I was fortunately accepted into many great colleges but I’ve narrowed it down to these two. However, I am having a hard time making the final decision between the two especially after visiting both. I applied as MSE for both Cornell and JHU but am not sure if I’ll stick with this major since I am also interested in the natural sciences.
Overall I’m looking for:
- great academics
- strong engineering & natural sciences programs (in case I end up switching)
- opportunities to study abroad
- good internship placements
- easier placement into grad school (hoping to get a PhD) & eventual research job (public or corporate)
- flexibility in exploring and switching study areas & variety in academics
- flexibility in adding majors and minors even outside of STEM
- UNDERGRAD RESEARCH (would be great to do superconductivity and/or bioplastics research, but am open to any)
- mental health resources
- city campus/location (I live near NYC so I want a similar feel)
- Asian grocery stores/restaurants nearby
- established Asian (Japanese) & LGBTQ+ communities
- good overall school community & supportiveness
Pros for JHU:
- urban/city location
- easy access to public transportation back home & to a lot of East Coast cities
- smaller campus
- slightly nicer weather than Cornell
- personally have a stronger draw to the university
- great undergrad research
- new student center
- can double major across schools & have heard it is easier to double major/minor in non-STEM areas even as an engineering student
Cons for JHU:
- more expensive ($5k more per year, but have appealed; probably not getting the new package by 5/1)
- feels like a weaker engineering program since most of the school is leaning medical
- lack of strong school spirit
- Homewood campus library (not Peabody) closed for at least a year
Pros for Cornell:
- very nice campus
- better dining hall food
- cheaper by $5k/yr (finaid package does have federal unsubsidized loans)
- Ivy League name & connections
- have a couple of friends at Cornell & IC
- famously strong MSE program & good job placement
- already met a MSE professor
- lots of Asian restaurants near campus
- Japanese Taiko performance group on campus that I would love to join
- better school spirit
Cons for Cornell:
- large campus (takes longer to get around, especially in the colder months)
- rural setting, harder to travel outside of the Ithaca area
- worried about finding the right people with such a big student body
- Ivy League stereotypical students?
- personally slightly more reluctant to commit
- can’t double major across schools (can minor)
I am leaning towards JHU but I’m worried I’m making the wrong decision especially as a likely engineering major. Also, if anyone has additional information on these schools and their programs please let me know!