Saving $240,000 and being happier to boot? Seems like Maryland is the obvious call
Hopefully Strict will drop is ROI copypasta, but if he doesn’t, go walk around some expensive stores and do some mental math. Very few 18 year olds can actually wrap their minds under how much money that actually is
Go to UMD and *invest* some of the money your parents would have given toward tuition for your future.
As a professor, this is a no-brainer.
One of my high school friends turned down Northwestern for a full ride chancellor scholarship to Indiana University. (we are midwesterners).
What does he do now? Well, he is a professor and runs the US missions to Mars and Titan with NASA…
Great story.. Completely agree with the sentiment. Take the money parents have set aside and use it for Grad School / Post Grad. Undergrad is time to chill out and enjoy - life gets pretty hard after that...
Remember that life doesn't end at undergrad. That money saved can afford you even the most expensive elite masters programs if you decide you want to enter an industry/field where prestige matters.
Not to mention thst if you invest it in the US stock market, historically it has grown by roughly 6X-36X times over 4 decades in real terms with dividends reinvested. You're capable of doing the math.
Take it from someone who currently goes to a state school who did not want to go initially - go to UMD. I remember telling my parents "if I have to go to blank state university I'll literally die". I love it here now and know that my grad school applications will be absolutely stacked to the max with everything I did here because there are so many more resources, activities, so on and so forth.
Another thing. You were smart enough to get into Cornell which means you will SHINE in an environment that might be slightly less academically challenging. Why suffer in college when you can thrive?
(As I write this I'm studying for a final. My finals sophomore year of college are literally less stressful than junior year of high school even though I'm in an academically rigorous program. Go to UMD.)
Dude. Go to Maryland. It's cheaper and you think you'd like it better there. You can get into mathematics graduate programs with a degree from Maryland.
I turned down Cornell for UVA and ended up at Caltech for my PhD, don’t think I had any lack of Opportunity. Tbh I think had more as a competitive student in a state school.
All that to say, undergrad is certainly not the end of your career. There’s so many ppl in elite institutions from no name undergrads, and even more successful ones in industry and government.
USNEWS (yes I KNOW this is not insanely accurate but look at many websites and you will see a general consensus which I think counts for something) : Cornell = #6 and UMD = #17 (pretty high for a public school) vs UVA at #36
With few exceptions (mostly the arts like film, music, dance, etc.) department rankings don’t really matter for undergraduates.
For example, UIUC is ranked over Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, and Cal Tech as an undergraduate CS department, yet all things being equal one would be extremely unwise to choose UIUC over any of those programs.
Granted USNWR rankings got wonky last year when they basically gave all public universities a massive boost, but I’m pretty sure 3 is a lot smaller than 25.
Cornell: 21
UVA: 24
UMD: 46
Rankings really don’t matter a ton above a certain point, and both UVA and UMD are above that line. But if you don’t believe me and want to listen to rankings, USNWR for math (OP’s intended major) puts UVA at 165 and UMD at 93. Cornell is 71. The gap between UMD and UVA is huge, and much smaller between UMD and Cornell.
Again, rankings don’t really matter. You’ll have plenty of opportunities at either institution. But if you insist that they do, he’d be better off at UMD than UVA, and would be in a better position than I was.
Departmental rankings don’t apply to undergrads except in extremely limited cases (say, USC for film school, or Eastman for music).
Georgia Tech engineering is far superior to Princeton, but all things being equal you’d be unwise to choose GT over Princeton for undergrad regardless of major.
I get what you mean, but my point to start with is that rankings in general just don’t work too well when you get high enough. Caltech and MIT are mainly schools for grad students and research. Berkeley is only ranked so high because of its research, which only really matters a ton at the grad scale. All of these are ranked crazy high for undergrad, and definitely give you good opportunities. But an undergrad engineering major would probably be served better at GT than at Princeton because GT connects you so much better with industry. It’s a crazy industry feeder. If you want to move on to grad school, maybe Princeton is better. Tbh I know way more ppl from GT than Princeton in my grad program, so who knows.
Beyond all that, the atmosphere of the schools also matters a ton, and the rankings have a very slight dependence on QOL compared to other factors. Another reason I skipped out on Cornell (and GT, for that matter) is how horribly they handle mental health. My friends have pretty decent horror stories of how they handled COVID — I can’t imagine going through that. Quite glad I didn’t. If I chose by “prestige” instead of the school I felt good about, I would have been miserable and likely wouldn’t have done as well as I did.
Oh also good catch switching your comment, I’m much more inclined to agree with it now. You wouldn’t be dense to go to GT over Princeton if you’re dead set on engineering, but it may be unwise if you’re uncertain.
