I was recently accepted to both UVA as an Econ major (OOS) and Cornell’s ILR school, and I’m having a difficult time choosing between the two. I’d appreciate it if people can give any insights/perspectives regarding the pros and cons of the universities/programs, potential job placement, and other factors such as fraternities/social life, dining, housing, etc. If it helps, I want to go into business/finance after graduating.
Both are fabulous options! The cost between the two varies a lot, so that is something to consider based on if you’re a NY or VA resident… We live in Virginia. My son just graduated from Cornell with an engineering degree and a minor in business from Dyson. Engineering at Cornell is fabulous, but he found out he loved his business classes more than he ever imagined he would. He said they were incredibly interesting and the professors were all really good. I know UVA’s business program that begins junior year is really wonderful and kids who graduate from that get good placements after graduation. Cornell has 40 fraternities and there is definitely one for any kind of kid. From what I perceive about UVA, it’s a less diverse environment. Cornell has some of the best college food in the country. The hospitality school and the surrounding farms make it very interesting. Cornell has housing in the fraternities and there is upper class housing available. My son lived in college town (adjacent to the engineering school) his last 2 years and it was very convenient. Cornell has 7 colleges and the types of classes you can take are so varied - anything from fashion design to city planning to agriculture to engineering to political science to botany to wine making. That was what attracted my son. He loved being around so many people doing so many things. Cornell is very diverse -not just in terms of ethnicity, but people from all over the world come there. I think that makes for an ideal college experience. Ithaca is a good town to go to college. It has all the necessities and you won’t find nicer people anywhere.
Good luck with your decision! I can’t say much about UVA, as our other 2 kids went to Vanderbilt. I know it’s a fabulous school, but if you’re willing to do something out of the box and really stretch yourself…CORNELL!
Oh…by the way. My son is a financial analyst in Houston. He majored in operations research in engineering with the business minor and said he was very well prepared.
OH MY GOSH. HELLO!!! I MADE THIS DECISION EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO!
I was deciding between UVA and Cornell Hotel School just last year. So maybe I can provide insight. I visited both school more than once and I feel like I have a good sense for both schools and their environment.
I chose UVA and haven’t regretted it for a single second. People made me feel bad for picking UVA saying, “OMG are you actually turning down an Ivy League?!” or “The Hotel School is the BEST IN THE WORLD!” or “You mean, you’re NOT going to Cornell…?” I almost felt like I let people down by not picking to attend the Ivy League. But honestly, I haven’t regretted it for a single second because UVA has been everything I’ve dreamed of and even better.
I think it truly depends on what you’re looking for. Cornell felt too stiff and intense for me. When I walked around at Cornell (once in February and once in April) it was freezing outside, people were walking alone and in silence. People ate alone as well. People walked around like they had a “to-do” list or an agenda. It was a lot of pressure just to be there. It’s a lot of pressure to be 18 already in our society, but Cornell’s environment seemed to add even more.
UVA felt completely different. At UVA, I saw people laying out on the lawn, studying outside, playing frisbee, tossing footballs outside, etc. It felt more social, and overall, it felt happier. The cold weather at Cornell made people seem unhappy and not so lively. At UVA, people walked around smiling. People joined clubs because they were interested and passionate about it. At Cornell, they joined clubs because they wanted to add it to their resumes.
Because I was a study-nerd in high school, (and I was pretty unhappy in high school) having a holistic and happy college environment was essential. I found this at UVA the second I stepped on grounds.
Don’t get wrong, Cornell is great school. But ultimately I felt like
“Cornell. Cornell is the place to go, if I dream of doing this or having this as a job. It will get my where I want to go” VS. “UVA. Ah, UVA. The place to go if I want a solid education, and a happy 4 years.”
I couldn’t turn down 4 years of happiness for simply having a degree from Ivy League. A degree, It’s honestly just a piece of paper.
Regarding diversity, as the swimmer726 said, both are diverse. UVA just has more students from Virginia, but ethnicity and nationality wise, I’d say both are equal. You can find what you’re looking for at either school. Being 40 percent or 60 percent, doesn’t honestly make a difference because you’ll find what you’re looking for.
You will get a solid education at both schools, but at UVA, happiness is included in the price.
DM me if ya want more info.
Yes, I would not underestimate the grayness of spending a winter in a cold and snowy place, particularly when February and March come around.
So…kids at Cornell aren’t happy? I beg to differ. Cornell’s motto is “any person, any study”. My son said he thinks they come pretty close to offering instruction in just about anything you can think of. Beautiful location on one of the Finger Lakes. Gray days? yes, but those are in Charlottesville as well. Plus, you shouldn’t base a 4-year commitment on weather. It was an honor for our family to have our son there and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. He went to Woodberry Forest, an hour from UVA. Once he visited Cornell his sophomore year, that was his goal. There is something for everyone and this week high school seniors all over the country are choosing what works for them. Good luck!
Hey now, @Swimmer726 , I meant UVA really had a positive energy that I didn’t feel Cornell had. Cornell had a year of 6 suicides which didn’t exactly make me comfortable walking in. I think the perspective is especially different parent vs student. And I disagree, weather DOES shape the environment. If a student is happy in sunshine and feels depressed in the cold, that makes a difference. The emphasis on Greek life and partying is especially prominent in cold environments, while warm weather makes kids go outside and play sports, rather than stay inside and party/smoke/drink. There are dark days at UVA, but not even comparable to the amount at Cornell. Warm weather hits in Feb at UVA. Cornell goes from Oct-May. I visited Cornell mid-April, and there was still snow everywhere.
To each his own!
Our daughter turned down Northwestern and Cornell for UVA. Her reasoning was similar to wmt2910. She had narrowed her final two to UVA and NU. She felt the intensity as soon as she walked on the campus at NU. She noticed things I really didn’t. Few of the girls on the north end (STEM majors) wore make up or smiled; everyone looked tired as though they’d pulled all-nighters, and they all moved quickly because of the cold. We’re from the south and although C-Ville can get cold, it’s nothing compared to Ithaca or Evanston. (Chicago is a whole other level of cold.) When we went for DOTL, there were kids walking around Rugby Rd. in preppy attire and most everyone had big smiles on their face. There were frats barbecuing and students relaxing on the lawn. The rich traditions of UVA were also alluring to her; its unlike the majority of schools in the US. She chose UVA and never regretted her decision. She was an Echols scholar who wound up serving as captain of her athletic team for two years, was invited into a selective major, and even lived on the lawn her senior year. These were just a few of the experiences/opportunities she had at UVA that she probably would not have had elsewhere. She thoroughly enjoyed her experience and is now doing well in med school. It’s a difficult decision so think about it carefully. Both are comparable academically. In the end ask yourself where you will be happiest?