Cornell vs UPenn vs. Tufts for computer science

PikachuRocks15
Mon, 05 Oct 2020 17:49:53 +0000

Cornell > Penn >> Tufts for CS. At every school, you’ll find students who are collaborative and those who are competitive, it just depends on who you choose to associate yourself with.

1. Both Cornell and Penn don't have grade inflation (not necessarily grade deflation,) so expect to work hard----CS is a difficult major though, so it's not necessarily going to be easier at one school vs. another, unless you're looking for a school with more student-friendly grading policies (like Brown with no +/-, although I'm obviously biased b/c I go here.) Grading in college is also VERY different from high school, so that does account for some of the criticism surrounding grading (most students aren't used to not always getting As.)

2. Both Penn and Tufts are in large, urban cities. Crime happens everywhere, so it's up to you to be cognizant of your surroundings. Most universities have shuttle systems that are only for their students, so that can be one way to get around the city. Ithaca's much smaller, but the same goes as for Penn and Tufts: always be aware of your surroundings.

Snow isn’t an Ithaca issue, it’s a Northeast issue. If you’re from an area of the country that doesn’t see snow, just know that there’s little to no definition of a “snow-day:” you’re expected to go to school (attendance can be optional for some classes, but that’s another story) whether rain or shine, barring certain circumstances. You’ll likely invest in winter gear, and schools will likely plow the roads, use rock salt etc.

1. Cornell's a major research university, so as long as you're proactive and show interest, you'll be able to find research opportunities with faculty. An advantage of CS internships is that they can be remote, and Cornell has a strong alumni network across the country to help you find these. There will likely be on-campus jobs as well, for reference, my school keeps posting student jobs related to CS (whether with IT, an academic department etc.)

Most students not from the East coast don’t have a car, and many universities don’t allow freshmen to even bring one to campus. Again, most universities have a shuttle system, and there’s the public transit system as well.

If after further research you’ve decided that one of these three is your top choice, then I highly, highly recommend applying ED, as long as ALL of the following are true:

1. You LOVE your ED school and would 110% attend if admitted.

2. You're extremely confident you can present a well thought out and crafted application by the ED deadline, which can be found on the admissions website.

3. You and your family can afford your ED school if admitted (run the financial aid calculators if applicable, but keep in mind that Tufts, while meeting your full need, is need-AWARE i.e. your need is taken into account during the admissions process, though to what extent only Admissions knows.)

Hope that helps! Good luck with admissions!