<p>After being waitlisted at Cornell, I recieved a guaranteed transfer for the CALS biological sciences major. As of this fall I am attending Wisconsin-Madison’s honors program and majoring in Actuarial Science. Both schools are extremely appealing to me, and I am deadlocked in a decision. In order to fulfill Cornell’s transfer requirements, I cannot do Actuarial Science at UW. So I have a question: how easy is it to transfer to AEM from biological sciences? Both are in CALS. Any thoughts or tips will be highly appreciated.</p>
<p>It’s admittedly tougher to transfer into AEM than other programs because it’s such a pouplar major, but you should be fine if you do well in your business-related classes before applying to switch. Since you’re coming in as a sophomore, I’d try taking some actuarial science classes at UW to demonstrate your interest in business and to get a head start on fulfilling AEM requirements (assuming your UW credits will be transferable).</p>
<p>Wisconsin has better biology programs and research than Cornell, with one of the world’s strongest math and undergraduate business programs. </p>
<p>Madison is <em>the best</em> college town in America, with a great social life, sports, beautiful women, and is gorgeous (although I will concede Cornell is pretty).</p>
<p>You should be getting pumped for Madison as opposed to thinking about transfering. It will be a self-fufilling prophecy.</p>
<p>You seem to love UW a lot. I went for orientation just a month ago, and the city really is very nice. But ultimately, it comes down to Ivy versus amazing college experience.</p>
<p>“But ultimately, it comes down to Ivy versus amazing college experience.”</p>
<p>Yes, because the two are always mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>“Wisconsin has better biology programs and research than Cornell, with one of the world’s strongest math and undergraduate business”</p>
<p>what are you, on crack? wisconsin in no way has a better biology program than cornell, and definitely not better research than cornell.</p>
<p>My son applied only to those two schools and was accepted by both. Madison is much beloved by seemingly every single person who has ever gone there (at least that’s my experience here in Minnesota, where Badgers abound). Truly, people rave about that place and get misty-eyed, even thirty years after graduating. However . . . I think the academic quality is higher at Cornell, and Cornell’s campus beauty is bar none. DS loves Cornell but we all think a little wi****lly about Madison. </p>
<p>Timmao, I predict you will love Madison and stay there.</p>
<p>Not sure why my message got the ***, above.</p>
<p>You’ll get a great education at either school. Cornell pros: superb academics and facilities (but Wisconsin is no slouch in these areas either), beautiful campus, Ivy League reputation, terrific dorm food, great networking/career opportunities. Cornell cons: very rural and isolated setting, Ithaca overrated as a college town, brutal winters (although Wisconsin isn’t much better), academically competitive to the point of being unhealthy, huge introductory lecture classes and little personal attention (which you shouldn’t have to put up with at any Ivy League school, given the cost of attendance), mediocre for financial aid (compared to peer schools). Wisconsin pros: very strong academics and good facilities, excellent reputation (“public Ivy”), significantly less expensive than Cornell, GREAT college town. Wisconsin cons: huge introductory lecture classes and little personal attention (but more expected at a public university), brutal winters (not much difference between Madison and Ithaca), maybe a little less diverse student body than Cornell (but not by much), terrible financial aid for non-residents.</p>
<p>I’m taking a visit to Ithaca right before I leave for Wisconsin. This will help make a decision final.</p>
<p>I agree that they’re both great schools. They were my top two, actually. I sometimes get the smallest twinge of regret that I will be missisng out on Madison, which has always been one of my favorite cities.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I can help at all, though, it’s so much a personal choice. I could be happy at either, I think, but it really depends on you. It seems like it would be going through the whole college selection process again…perhaps not the most fun thing in the world.</p>
<p>Sorry, this didn’t turn out to be very insightful.</p>
<p>mrsopresident: </p>
<p>I believe Wisconsin is indeed higher ranked than Cornell on the Gourman Report. Wisconsin has one of the best biology programs in the country, and if it isn’t higher ranked than Cornell (which means little by the way), it is indeed of the same caliber.</p>
<p>Also in terms of R&D expenditures, Wisconsin is 4th in the nation and Cornell is 11th.</p>
<p>Guess you’re the one on crack or just spewing nonsense.</p>