<p>Just curious, for those of you who live in or are familiar with CA, how is Cornell seen? In terms of job prospects, prestige, alumni network, etc., would you say that it's on par with, say, Berkeley? I'd be interested to hear responses. </p>
<p>Merci beaucoup!</p>
<p>Based on the postgraduate surveys, Cornell graduates are paid most in the western US. This may be a reflection of how employers view a Cornell degree, it may not.</p>
<p>From whose perspective?</p>
<p>Since I’m a high school senior (like yourself), I can’t really answer for job prospects or alumni network.</p>
<p>In general, at least around my area, Cornell doesn’t really rank very high in prestige. There are still a lot of people who don’t know its an Ivy League, not just Californians.</p>
<p>A lot of students here prefer UCLA/UCB because its closer to home, and much much cheaper than Cornell, or any out-of-state private school. </p>
<p>Also, it depends on what you’re studying - for film, USC/UCLA is the way to go. Business - USC. Engineering - Caltech. Etc etc. </p>
<p>In general, California’s UC system is pretty awesome. We have nice weather all year round, the education is among the best in the nation, and attending a public school here is about half the price of attending Cornell (obviously depending on your need-based/financial aid situation). </p>
<p>That being said… may I ask why you’re asking? </p>
<p>Also- congratulations on getting in! ( :</p>
<p>Haha, thanks for the kind words and long response!</p>
<p>I’m curious because, while I’m happy to be accepted (and going) to Cornell, I HATE the cold and long winters-they really depress me, especially having lived in New England all my life! So, I’m playing around with the idea of getting a job/working in Southern California after graduation, 4 years from now (yeah, i know it’s early haha). The fact that it’s always great weather appeals to me so much!</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>Lol, as a high school senior I had the exact same question. I can assure you that the reputation of Cornell surpasses Berkeley in California. A lot of people in California go to Berkeley and being accepted to Berkeley is oftentimes not considered THAT prestigious. When I got accepted to Berkeley through the Regents/Chancellor’s Scholarship offer, the buzz about it was paltry in comparison to when someone got admitted to Cornell. </p>
<p>This also applies in the work force and other aspects. There are a lot more Berkeley graduates in California than Cornell graduates, so Cornell graduates are oftentimes more sought after. Now, my question is this: does this effect also appear in New York. Is Berkeley considered more prestigious than Cornell in New York?</p>
<p>As a New Yorker, I’d say Cornell is considered more prestigious. But that’s just based on perspectives from my particular HS.</p>
<p>To the OP: Don’t worry, you won’t be alone…everyone gets a little depressed by the gray skies during the winter here! As long as you keep busy and have fun with friends, you can distract yourself from the fact that you haven’t seen the sun in a while lol. You could even try one of those lights that mimics the sun’s rays; apparently they help a lot and I think they’re available at Gannett (the health center).</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure the OP was asking because he or she wants to work there, since he or she listed job prospects and alumni networks first? i don’t think the op cares what a bunch of high schoolers think.</p>
<p>no offense</p>
<p>Cal is ranked way higher (top 3) in undergrad engineering, CS, business, and Econ. Cornell barely makes the top 10. I think people on the west coast compare Cornell to something like U Michigan. Cal is compared to Stanford.</p>
<p>I’m sure in some fields such as real estate, agricultural economics, and operations research Cornell has its unique position.</p>
<p>Doesn’t cal have Operations research as well?</p>
<p>In my school, and this might well be just in my school, Cornell is seen as a cold, bleak place and definitely about the same level or even lower than the Tier 1 UCs (Cal, LA).</p>
<p>As someone who has gone to Berkeley and an Ivy and have sent children to the Ivies, (one to Cornell) despite both kids have gotten into UCB and UCLA (with in-state tuition), I can tell you without a doubt I would pick Cornell any day for undergraduate studies. It offers a better undergrad experience. It also has a much more diverse and yet mainstream student body. Academically, they are equal and Cornell offers more help from the professors.
As for job prospect. All the Ivies get tremendous recruitment from both coasts. Ultimately, networking and connections play a very large part in your career. I just don’t see too much alumni network support extended to new grads from Berkeley, at least to the same level of loyal support you get from any of the Ivies. Even in the present economic climate, both my boys have been able land job offers in the top firms. I cannot say the same for a lot of their friends who went to UCB and UCLA.
