Cornell (AEM) vs. Boston College

countryangel926
Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:29:09 +0000

I’ve been to almost all of my profs’/TAs’ office hours, and they have all been extremely caring and eager to help. It’s only been one semester and I’m sure Cornell has its fair share of not-so-great faculty, but so far I’ve been very impressed. For ex., my astronomy professor spent an entire hour patiently explaining one important concept to me, and my psychology professor discussed not only majoring and pursuing careers in psych, but also related personal stories about himself and his family. If you take the initiative to go to office hours and get to know your profs (no one will take you by the hand and force you to go), I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Cornell’s student body is certainly diverse, although I think it’s much too overplayed…most of the people I’ve met are from NY/NJ. Still, you’ll find a wide variety of interests and personal backgrounds. Many students are into partying/drinking, but many prefer sobriety and have fun in other ways; I also don’t drink or party and had no trouble making friends and having a great time socially. Clubs are easy to join and get involved in…there’s a huge club fair during orientation week where you can sign up for as many as you want (with no commitment), and everyone is really open to receiving new members.
Other than certain dual degree programs, you can unfortunately only major within your college. However, many minors are listed across colleges, and you are allowed to take courses in any of the 7. So you can major in AEM and take philosophy courses as electives, although keep in mind that CALS will limit the number of CAS credits you can take.
I’ve heard that AEM isn’t rigorous, but that’s purely speculation on my part.
The people I’ve met, the endless academic opportunities, the beauty of the campus…it really is a place for any student, any study, and you’ll make amazing friends along the way. I honestly wasn’t sure how much I’d like it here - I literally applied to Cornell at the last minute because my dad suggested it - but choosing to attend was the best decision I ever made.
I wouldn’t transfer out of Cornell, no. But as much as I love it…if you are happy at BC and feel like you’re getting a good education, I don’t see why you should transfer. What’s most important is that you’re comfortable where you are and will enjoy your college experience.