Hello all, now that I have heard back from all my colleges, the only thing left to do is choose and I really need some help choosing (please). Right now, my family and I have narrowed it down to Cornell, USC, and U Penn. I’ve crossed off U Penn because my sister goes there so I would strongly prefer not to go there, so it’s between Cornell (HumEc) and USC now. Both are giving me around the same amount of aid, so finances aren’t that much of an issue.
My intended major for USC is public policy and for Cornell, Policy Analysis & Management. I would like to go to law school in the future so an undergrad that would better prepare me for a top law school (and won’t wreck my GPA + will provide more internship opportunities) would be great! I’m from the Midwest, so I’ve never lived in LA or Ithaca before but I really like big cities. As of right now, after my studies I would really like to live in LA, so I’d think that experiencing something different by living in NY would be good for me, however since the Trojan Alumni Network is really good in LA, passing up on USC might be a mistake. At the same time, I feel since Cornell’s alumni network is more widespread it would be easier if I ever decided to move cities. I visited USC in December and I really loved it and I don’t know if I’ll be able to visit Cornell, but also I don’t want to always be wondering what my life would be like if I hadn’t passed up an Ivy League education. I’m sorry this is so rambly I’m just having a really hard time deciding. Please help!
USC:
Location
Atmosphere
Better LA alumni network
Cornell:
Ivy League prestige
More widespread alumni network
Proximity to NYC
Thank you in advance! I have also posted this in the Cornell section.
I am following this, and its sibling thread, as my son has been accepted at both Cornell and USC (Trustee & Viterbi Scholar).
He intends to study computer science. He is very excited about USC, but was also happily surprised by Cornell. We all want him to make an informed decision. We’ll be making the trek to see Cornell in April.
Well if you want to live in Los Angeles, USC. If not, then Cornell. Cornell will hold more prestige nationally but USC will be way better if you want to stay in Los Angeles. The education you will get at both institutions will be comparable. Plus Cornell is in the middle of nowhere. Do you want to preside in the middle of nowhere for four years?. At USC you can get internships and network actively during your school year, at Cornell you have to wait until over the summer to do those things or resort to networking strictly online. Living in a big city and gaining work experience in real time will offer you a more holistic education where you will not be limited by what you learn strictly in the classroom. Honestly, if I were you, go USC. USC will offer you amazing opportunities socially, academically, and career wise. Plus you will be living in one of the greatest cities in the world. Good luck.
I have actually only known one person that went to Cornell. While they were thankful for the opportunity, they also wish that they had gone elsewhere. In their case, to Columbia or Penn. To them, Ithaca was just way too stifling. Ithaca however may be great for a certain type of individual. In my day, I never even considered Cornell. Neither did my two daughters. If it is right for you… go there and maximize all that you can get out of Cornell. But from my perspective… there is quite a bit more that you can gain by being a USC Trojan… during your time there and also via the plethora of opportunities available to you within the city of Los Angeles… and MAINLY for all the years to come after - as part of the Trojan Nation… an amazing alumni network.
Academically they are pretty much the same school in very different locations, with Cornell having the marginally better rep:
Cornell v USC
14k UG vs. 19k UG
(Cornell has way less grad students, though)
6 billion endowment v. 5
15th USNEWS v. 23rd
14th USNEWS innovation v. 19th
15% accept v 19% accept
9th WSJ/THE v. 15th
Sports will be more intense at USC if you’re into that, but really I can’t imagine walking onto each campus and not having a really strong vibe for one or the other. They are so different geographically/culturally.