<p>Which school is better for chemistry/biochemistry and arabic language? I need quite a bit of freedom in choosing what classes and majors/minors I want to take because at this point I’m interested in a bunch of stuff. I want to go ton the premed track, but I don’t want to swamped in a lot of science classes. I’d love taking classes in gender studies, history, philosophy and public policy. </p>
<p>I’d also like to study abroad in Jordan or Egypt, and join a bunch of clubs. Can anyone help me?</p>
<p>I was under the impression that you could take classes at cornell’s other colleges. when would I be able to transfer?</p>
<p>Also, If I do go into Human Ecology, can I still take courses in the humanities and Arabic? In that respect, would columbia give me more freedom? :/</p>
<p>You can take classes in the other colleges without being in them but you do need to graduate from the college with your major. Lots of students end up changing colleges while at Cornell, but you may need a certain GPA to transfer colleges. So you are free to explore, then when you find something you like, you need to be in the college that has that major.</p>
<p>You can take classes in any college and get a minor across colleges too, but you can only major in what your college offers. If you feel like another college has a major that suits you better, then you would apply to transfer.</p>
<p>You can transfer from one college to another while at Cornell and it is not difficult to do so. </p>
<p>Columbia is a great school but it does not have the traditional college feel that Conell has. I always think of Columbia as being a great environment for grad school but it could never provide the experiences that Cornell does for undergrads. Cornell offers students a huge campus with natural beauty and amazing opportunities to do all sorts of fun and exciting things. You could never go wrong being at Cornell especially since you live in the city and could do everything you do now when you are home on breaks. </p>
<p>hpyscm-----You have no idea what you are saying but your opinion is just that…an opinion.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Very similar schools for the quality of students and set-up of the school</p></li>
<li><p>Columbia’s core and Cornell distribution requirements are two very different approaches to lay an educational foundation. One is not fundamentally better than the other just different and any individual student might prefer one over the other. From your earlier comments Columbia’s core does not appear to jive with your desire to explore as well as distribution requirements would.</p></li>
<li><p>Columbia’s location in NYC and Cornell’s in Ithaca would provide very different college experiences … again one is not better then the other just different … and again I believe any specific student might have a strong preference for one of the environments. Columbia provides easy access to one of the world’s great cities and has a nice campus for a city school … Cornell, on the other hand, is in a great college town, with a thriving campus live and culture. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Personally, I think the students and academics are a virtual wash … I would suggest going for fit and your feelings about issues like NYC/Ithaca, Core/Distribution Requirements, and relative campus environments.</p>
<p>One final thought … this is a no lose choice … what great options … congrats!</p>
<p>thank you everyone! @Colene, i don’t have kids lol. I’m just trying to get a feel for the strengths/weakness of the colleges I’ve been accepted to in order to make a choice when I visit all of them</p>