithaca in the spring, I loved the environment but I don’t know if I could do winters there after being in LA for 4.5 years (weather = unbelievable… playing ultimate on the beach in January? Where else can you do that?). Cornell is definitely a great school with great engineering chops so you can’t go wrong there.</p>
<p>Here are two (now three) questions that might help you choose. </p>
<ol>
<li>Where do you want to end up after you graduate? It’ll be easier to get a job in the west if you go to UCLA, vice versa with Cornell and the East Coast.<br></li>
<li>Can you afford Cornell? Legitimately think about how much your student loan payments will be after attending (600/mo? 200/mo?)</li>
<li> In 5, 10 years, which school will you have regretted not going to the most?</li>
</ol>
<p>I picked UCLA over Cornell… I visited Ithaca, and while the campus is gorgeous, and the school reputation is great, especially engineering, I chose UCLA, because there is simply not much to do in Ithaca…</p>
<p>I’m in ASC at UCLA…the club really takes care of you and they have some great connections. Check out the freshman mentorship program if you come here. </p>
<p>But from what you’ve said, I can’t stress the difference in environment enough. UCLA and Cornell offer completely different college experiences. Weather is huge…Cornell has a reputation for being a slightly depressing campus since winter weather is gloomy. Academics are top notch of course though. The lifestyle/people/general atmosphere/school spirit are all different between the two schools. it sounds cliche but go where you feel the most comfortable</p>
<p>Cornell.</p>
<p>Yes, Ithaca is cold. Yes, it’s far. Yes, it can be a challenging environment.</p>
<p>But it’s also far. That will force you to grow more. Forget the name for a second (even though Cornell is more “name brand.”)</p>
<p>The best 9 months I spent at UCLA were the 9 months I spent off campus either in Japan or in DC. Cornell will be four years away. I grew more in the 3 months in DC than my entire first year of undergrad. It’s absolutely amazing for students to go to schools that are away from home because it forces them to evaluate themselves and who they are outside of the home.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, I say Cornell.</p>