<p>BleedingBlue: In the greater world out there, Northwestern and Cornell have reputations that are almost identical. Many more similarities academically than differences. Both schools offer very wide ranging choices of majors. Both have very strong sciences, hum, SS, engineering departments. At the grad level, both have top law and med schools with Northwestern/Kellogg’s MBA holding a signficantly stronger rep than Cornell. Certain programs at each school are standouts - e.g. Hotel Admin and Architecture at Cornell, not available at NU - and Journalism/Medill, Music/Bienen, and Education/SESP at Northwestern, not available at Cornell. </p>
<p>Communications, as said before, is much stronger at NU. This is not because it’s an independent school. Comm at Cornell was envisioned as an agricultural communications program, based in the Ag school, where it remains. You’ll have to take 18 credits in the physical and life sciences to graduate, something most kids in the program hate and see absolutely no value in given their career aspirations. </p>
<p>Despite this, as I said before, you’ll get a solid grounding in the field at Cornell. But in Communications, reputation wise, Northwestern holds a significantly stronger position among those in the know in the field.</p>