#Cornell ‘26 vs. Harvard ‘27 (Deferred Admission Program)

23 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

summer gazelle
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Schools: Cornell (this year) vs. Harvard (deferred admission program, would go in Fall 2023)
Intended major: Astrophysics / Aerospace Engineering

Cornell
Pros:

  • Would get to start college a year earlier
  • Technically better engineering program (I’m in CAS, though, so I’d have to transfer)
  • Closer to family

Cons:

  • A little too big of a school for my liking
  • Location (I love nature but Ithaca is pretty remote, especially as someone who doesn’t have a car)
  • Name brand isn’t as big as Harvard’s
  • Different “colleges” make it hard to transfer majors within the school
  • There seems to be a large problem with mental health at Cornell that makes me a little nervous

Harvard
Pros:

  • Overall higher academic prestige
  • Better location
  • Smaller undergrad population
  • Can cross-enroll at MIT for engineering courses
  • Grade inflation

Cons:

  • I’d have to take a gap year before going, and I don’t know if I want to or if I’m prepared to do that.

I think in the end what this comes down to is if I can be productive (read: not just sit on my couch…) over the gap year, if I choose to take that option. At its worst, this gap year could end up being a total waste of time, and at best it could be the best year of my life. I’m a very risk-inclined person so I’m tempted to just dive headfirst into the gap year, but the pragmatic side of my brain is telling me that Cornell is basically as good of a school as Harvard and that it’s not worth taking a whole gap year just so I can say I went to Harvard.

I’m very split on this whole thing. Let me know your perspectives - I’d love to hear them.

wispy perch
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@summer gazelle Harvard

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You seem to have way more cons for Cornell

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Also there are so many options for a gap year

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travel

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internships

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etc\

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just find what you like and pursure it

hexed cipher
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tbh go to cc and then Harvard to save time

summer gazelle
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And yeah, I’d probably take classes somewhere during the gap year if I end up taking Harvard’s offer. Just not sure it’s enough difference to justify not just going to Cornell instead

summer gazelle
hexed cipher
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Harvard is lightyears ahead of Cornell if you're at all interested in Business field (like management or finance)

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if you plan on STEM from what I heard it definitely gives you a boost on employment but the difference in pay you get is marginal (like maybe an initial bonus)

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but of course the Harvard name is a great way to gain respect everywhere in life

flint tiger
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harvard for sure

unique storm
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@summer gazelle check your pm

wispy perch
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@tender arrow uchicago has z list?

safe vector
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Harvard

spare parcel
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Holy fuck we are in the presence of a z list

idle nova
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My dad got z listed for grad school and he wasn’t legacy or rich lol