MIT or Cornell?

[alfabet_soup]

<p>The problem is that I haven’t yet made up my mind about a major–only sure that I’m studying natural science. I’m not exactly the engineering person, and I’ve always wanted to learn a new language in college. (I write a lot, do sketches, and sometimes just wander around having no scientific approach to problems.) MIT tells me I’m a great match (which came as a surprise, really), while Cornell’s beautiful campus has long attracted me.
I have a couple questions:

1. Which has stronger natural science departments?
2. Is the look of the campus that important? What’s the feel of the Cornell campus? What’s Boston like? Is the MIT campus really that ugly? (I’m a US citizen abroad)
3. Will studying science among engineering students be fun? Or is it better to have more friends who study humanities? As I’m sure going to grad school, which would be a better choice for undergraduate study?
   Any advice would be greatly appreciated</p>

[kenf1234]

<p>Sounds to me like you’re more of a fit for Cornell, personality-wise. MIT isn’t the right place to go to, if you’re not sure it’s the right place for you.</p>

[alfabet_soup]

<p>Thanks kenf1234! I don’t know–I’m kind of under pressure, because people all go like, “MIT is such a great school, blah-blah-blah, go to MIT”, and my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles expect me to choose MIT. (I’m Chinese…) But I know this is my own choice</p>

[patlees88]

<p>It is foolish to choose MIT if you aren’t sure about engineering…MIT is arguably the hardest school academically in the country along with CalTech, and you are going to be miserable there if you aren’t the right fit for the school. I’ve seen several people who aren’t happy there and thus wanna transfer out. </p>

<p>I recommend Cornell bc it will give you way more flexibility and you can explore courses w/o any penalty. At MIT, you will be completing science and engineering core requirement courses regardless of your major. So, I strongly recommend cornell.</p>

[kenf1234]

<p>Well, I think the trump card for Cornell is “Ivy League”. If you decide on Cornell, whenever they talk about MIT, say, “Don’t you want me to go to an IVY LEAGUE school?”</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>MIT has stronger natural science departments, hands down.</p>

<p>The best choice for a student who wants to go to graduate school is a place that encourages undergraduates to do lots of meaningful research with field-leading scientists, which MIT certainly does. If you are coming from MIT, your GPA will essentially not matter for graduate school admissions.</p>

<p>Are you planning to visit MIT before making your decision? MIT is a really interesting and diverse place – sure, about half the students are engineering majors, but everybody has other interests too. I agree that you should go to the school where you feel most at home, but don’t make a judgment about MIT based only on stereotypes and hearsay.</p>

[norcalguy]

<p>Both places are exceptional in the natural sciences and you will be able to do great research as an undergrad at both places. Choose the school that would be a better fit (which sounds like it would be Cornell for you).</p>

[collegehelp]

<p>Cornell is building a new life sciences building on campus and is investing hundreds of millions of dollars into its life sciences programs.</p>

[alfabet_soup]

<p>patlees88, thanks! (I’m guessing you’re a Cornell student) Any person, any study, I always liked that. Does Cornell have enough challenge academically? I know it’s not tough as MIT, but I’ve been getting the idea that I shouls push my limits when I’m young and capable. And what does the community feel like, with 35% in-state students? </p>

<p>kenf1234, neat piece of advice–though the thing is, my parents:1)are engineering majors; 2)have always dreamed of MIT; 3)think Cornell is the lowest ranked Ivy; 4)believe Boston is better than Ithaca-in-the-middle-of-nowhere.</p>

<p>molliebatmit, thank you too! I can’t do a campus visit before my decision, big problem. I’m getting all sorts of second-hand info, like on the MIT admission blogs. What should I do to know more in this case?
Preparation for grad school and personal growth, hmmm. (Will I become a nerd at MIT?) I’m seeing MIT as a place where people have different interests and a very serious passion for engineering/sciences…</p>

<p>norcalguy, should I take into account the location as well? Ithaca is kind of isolated, I think, and Boston is such an exciting college town</p>

<p>collegehelp, does that mean that Cornell is putting more emphasis on life sciences, or does it mean Cornell is rich, or both?</p>

[jessiehl]

<p>

It is foolish to choose MIT if you aren’t sure about engineering…

</p>

<p>That’s ridiculous. I wasn’t an engineering major, and I loved it.</p>

<p>There are many people at MIT who learn new languages, write a lot, are involved in art in some way, and/or wander around a lot. Based on the little you’ve said, you do sound like a good fit…quirky, doing your own thing, and interested in research. :)</p>

<p>

Will I become a nerd at MIT?

