WashU St Louis Vs Cornell

College Search & Selection
1

I’m currently a junior and I am trying to decide whether I should ED to WashU or Cornell CALS (Im a New Yorker). I want to study PoliSci and CompSci

My brother is a soph at WashU and he loves it. I know that the dorms, food, campus, and education are amazing. I’ve been there before and it just feels like a great school.

My mom and her brother both went to Cornell. The food, campus, and education are about the same as in WashU. I went to the campus and I really liked the atmosphere of the school.

I’d probably have the same opportunities both during and after college, no matter which school I attend. I know both schools will be difficult, but I want to be able to still experience and enjoy my school without getting killed by difficult curricula or a huge workload. Any advice would be useful. Please help

2

Apply to both there is nothing to decide without acceptances to both

3

@ClarinetDad16 OP is trying to decide on ED.

@blgoldberg4 For polisci i don’t think there is much difference, for CS Cornell is stronger, and maybe an slight overall edge to Cornell in terms of reputation, being a ivy etc.

But it mainly comes down to fit. Do you prefer one slightly more than the other? Take the time to research and think it through well. if you got into WashU ED would you regret not applying to Cornell? What about the other way around?

4

Does CALS have those two majors? I suppose you could switch schools, though.

5

Are you a full pay family so that the instate from CALS will be an advantage to you financially?

Will you be 100% sure on a first choice at ED time?

6

CALS has stuff similar enough that would suit my needs.

7

Good point @Penn95 about fit. I know both would be amazing academically. I just don’t want to pick a college and then regret it down the line

8

Please be absolutely sure that Cornell CALS has the majors you want. Nothing from this list really jumps out at me as being very similar to poli sci and comp sci.

Also, in thinking about Cornell, I’d be sure you want Cornell generally (dorms, food, people, social, setting, activities) and CALS specifically (classes, requirements, liberal arts vs preprofessional mindset). Why CALS, not CAS, which would be the more obvious choice given your desired majors?

9

Sorry, here’s the list of CALS majors.
https://cals.cornell.edu/academics/departments-majors

10

If you are not sure you probably shouldn’t apply ED. Apply to both EA (non-binding).

11

Neither has Early Action

12

If possible visit both again next fall and see how you feel then.

13

@everyone Cornell CALS has two majors that are similar enough to comp sci and polisci, and that incorporate a lot of the same stuff