<p>As a father of an LAC'er, I think in some cases a comparison of available course offerings in areas of interest can in fact be relevant. Between two large universities, well probably not so much as far as the traditional subjects go.</p>
<p>But still, one ought not disregard the additional opportunities Cornell's various undergraduate colleges may offer. I was an undergrad in Arts & Sciences, yet wound up taking courses in two of the other colleges. This is very common.</p>
<p>At Cornell you will also be living with a group of students with widely diverse academic interests. One would likely encounter few Columbia students interested in: Hotel Administration, Industrial and Labor Relations, Agriculture. There are also likely more purely middle class people there I would expect, attracted in part by the lower tuition of the NYS contract colleges. Whether you like this diversity, don't like it, or don't care, it is still a likely difference.</p>
<p>Cornell undergrad life is mostly focused in and around the campus. It is a large university with a large campus and a thriving Collegetown right outside, so this is not a huge sacrifice for many. The city of Ithaca is also an asset to students; it is a humming, cool little city, cultural center of the immediate region. It is not New York. New York is not Ithaca. I have lived in and loved both places, though obviously for different reasons.</p>
<p>What I've read and heard about Columbia is that the draw of the city dilutes this campus-based experience. There is less of a community feel there. People don't all stay around campus for fun, they drift into the city to do their own things. This can lead to less intimacy and bonding among students.There is a frequent CC poster who actually transferred from Columbia to Dartmouth for this very reason. My nephew is there right now, and has confirmed this aspect to me. </p>
<p>THis is how a CC poster attending Barnard described the area around Columbia:</p>
<p>"Morningside heights is horridly boring, the only things to do are go to bars and eat. The bars are dirty and filled with frat boys. It feels like I'm not even in the city. "</p>
<p>On another thread, some other people agreed, and said that if you didn't really want to have to venture out into the city for [everything/ lots], as opposed to having everything conveniently right there,then maybe a traditional campus-based environment would be better for you.</p>
<p>On the other hand, my nephew likes the whole package there, which includes NYC, and doesn't really know what he is missing as far as campus life goes, so doesn't miss it.</p>
<p>Finally, one cannot ignore this, as it is an integral part of one's experience at Cornell.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.priweb.org/ed/finger_lakes/nystate_geo4.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.priweb.org/ed/finger_lakes/nystate_geo4.html</a>
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/unexplained_bacon/ithaca_area%5B/url%5D">http://www.pbase.com/unexplained_bacon/ithaca_area</a></p>
<p>I can still remember the feel of the fresh air in my lungs on a cool October day. I love the place.</p>