Please convince me, I really want to go to Mich but the Ivy title to Cornell is really tempting me. I plan on doing aerospace engineering, and have yet to visit both but will do so next week.
Visit. Find out how you fit in. For most families it would be important to compare the cost and financial aid. Ann Arbor and Ithaca are nice towns, but big city kids sometimes think Ithaca is too small and too isolated.
I am alumnus of both Cornell and Michigan, and although I will not attempt to convince you one way or the other, you should know that you cannot major in Aerospace Engineering at Cornell.
Both universities are very similar. Cornell’s co-founder (Andrew Dickson White) and 6 of its 13 presidents have had ties to the University of Michigan. Both are excellent in Engineering, both are very prestigious, both are large, both have nice winters! 
Honestly, see how you feel after your visit and go for fit.
We have Harbaugh.
@Alexandre Thanks. Can I ask for which you did undergrad/grad? It seems like you liked Michigan much more by the frequency of how much you post here; I’d really appreciate a simple comparison/contrast between your experiences at both universities.
Michigan undergrads, Cornell grad. Like most people, I am definitely fonder of my undergraduate experience, but that does not mean that Michigan is a better place to go to college than Cornell.
Like I said, Cornell and Michigan have a lot in common. I think Michigan has more school spirit, a more active campus and a more “real feel” to it, while Cornell has a prettier campus and a slight “Ivy”, private school feel to it. In both cases, the difference is truly negligible, because Michigan is very preppy too and Cornell has great school spirit as well.
To me, the one major difference is setting. Ann Arbor is a larger city and more ideally situated, with a major international airport only 20 miles away and the suburbs of a major city less than 40 miles away. Ithaca is tiny and isolated.
Hey OP,
I am doing CS and was accepted to both UMich CoE CS and Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science. I was at UMich last week for a scholarship weekend, and it was incredible.
Right now, the social and academic vibrancy of UMich combined with the prestige of CMU SCS sounds perfect, but that is not the case, which means that I have to make that tough call (among other institutions as well).
Visit both schools, measure the value you put in various aspects of the school and make that call.
Good luck to you.
My son graduated Cornell in 2012 and my daughter is currently a student at UMich. I agree with all the comments you’ve received thus far. Both are great schools in their own right and your 4 years at either institution will be a reflection of what you choose to make of it. Each of my children felt their schools were academically challenging and felt they were surrounded by students of equal intellectual caliber as themselves. I feel Michigan displays much more school spirit as part of the Big 10 and collegiate sports are a huge part of campus life. If that’s important to you, you will not find that element at Cornell which has a more organic, earthy atmosphere on campus. I also resoundingly agree with the differences between Ithaca and Ann Arbor. Ithaca is very isolated,located in a farming region of upstate NY and is small town USA, whereas Ann Arbor is much more vibrant and sophisticated when you venture outside the campus. My son was a real city kid, who detested life in Ithaca and couldn’t wait to escape, whereas my daughter finds many things to do and explore in Ann Arbor and surrounding areas.
Go visit both if you can and listen to your inner voice. You’ll have a much better sense for where you belong. Either way you have 2 excellent choices and can’t go wrong.
I know a lot of people that have gone to Michigan, graduating at different times over a long span of years. They seem to unanimously have loved their experiences. I’ve heard a lot of great things from Cornell grads too, but its not as consistent.
In terms of location, Ann Arbor is one of my favorite college towns in the country, maybe #1. I’ve never been to Cornell but its also supposed to be a great college town.
" If that’s important to you, you will not find that element at Cornell "
that’s probably an overstatement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBGbyqhuE_A&list=PL53470E6A9984DDB5
But at Cornell it is mostly focused on hockey. It doesn’t take over campus or anything, but people so disposed have a good time with it. Lots of people could care less. I’m sure it’s a much bigger deal at Michigan. But is that a good thing? Maybe that in itself is a litmus test of sorts.
I personally love ithaca, and go back there every chance I get. It is a small city, but a hip one. There’s a particular atmosphere there. Someone described it as “cozy”.My most enduring memories are Ithaca on a Fall day, with the trees turning, when you can literally feel the clean, cool air in your lungs. Summer and Spring are great too. (Fortunately Winter didn’t make it into my “enduring memory” bank.)
I started a thread with some pictures, and another with links to what’s going on there at any given time, on the Cornell sub-forum. FWIW.
For aerospace you’d major in mechanical. Which is probably better for undergrad, IMO, it doesn’t tie you to a particular industry.
“I’m sure it’s a much bigger deal at Michigan. But is that a good thing? Maybe that in itself is a litmus test of sorts.”
I don’t think there is a downside to Michigan’s athletic tradition monydad. Those who are not into athletics can easily avoid it.
“I personally love ithaca, and go back there every chance I get. It is a small city, but a hip one. There’s a particular atmosphere there. Someone described it as “cozy”.My most enduring memories are Ithaca on a Fall day, with the trees turning, when you can literally feel the clean, cool air in your lungs. Summer and Spring are great too.”
I agree. Ithaca is a very special college town. John Thomas’ porterhouse steak is AMAZING!
“For aerospace you’d major in mechanical. Which is probably better for undergrad, IMO, it doesn’t tie you to a particular industry.”
I also agree. Both Cornell and Michigan are excellent in MechE.