Columbia vs. Cornell for Mathematics and/or Physics

brantly
Sat, 01 Apr 2017 17:22:17 +0000

Let’s break it down. The differences you need to look at are:

1. Location. Would you rather be in Manhattan or in Ithaca? If you haven't visited both campuses yet, do so ASAP.

2. Curriculum/Course Requirements. Make a spreadsheet of the EXACT courses (or choice of courses or course categories) you'd have to take each semester. Laying it out on paper can make it obvious which curriculum you prefer.

3. Cost. Ask (nicely) Cornell if they would match the F/A offer of Columbia. If they can't come close—say, within $5l/year—then your choice is obvious. You'll have to go with Columbia.

BTW, I did my undergrad at Cornell and grad at Columbia, albeit in a different field.