Stuck between Cornell & Duke-Please Help!

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>note: I’ll be posting in both forums to get both perspectives.</p>

<p>I’m glad to be able to choose between these great colleges, but just which has been screwing me over. I’ve already visited both pre-frosh weekends and May 1 is on its jolly way…
I’m looking to major in econ w/ public policy/international relations.</p>

<p>i’ve heard that cornell kind of puts you out there on your own, you find your niche and what you need. some say they feel like a number…the impression i got was that even cornell freshmen were pretty mature. the education seems more “academic” than “applied”. cornell seems like a little universe in itself and i did appreciate that…but then i hear about it getting ****ted on by other ivies and i just dont need that. ive heard enough about inadequacy and dont want to deal with more of it–even if it’s unfounded and cornell is a great institution. enough is enough.</p>

<p>duke, on the other hand, can afford to give more attention to students probably because of its size. it seems to have more programs and might be more on the “applied” end of the spectrum than cornell is (by “applied” i mean setting pre-law, pre-med, pre-business tracks rather than focus on an “academic” liberal arts education). then i hear that they coddle their students and the rich families fawn over their spoiled kids and whatnot…or duke kids arent as mature or “deep” as cornell kids bc theyre ushered into preparation. </p>

<p>upon visiting i think i tried to force myself to like cornell and i did like it…i actually tried to make myself hate duke just to have an easier decision but ended up liking it lots too. i used to live in NC and i really love the research triangle area…but really environment doesnt matter to me as long as i get a good education and good opportunities after i graduate. and what about international prestige? it seems domestically duke is getting the upper hand, but my parents (immigrants) wont let go of the cornell recognition overseas. i’m thinking of eventually going into international economic law.</p>

<p>i am just so freaking torn and each time i lean toward one college my parents will totally shut it down and favor the other one. now i feel like ill be miserable no matter where i go. i just want to be happy and form meaningful friendships and get the best education i can. please help?</p>

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<p>Cornell is simply a wonderful place to be a student. I caution anyone not to judge Cornell [or any school] by reading CC, with its small sample of posters and handful of ■■■■■■. The only **** you’ll ever find about Cornell is that flung on these forums. All I can say I couldn’t imagine myself being anywhere other than here, in Ithaca.</p>

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<p>Cornell has great programs in all the things you are specifically interested in. On top of that, you can round out your education with other classes in countless subjects. Whatever you’re interested in learning about is available at Cornell - that is not the case at Duke. Duke is a fabulous school, but Cornell has something for everyone. We went back for Cornell Days and I was particularly impressed with the support system my son will have - peer advisor, faculty advisor, academic advisor. There are so many helpful people along the way to help him with whatever comes up. They emphasized the collaborative nature of the school. Students support each other and help each other. The professor who spoke to our group was amazing - it made my son want to study his field! Cornell is large, but there are 7 colleges under that umbrella and I truly feel they go the extra mile within those colleges to make students succeed and promote their happiness. It definitely has that “wow” factor…it that’s what you’re going for. I think it would be a good thing to have on your resume wherever you decide to go after graduation. My guess is that jobs in NY and Chicago would be possible. and probable.</p>

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<p>they’re both great, just go for the school that’s better for your specific major.
either way, it will be about your talents and effort – both schools will provide you more than enough opportunities to excel anyway…</p>

<p>and yes, cornell is often described as inferior to other ivies, Lol, in this forum that is.</p>

<p>it’s not… how stupid could a person be to say one ivy league school is significantly better than another, it varies depending on the student’s preferences.</p>

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<p>Go to Duke. Cornell is great but the weather and area just isn’t worth it. It’s nearly April and it freaking flurried yesterday…meanwhile in NC they’ve had summer weather for months. Also the Triangle has a much higher quality of life. Ithaca, in general, is dirty. The citizens of Ithaca are all ugly and dress like hobos, and the whole area is fairly depressing. The Triangle is happy, warm, and friendly. It’s a no-brainer for atmosphere.</p>

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<p>because Durham, NC has a sterling history of happy, warm, and friendly</p>

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<p>“Ithaca, in general, is dirty. The citizens of Ithaca are all ugly and dress like hobos, and the whole area is fairly depressing. The Triangle is happy, warm, and friendly. It’s a no-brainer for atmosphere”</p>

<p><em>Chuckle</em>, semi true. The students themselves are amazing though.</p>

<p>We only get sh**ted on on the forums because of the apparent, relative ease of some of the colleges in respect to the other ivies recently by ■■■■■■, prospective applicants (until they realize perhaps that it’s not so easy in the coming spring), and people that have nothing better to do. In terms of quality and breadth of education (& opportunities), they got nothing on us :).</p>

