Hi all! I’m currently in the fortunate position that allows me to decide between these two schools. I’ve been accepted to both schools for fall 2016 as a transfer student (Cornell gt and UNC as a regular applicant) and am having a hard time deciding between the two. If you have the time I would like to gather your opinions, although maybe slightly biased, on the two schools and their respective pros and cons. Thank you so much!
What state are you from?
@twogirls I’m from Virginia! I will also have to pay the full price for either institution. Money aside, I’m looking for things like strength of program and research opportunities.
i will send you a PM.
I can’t seem to send a PM now.
Cornell is a great school with very strong academics. Ithaca is a wonderful town with a lot to offer. The campus is beautiful ( opinion). The winters are painfully cold. I know students who have had internships in Manhattan and summer research in DC. I know about 10-15 students who are either there now or who recently graduated. They are/were all happy.
UNC is also amazing. The academics are strong, you would be in the Research Triangle and would have access to undergraduate research on campus. There are plenty of internship opportunities all over, including places like Atlanta and NYC. There is a lot of school spirit and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carborro are very very nice. The campus is also beautiful. You said you are from Virginia- UNC has a more liberal vibe than UVA- somebody on CC described it as more “crunchy granola” which I do agree with. The professors are always there to help and they do a really good job of making themselves available. I am not sure what program you are interested in.
What do you wish to study?
Having been to both places, I agree that both campuses are lovely (as @twogirls states); but there are more hills on Cornell’s campus. Great pizza right off Cornell’s campus too! It’s colder in the winter in Cornell, with snow; in Chapel Hill, you get more ice storms than snow during winter.
Yes- Chapel Hill does get lots of ice storms.
@gandalf78 I will be studying bio! I’m currently on the pre-med track, however i’m interested in biotech and possibly pursuing a Phd or maybe even an MD/Phd if it arises. The weather is one of the main detractors for cornell it seems, seeing how I would rather have 70 and sunny year round (likely not an option here on the east coast).
Cornell is a great school but I have heard that it is the most cut-throat of all the Ivy’s. UNC is great and there are so many opportunities (I know they share some courses with Duke) which is definitely something to consider. Cornell has a larger endowment to spread among research when compared to UNC but there are more off campus opportunities in Chapel Hill. It really depends on what kind of environment you want to be in!