<p>So I am an international student who got accepted to yale-nus and cornell. I paid deposits to both since they are in different countries but now I need to say no to once (since it is impossible to attend colleges across continents) </p>
<p>I live in Asia, i want to major in economics. Singapore has a growing economy, while the US market is still in recovery. I have heard from my counsellor that international students with economics have a tough time getting a job in the US because they would much rather prefer to employ those who have STEM instead. Job opportunities after Yale-NUS are definitely stronger, since it is the best college in Singapore, atleast by reputation if not by education since that still remain untested. In my home country, both Yale and NUS are respected so getting a degree from Yale-NUS will definitely strengthen my chances. Even though Cornell is an ivy, it remains an unheard top US college in much of the developing world. Moreover, at Cornell I feel that once I graduate I'll be competing with Harvard, yale, Wharton grads for the same job while in Yale-NUS I'll be the preferred applicant. </p>
<p>However, the education at Yale-NUS remains untested. Can anyone help me decide? I dont want to prolong this misery because I know that there are people in the waitlist and I feel that I'm stealing their spot each day I delay my decision. Yale-NUS had an acceptance rate of less than 5% while Cornell had an acceptance rate of around 15%. So help me guys, please tell me what should I do, and why yale-nus perhaps may not be the best choice</p>
<p>Thanks loads</p>
<p>IMO, You should go for Cornell because reputation doesn’t go very far than an Ivy… Yet Cornell has great Economics Program. I think there is nothing that Yale-NUS degree can provide and a Cornell degree can’t; however, I can’t say vice-versa. </p>
<p>Whatever decision you make, don’t make it out of fear that an untested college isn’t good… One of the best qualities you can show, not to others but to yourself, is that you aren’t afraid of trying something new and bold. </p>
<p>Take my opinion with a grain of salt since I am a waitlisted candidate at Yale-NUS… :P</p>
<p>If I am not mistaken, Yale-NUS is actually in Singapore and you are going to school locally while your diploma might say Yale. Essentially you are falling back on NUS for prestige.</p>
<p>I am a bit lost on why you want to work in US if you come to US but work in Singapore if you go to Yale-NUS. Shouldn’t you have the same goal for both? So if you go to Cornell, shouldn’t you be considering how it is perceived in Singapore?</p>
<p>I believe Yale-NUS degrees are awarded by the National University of Singapore, NOT Yale University.</p>
<p>Okay so I am sorry if I was not completely clear. </p>
<p>Im not from Singapore or from the US. So at both Yale-NUS and Cornell, I would be an international student. Given the present economic scenario, I am hoping to keep my employment options open. Thus if I end up at Yale-NUS, I will look for a job in Singapore and my home country. If I go to the US, I will look for a job in the US and my home country. </p>
<p>And yes Yale-NUS degree is awarded by NUS but the diploma does bear the name Yale-NUS, so I am guessing I can leverage the bigger Yale name to my advantage in my home country.</p>
<p>What is your home country?</p>
<p>If you were coming to US and asked for Yale vs Cornell, I would rank Yale ahead of Cornell. However, you are comparing Yale in Singapore with Cornell in US and they are not considered a peer group. The experience you have at each of those schools will not be comparable.</p>
<p>Depends on what you want in a college.</p>
<p>From what I heard, at Yale-NUS you can expect people to be disciplined passion-less robots looking for excellent grades. Of course, that statement might be exaggerated, but in general, Asian students in Asia seem to go in that direction (from an American point of view, that is). You mustn’t forget that the majority of students that make up the class are still Singaporeans. I think only about 10% are international. Personally, I would be utterly miserable at Yale-NUS.</p>
<p>American colleges, on the contrary, seem to be places where “passion” plays a more important role. Obviously there are grade-conscious Americans, but apparently the situation is nowhere near as bad as in Singapore/Asia, where students choose classes not according to their interest but to the ease with which an A can be achieved.</p>
<p>It’s a different culture.</p>
<p>Well to answer texaspg, I’m from South Asia/Indian Subcontinent (*I’m not getting more specific; privacy reasons :/)</p>
<p>Personally when I went to Singapore for the ‘experience weekend’, the students there didn’t seem passionless or robotic. The international population of the accepted class was quite diverse with many from the US, Europe, Africa, but most of the enrolling international students are limited to Australasia geographically speaking.</p>
<p>So yes perhaps its not as international because even though as a percentage internationals may end up making 30%, a majority of them will still be from Asia. </p>
<p>I was just wondering what kind of challenges will I face as a student in the inaugural batch? Cornell seems easier because there are existing clubs and societies. At Yale-NUS, we’ll have to form these and request funds? Plus living with 150 students, that is kind of daunting if I don’t get along with the others? </p>
<p>I’m making my decision by tonight, so if anyone else has any insight into how life at Yale-NUS with 50 faculty members, 150 students and a handful of electives and majors turn out to be, please comment</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>The “more focused on grades” nature of Singaporean students might only truly come out when you actually study with them. On the outside, of course they can be nice and charming people. I don’t think it’s easy to deduce people’s priorities/study habits if you’re not looking closely and IN THE RIGHT CONTEXT, that is, sitting in on classes.</p>
<p>Apart from the “passion issue,” what kind of social do you prefer? An American one, where people are open but a bit superficial or an Asian one where people are reserved but deep?
Of course, I’m painting this a bit more black and white than it actually is but if I didn’t and said “Everything’s basically the same” it wouldn’t help much, would it?</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>