<p>Go with your heart. You’ll be spending the next four years in the college you choose. Choose somewhere where you think you would be pretty happy.</p>

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<p>DarkIce, I hold the opposite opinion. I think location is a distinct advantage for Cornell. There are many reasons why USA Today named Ithaca the best college town in America [natural beauty, 4 state parks and Lake Cayuga nearby, welcoming laid-back vibe, highly educated residents, etc.] During the academic year, students make up fully half the population of Ithaca. The weather everywhere in the northeast has been lousy this winter.
The spring, I’m sure, will be just beautiful.</p>

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<p>Maybe this helps (eg #6, 31)
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/928519-cornell-vs-duke.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/928519-cornell-vs-duke.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>It sounds like you are looking at the A&S college, which is Cornell’s liberal arts college. Keep in mind, most of the undergrad population is actually studying specialized “applied” fields in Cornell’s seven other colleges, all of which you can take courses in. Have you looked at the Policy Analysis and Management program in the College of Human Ecology? Or the school of Industrial and Labor Relations? In terms of pre-law, you should contact the PLAN counselor for your specific college if your are looking for direction in your coursework. You may even be able to take regular coursework at Cornell Law School (a top 14) with regular law school students. </p>

<p>In terms of pre-business, have you looked at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management in CALS? This is a top-5 undergraduate business program, comparable to Wharton. Its programs in international development/global studies are arguably the best in the world. Also, you should look at the Hotel School as Hotel Administration is a deeply complex corporate field offering fundamentals of business coursework in corporate finance, marketing, and real estate development (as well as amusing courses in restaurant management, cooking with 5 star chefs, beer-brewing, and wine-making). The Johnson School of management also has some courses in management and finance open to some undergraduates, which offer spectacular coursework and networking opportunities. The ILR schools offers a great coursework in management, entrepreneurship, and HR, as well as PAM in the HumEc school, which offers courses in non-profit entrepreneurship, finance, and management, but with an emphasis on public policy aspects. </p>

<p>In terms of pre-med placement, for students with 3.0’s and 30mcats, choice placement is about 97%. I think the overall placement rate is closer to 71%. You should contact your college counselors. In this aspect, Cornell’s location is a probably a significant disadvantage as competition for local health internships will be stiff and clinical experience may be hard to come by. I don’t know how involved Duke’s medical school is with its undergraduate students, but Cornell’s is in NYC so that’s a consideration. CALS and Human Ecology offer excellent pre-med pathway programs, and A&S has excellent counselors and summer programs. Do realize that Cornell is emphatically a scientific research university, with a great deal of biological research across a wide range of fields, </p>

<p>Cornell’s overall student to faculty ratio is around 9:1, but the actual student experience varies by college. Some of the colleges feel very communal like a tiny liberal arts college but with a focus, while other colleges have the feel of a bustling research institution with crowds of busy scholars mobbing the quads. </p>

<p>If you are really confident about majoring in public policy, you should check out this Daily Sun article from a couple weeks ago:
[No</a> New Progress on Public Policy School | The Cornell Daily Sun](<a href=“http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2011/04/07/no-new-progress-public-policy-school]No”>http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2011/04/07/no-new-progress-public-policy-school)
The prospect that this new school of public policy will actually forme sometime in the next couple years could attract some incredible faculty and internship opportunities. Consolidating Cornell’s amazing programs in education policy, labor policy, human ecology, health administration, public administration, regional planning, and civil engineering into a single institution could prove to be very beneficial but the plan has stalled as of yet. </p>

<p>As for the “shouldn’t be an Ivy” thing, the truth is Cornell probably shouldn’t be. Cornell is radically different from the other schools in the Ivy League, precisely because of its incredible focus on applied knowledge, along with its founding principles of secular diversity and social mobility. The undergrad population is comes mostly from US public schools, and yet it features students from countries all over the world. If you come to Cornell you will leave with a radically changed world-view, and that is to be expected. The socioeconomic diversity here is definitely something to consider, how you value it is a judgment call.</p>

<p>The thing is, Cornell is an Ivy. Nobody knows how it happened or why, but all seven of the other schools at some point agreed that Cornell should be in the League and so it was. That prestige-bestowing unchangeable fact will follow you for the rest of your life as a Cornell grad. So it goes. </p>

<p>Good luck with your decision, awesome options… let us know if you have any more questions.</p>

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<p>Fantastic post WillHeMakeIt. Makes me want to go back to Cornell all over again.</p>

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<p>“Nobody knows how it happened or why…”
Maybe I’m just special, but I think I know. I read about it. The people who wrote what I read know it too.
My guess is you could find out, if you tried.</p>