</p>

<p>MIT tends to be a place where:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Geeks become geekier in terms of interests.</p></li>
<li><p>Geeks learn social skills, and real-world coping skills, and that they can be valued for who they are and not just how smart they are.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>

Is the MIT campus really that ugly?

</p>

<p>I wrote an essay about this, some time ago:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/life/residential_life_housing_options/bed_arrangements_in_dorms_and.shtml[/url]”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/life/residential_life_housing_options/bed_arrangements_in_dorms_and.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Will studying science among engineering students be fun?

</p>

<p>I thought it was great fun. These days, there’s a lot of science/engineering overlap, and I liked being exposed to both ways of approaching problems, and getting to integrate them.</p>

<p>Also, 21% of MIT undergrads are science majors. It’s not like you’d be alone.</p>

<p>I don’t know what branch of science you’re interested in, but MIT just build a new brain & cog sci building a couple of years ago, and just recently renovated the building that has a lot of the undergrad physics stuff.</p>

<p>This has been rather lopsided…I don’t actually know much about Cornell. But it seemed like people were trying to discourage you from MIT based on inaccurate ideas of what MIT is like, and I wanted to make sure that you heard from people who had been there (and that Mollie didn’t have to do this all herself ;)).</p>

<p>Really, the best way to get a sense of MIT would be CPW. If you can’t attend, then your best options are probably the blogs and talking to current students and young alums.</p>

[kenf1234]

<p>

kenf1234, neat piece of advice–though the thing is, my parents:1)are engineering majors; 2)have always dreamed of MIT; 3)think Cornell is the lowest ranked Ivy; 4)believe Boston is better than Ithaca-in-the-middle-of-nowhere.

</p>

<p>Hard having parents who are right about everything, isn’t it?</p>

[alfabet_soup]

<p>Thanks Mollie and Jessie!
I’m actually leaning towards MIT now. Yesterday a current student called me and now the ECs in my region are organizing a get-together. I’m keeping my options open on choosing a major, though I probably filled in biology and chemistry on my application.
The creativity of MIT (pretty vague) was what motivated me to apply, and now I’m seriously considering “the match between me and MIT”. Thanks everyone!</p>

[beefs]

<p>Go to MIT.</p>

[patlees88]

<p>

That’s ridiculous. I wasn’t an engineering major, and I loved it.

</p>

<p>my older brother went into MIT undeclared (leaning towards sloan), but he hated it there. the social and academic atmosphere just didn’t click w/ him. also, he said that the intro science courses at MIT, which everyone has to take, are brutally difficult esp when you aren’t an engineer. the thing is that if you aren’t an engineer, mit might not be the best place to be at among other top schools. my bro actually couldn’t stand this place any longer and transferred out. (to NYU stern years ago) besides, he told me that there were quite a few mit students that he knew of there that regretted choosing mit over other top schools and wished they could have their choices back. i am sure mit fits well for many people, but for some, it is a very tough place largely due to its academic rigor and intensity in math and science.</p>

<p>

patlees88, thanks! (I’m guessing you’re a Cornell student) Any person, any study, I always liked that. Does Cornell have enough challenge academically? I know it’s not tough as MIT, but I’ve been getting the idea that I shouls push my limits when I’m young and capable. And what does the community feel like, with 35% in-state students?

</p>

<p>cornell does have enough academic challenge, but it is reasonable amount of work. at cornell, u have access to such a broad range of course selection that u can choose to pick courses that are of interest and that are demanding. at the same time, u can choose to explore many electives/ courses at 7 different undergrad colleges. the community here feels nice. although i am not from NY, i felt at home and like it here very much socially and academically. i like the fact that cornell is like ‘traditional’ college experience bc i get to meet all diff kinds of people w/ diff interests and backgrounds. actually, after spending some time here, i think that cornell is one of the most social and ‘fun’ schools among the top schools.</p>