<p>When I first applied to Cornell, I did so only because I knew it was a “really good school.” Since graduating, I’ve come to better understand what it is that makes Cornell (and other “really good schools”) a cut above the rest.</p>
<p>It all really comes down to the fact that the people are incredible. Everybody brings a different story. It is definitely a self-feeding cycle (the more amazing people that attend a school, the more amazing people apply to that school), but what will you have the school do? Discriminate against outstanding applicants? I know that some of you may accredit this back into the prestige argument, but I think it’s about having a hunger to learn and meet other people with that same appetite. When it comes down to it, those who care to be in that environment will make it happen.</p>
<p>And I agree that Stanford, Duke, etc. are equally as good as the Ivies. Go wherever you want, so long as you are comfortable there. The best thing to do in deciding whether or not you’d like to apply to a school is speaking to somebody there and evaluating the richness of their college experience. What has kept you enjoying your college years? For me, it was going to the library with friends and commiserating over our workloads, celebrating the beginning of each school year during Orientation Week, sledding down the streets when we had our first snow day in a decade, learning about the different sacrifices that my friends had made to be able to attend Cornell, never not having any events to go to on campus, taking trips to explore the local area (Ithaca, Cayuga Lake) and the list goes on.</p>
<p>Best of luck in your search,
Dana</p>