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<p>I know I would have had a very difficult decision if I got into Duke (didn’t apply). Just simply choose the place you honestly feel like you belong. The weather here isn’t as awful as people say, but Durham is certainly a strong upgrade. Cornell’s prestige in the business world and elsewhere is a bit higher. In addition, nobody has ever looked down at me for going to Cornell, and my friends at other Ivies and I may joke about it sometimes, but the fact of the matter is we all have the same opportunities at successful careers. I’m honestly really glad I’m going here instead of the other Ivies.</p>

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<p>And, probably most importantly, this week’s coaches poll for men’s lacrosse has Cornell #3 and Duke #6!</p>

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<p>Actually, I read that Cornell was the 4th (or was it 5th) member of the league; not the last as its founding date might suggest. So in reality, Cornell was the one who gave the okay for the other 3 or 4 schools to join the ivy league.</p>

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<p>Behappy, Ithaca may be named “best collegetown” but Raleigh and many surrounding areas are on usually on the “best place to live” category, including a large suburb (Cary) being number one a few years back. There’s a reason the Triangle was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. I’m simply saying that Ithaca is cold and dirty - off campus you’ll pay like $700 a month ( AFTER splitting it 3 ways!) for some nasty old apartment from 1850 with no AC. In Raleigh you can pay $700 (total) for a brand new 3 bedroom with AC. Not to mention there is sooo much more to do in Raleigh. And you can’t beat summer starting in Late Feb. and lasting until October. The Cornell campus is like chronically covered in slush and mud from October to May. City-wise, the Triangle easily beats Ithaca. I’d choose Duke in a heartbeat.</p>

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<p>Also:</p>

<p>“There are many reasons why USA Today named Ithaca the best college town in America [natural beauty, 4 state parks and Lake Cayuga nearby, welcoming laid-back vibe, highly educated residents, etc.]”</p>

<p>Natural Beauty:
True, Ithaca is beautiful. It probably does win here over the Triangle.</p>

<p>4 state parks:
There are a ton of parks in the Raleigh area as well…and what good is a park if it’s too cold to go to it for 10 months of the year? At least in the Triangle you can actually visit the parks…</p>

<p>Welcoming, laid-back:
Ok, no. Northerners I’ve encountered are FAR more rude than anyone in NC. Maybe it’s laid back and welcoming compared to other NORTHERN cities, but people are a million times more friendly in the Triangle.</p>

<p>Highly Educated:
The triangle is also extremely educated and liberal. The largest suburb, Cary, was listed as one of the most educated cities in America, and here’s the 2010 list of most educated metros:</p>

<p>1 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 46.8 percent
2 Bridgeport, CT, 43.8 percent
3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, 43.5 percent
4 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, 43.4 percent
5 Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH, 41.9 percent
6 Raleigh, NC, 41.5 percent
7 Madison, WI, 39.8 percent
8 Austin, TX, 38.2 percent
9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI, 37.6 percent
10 Denver-Aurora, CO, 37.5 percent </p>

<p>Notice number 6. </p>

<p>And on this list:
[25</a> Most Educated Cities - Slideshows - Portfolio.com](<a href=“http://www.portfolio.com/slideshows/2010/12/25-Most-Educated-Cities/]25”>http://www.portfolio.com/slideshows/2010/12/25-Most-Educated-Cities/)</p>

<p>You’ll notice Durham at Number 4, and Raleigh at number 12 for educated cities.</p>

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<p>Does it REALLY make sense to pick a college because of weather? Cornell has the bigger bang for the buck all over the country. All the kids up there adjust to the weather and end up loving their experience. Being able to take a class in pretty much anything you can possibly think of and having classmates from all over the country and all over the world - literally - makes the Cornell experience much more broadening than anything Durham has to offer. Durham’s nothing special, by the way. Very suburban campus and you need a car to get anywhere. Ithaca has a town you can walk to and a great bus system.</p>

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<p>I’d choose Ithaca in a heartbeat. I can also cite many media accolades for Ithaca [e.g. ranked #1 by the Daily Beast as the best place to live for recent college grads, or ranked 3rd by Forbes for America’s smartest cities]. I also don’t find Ithaca particularly expensive, as restaurants and entertainment is geared to the college community. I’m also not enamored with Durham.</p>

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<p>I also take offense to the Northerners being rude. We are from Virginia and my son visited Duke. From what I could tell, a large percentage of the student body is from the North and you say it’s a campus full of friendly people. Duke left us cold, but nothing is for everyone. ALL the people we have crossed paths with along the way to his choosing Cornell have been amazingly friendly and welcoming. Maybe DarkIce has never actually been up to Ithaca? Could that be the case?</p>