My D came off the waitlist at both, within a couple of days of each. Now trying to choose between the two…
We live on the east coast (Hudson valley) 3 hrs drive from Cornell - so that’s definitely closer. UCLA is of course cheaper.
Putting cost and distance aside, and focusing only on quality of CogSci programs, and internship/job outcomes, which is better?
Maybe also consider where she hopes to be after college. Each will likely offer more opportunities in its own coast, including for internships throughout.
Cannot address your specific question regarding CogSci, but can suggest that you assess the ease and ability to switch majors if your daughter loses interest in this specific major.
Yes, full pay OOS UCLA is cheaper - but still expensive.
The degree will likely require a lowly paid job or grad school. It’s interdisciplinary - and doesn’t lend itself to anything in particular.
Cornell itself has a fantastic career board - where you can see outcomes - but I don’t see the major listed at all. You might ask the department or career center for outcomes.
So I used what I could as a sub - UNC has a dashboard, not with cognitive but with neuro and the average salary is $45K with a median of $39K.
There was a robust discussion on UNC and UVA - that perhaps given the jobs taken, many were pre-med so I don’t know if your student is or not.
Others wrote their kids have jobs in IB, etc. and other things.
I don’t think there’s a “better” for internships and outcomes - it will be based on how hard your student works to obtain - even at the top schools, many are finding today via linkedin and indeed - as Cornell shows on their website with some but much less finding them via alums or the career office.
In the end, it’s a degree that in general terms may not have financial upside (but it may) so assuming you can afford either, which does the student prefer?
PS The good news is - both are well known for food. The student won’t go hungry!!
I’m an UCLA alum. I’m also In-State CA.
But if it was down to UCLA and Cornell for my kids, I would encouraging them to pick Cornell.
Unless there is something about West L.A. /Santa Monica that attracts your daughter, I would think Cornell is hard to beat.
Just in case she doesn’t know, just play the song “California Girls” by Katy Perry. If she doesn’t feel the vibe, then pick Cornell.
These are both very good schools and it is going to come down to which one she likes better. She can get internships from both. It will be up to her to take advantage of opportunities, speak with profs etc.
What is she planning to do with this degree? The one person I know from Cornell with a similar major had a research position for 2 years and then went to grad school.
WL into CAS or CALS? Can you major in CogSci from CALS to obtain the instate discount?
Regardless, I’m not a fan of paying OOS rates to attend a UC. I’d recommend Cornell.
Doesn’t look like they can, but I don’t know for sure.
That discussion about neuroscience at UNC vs UMD was initiated by this parent. The student must have committed to one and then came off a WL.
My advice still holds. Most students with this major go to grad school, but not all…and it is possible to find a job.
ahhhhhhh - see you have good cognitive skills.
UNC is cheaper than both of these - for that major, it’s a win 
or UMD.
I am a little confused as to why UCLA is a contender over UNC or UMD. It is a very good school, but I do not see a reason to attend UCLA over these other two. Maybe family is there?
The choices are between UNC and Cornell, or UMD and Cornell…depending on which school the student chose….imo.
Three different people can make three different choices, and none would be bad.
@twogirls you are on point!
Student was ready to go with UMD (6/1 deadline) on Sunday night for Neuroscience… this Monday morning, came off Cornell waitlist for CogSci (major the student prefers, not offered at UMD or UNC), and then this morning off the UCLA waitlist, also for CogSci.
Since we can only choose from actual offers, earlier dilemma was over UMD/UNC for Neuro, waitlist options were not considered then.
Since the new WL options are for CogSci, I was trying to reduce to a single option, which we can then bake off against the Neuro option we had in mind.
What does your D want to do with a cognitive science degree (just curious)?
I would take a deep dive into neuroscience vs cogsci and see exactly where her interests lie, compare the courses etc.
Congrats on having two more good choices!!
I liked the advice I read earlier on another thread – what would have been the choice if she’d gotten into all of these schools at the same time?
(Also, I have to disagree with the earlier poster who recommended listening to Katy Perry’s California Girls to get the vibe of UCLA. My kid goes to UCLA now, and while she has surely donned “daisy dukes with a bikini on top” to a party or two, she is also involved in a pre-law fraternity, edits a literary journal, leads professor hikes and is double-majoring. 
And one of her roommates is a CogSci major… I can ask her any specific questions your D might have!)
Assuming all options are comfortably affordable does your D have a preference?
Has she looked online to get information about course offerings and professors at the colleges?
The cognitive science major at Cornell began in the fall of 2022. This does not make it a bad choice, but it does mean that certain information could be limited or not yet available.
I am actually impressed with this major at UCLA…after reading about it. The issues, at least for me, would be the distance and cost.
ahhhhh- why it wasn’t in the career outcome sheet. Thanks
Does your kid have a strong preference? I’ve lived in LA and Upstate New York. I would pick New York in a heartbeat. There are oddly people who prefer the LA vibe though.
UCLA has a specialization in computing within the cognitive science major. This began in the fall of 2023 and allows for “extensive education” in computer science.
I don’t see this to the same degree at Cornell, but I may be missing something. They do have a new data science minor to add.
UMD also has a data science minor that you could add to neuroscience. This may work given her career interests.
I think this is a hard decision with different factors coming into play. Good luck!