Cornell vs UPenn vs. Tufts for computer science

Dcollegeexplore
Mon, 05 Oct 2020 17:27:52 +0000

I am currently exploring options as I apply to college, and over the next week I am considering ED as well as RD. I plan to major in computer science, either as a BS or a BSE. I have some questions as I compare the computer science experience at Cornell, UPenn, and Tufts. In particular I am trying to get a better sense of the culture at computer science for these schools. Here are my questions:

1. I am a hard academic worker and fully expect to work hard, I know the workload will be high, and I am capable of studying well on my own as well as with others. It is very important to me to get good grades. I enjoy being with friends but I am not a partier. However, I am concerned about an intensely pressured, competitive, cutthroat environment. I am concerned about students being unfriendly and competitive with each other rather than friendly, and I am concerned about an environment which is so competitive that there are many nights without sleep and it is difficult to get As. How difficult is it to get As, and does grade deflation happen?

2. From what I hear, housing at all three of these schools can be difficult. Is it possible to get safe, comfortable, reasonably nearby housing as an upperclassman? And at Cornell, it sounds like Collegetown housing for upperclassmen is pretty poor - in some threads I have even seen the term “sub-slum”. Also, how do students in Ithaca get to class up on the hill, especially in the snow?

3. Penn and Tufts have cities behind them, but what opportunities are there for academic-year jobs and internships in the Ithaca area, for a student without a car?