Finally, the Calif. budget crisis is a big concern. If this continues, whatever left of Berkeley’s reputation will not last too much longer.</p>
<p>That post just made me feel much, much better about decisions of mine :)</p>
<p>I think it’s funny that people are talking about the weather in regards to the benefits of a Cornell degree vs. other school… </p>
<p>To be honest I didn’t even know Cornell was an Ivy League school until October of my senior year of HS when I had finished apps. Applied for the diversity hosting weekend on a whim and after being accepted, then found out it was such a good school.</p>
<p>However I can guarantee you the hiring manager at wherever you are applying for a job will know about Cornell’s reputation, and that it will be more than sufficient.</p>
<p>As far as ranking, you’re an idiot if you nitpick over a few spots. Have you compared rankings between multiple places? They can vary widely. Do you realize how many universities there are in the U.S. alone? Over 4000. 10 spots out of 4000 is .25%</p>
<p>To put that in perspective for you HS kids, that’s 6 points on your SAT out of 2400. No one cares.</p>
<p>As for alumni networking, there are, oh, 3000 kids in each class at Cornell about. Even in just the last 10 years that’s 30,000 graduates. I think that leaves you with pretty good odds of finding some alumni in your area, ESPECIALLY somewhere as desirable as California.</p>
<p>Collegeconfidential.com kids need to get over themselves and stop nitpicking over a couple of ranking positions. Call it the worst Ivy, the huge Ivy, the crappy weather and football team Ivy, the whatever you want Ivy. I really don’t care what those people think, and nor do employers. The fact remains that Cornell is an outstanding school and has a phenomenal reputation. That, and what you do while you are in school hold infinitely more weight in affecting your future than rankings.</p>
<p>how do you know what employers think? just asking because i don’t know. and i don’t know how you would know either. what do employers think of students with comparable statistics and experience coming from competitive schools with the same major?</p>
<p>When you are in the real world, what counts is your intelligence and work ethics. Cornell grads are regarded as smart and having the best work ethics, most down to earth and reliable workers. This is especially true even 30+ years ago. That was before CC time and Cornell had great respect and highly regarded from the rest of the Ivies. Remember, your potential employers are from that era.
Also even though the CC’ers debate over the ranking amongst the Ivies, in the real world, all Ivy Leaguers network with each others and often help each others in the recruitments. So in effect, you have a large loyal network even bigger than the already substantial size of the Cornell’s own.
Again, I can’t say the same about UC’s. And even Stanford, which really has its own network only. Just somehting to think about.</p>
<p>zfanatic’s post really hits at the crux of the issues. Employers don’t care if Washu’s ranked #12 and Cornell’s ranked #15. Or if Penn’s avg. SAT score is 2150 while Northwestern’s is 2130. Or if Cornell’s acceptance rate is 19% while Berkeley’s is 23%. That’s garbage that high schoolers and a handful of adults with too much time on their hands debate.</p>
<p>Employers know which schools are good (and this list is bigger than you think). That may get you an interview or a first job. The rest is up to the individual.</p>
<p>As a Californian the only buzz on Cornell is it’s school for hospitality management. Most of the top students here still want to go to UCLA or Cal.</p>
<p>“As a Californian the only buzz on Cornell is it’s school for hospitality management. Most of the top students here still want to go to UCLA or Cal.”</p>
<p>Good for them. It’s much opposite elsewhere, except people who want to go to California usually only wanna go there for the weather and beaches. I’m not at all doubting that the UC’s and Stanford are fantastic schools- they are- but just because a few California kids want to go to UCB doesn’t make it a better school than any other.</p>
<p>You should also know there are TONS of California kids here at Cornell. I bet they were pretty much at the tops of their classes too ;)</p>
<p>As someone who has already met a lot of people who have made their way through higher education, M.D.'s, Ph.D.'s (in both science and non science fields), M.D./Ph.D’s, etc, at schools ranging from Harvard to UC’s to Canadian schools, they have all been impressed to find out I go to Cornell.</p>
<p>If that’s not good enough for you, then go to UCWhatever and I’m sure you’ll do just fine there too.</p>
<p>I think Dear TatinG is trying to be funny.
At least I hope so. I don’t think kids in California can be that provincial in their college IQ.</p>
<p>I think TatinG was being serious haha.</p>