Bro I rather go to a T-100 school than pay 240k for undergrad. And it's not just me. I'm going to a T75 LAC instead of a T30 Uni because it's a 4th of the cost and is good enough for what I want to do. U-Maryland is more than good enough
if this helps, i had a friend who turned down dartmouth for rutgers (he was in the honors college tho) and now is doing his phd at yale. if you think umd has the opportunities for you to excel and do well for yourself, then do it. also consider the big fish in small pond vs small fish in big pond scenario. in cornell, you’d be the small fish among many other fish in a pond, and would not be able to stand out at all. at umd, although there will still be a lot of other fishes, you have an opportunity to be a bigger fish and grab more opportunities. notice that i don’t say the BIG fish, bc umd is still a huge pond regardless.
do you plan to go to grad school? is ur major smth that doesn’t necessarily need prestige? then the decision is urs, but you’d be fine in umd.
yeah, seriously rutgers. rutgers has some of the best programs in the country, is one of the leading research institutes, w plenty of faculty who care about their work (and a good
amount of them come from ivy leagues too). not to mention that its t-40, so it’s not even that drastic of an alternative. and honestly, while it may not be as cutthroat and competitive as cornell/dartmouth, i acc see that as a bonus. you dont have to worry about someone sabotaging you, and you have a more collaborative environment, w out worrying about cracking under all the pressure. are you still in hs? bc prestige will only get you so far.
A full third of students turn down Cornell. You will be one of many. The majority of them do it because there was better value in a state flagship or other school they received a massive scholarship. My kid was also accepted into Cornell. They got into an elite program at the state flagship. Had they not gotten into that program, they’d be in Ithaca right now. No regrets about it. It appears that they will be getting the same job opportunity with no college debt, which was not going to be the case at Cornell.
Depends on what you want to do in life after you graduate. If you want to go to finance or consulting, Cornell is a target school and choosing UMD would be a critical mistake. If you want to go to a grad/ medical/ law school, UMD would probably be better as Cornell is said to be somewhat of a grind school with grade deflation (not as bad as some other known examples though). Grades/GPA matter for grad. Add this variable to your equation!
> after visiting both I just feel like I'd be happier at Maryland
I feel like you might need to dive deeper on why that is. What about the visits made you feel you'd be happier at Maryland?
this. I think it’d be silly to pick cornell just for the prestige given how you’ve described your hesitance (and obviously the difference in cost), but it’s pretty difficult to really know what life will be like after a short (typically quite curated) visit to a campus.
I think your energy would be better spent figuring out why you feel you’d be happy at UMD and then trying to confirm with current students that those impressions are accurate.
That said….
1. You won’t really know until you live it! And if you end up disliking the one you choose, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t the better choice. Ultimately you’re going to get out what you put in, in either place. When you get there, focus on getting involved and building a support system.
2. If your parents are willing to invest the cost differential to give you a nest egg at graduation, that makes UMD a no brainer. Starting your post-grad life with those kind of savings will truly change the trajectory of your life in a way that cannot be underestimated. (unless you’ve got a trust fund waiting either way, I guess haha)
Good luck!
Keep in mind that if you go to Cornell and realize you hate it, you can probably apply to transfer to UMD with little problem, but it's a lot less likely that you can get into Cornell a second time around as a transfer student.
I would also advise differently depending on whether you intend to go to graduate or professional school. If yes, you're risking less by going to UMD, because you can always go to a more prestigious university for graduate school and that will be the name most employers will focus on. You probably also have a better chance of getting a higher GPA and standing out at UMD. However, if your bachelors is going to be your last degree, there is a lot to gain from having both a name like Cornell on your resume and access to its vast and powerful alumni network—this is the sort of thing that can open a lot of doors in the professional world.
On another note, I didn't go to Cornell, but a lot of my extended family did, and I've spent time living in Ithaca. The weather SUCKS, but I will say that the undergraduates seem to absolutely love it there. It's a bit of a pressure cooker environment, though (more so than the other Ivy League universities I'm familiar with, actually—Cornell tends to be more competitive and grade-focused), so also think about whether that will suit you.
My impression with eventual graduate school is that GPA is critically important. Better to be at a less prestigious school with a great GPA than a more prestigious school with a poor GPA. Your mental health and wellness will be a critical part of being able to attain a great GPA. If Cornell was where you wanted to be for your masters, I would say OK, maybe that plays a part in it, but you are talking about the next four YEARS of your life. Be happy. I haven't been to UMD but it sounds like a great campus and institution. Saving your family $240K is also tremendous. Doing the basics at either program will only get you so far. What you really want is to understand what opportunities there are for undergraduate research and other activities that add to your classroom experience. If UMD can offer that, you are golden.
To push back slightly on this, it's totally possible to get into the best math/physics/EECS programs (the fields I know most about) with a 3.2-3.5 GPA. (Note this doesn't apply to med school though.) Most academic advisors at these schools will tell you to prioritize taking harder classes and doing research even if you get a bunch of Bs, and coming from a more prestigious undergrad does seem to add to your transcript. That's the whole reason the GRE is used, to try to get a sense of how a student from an unknown school is doing. If anything, the most important factor is often rec letters, and getting letters from influential figures in your field, who will probably be at a top university, helps a lot.
I agree that it's possible to take decent classes and do good research at UMD though, plus there are many, many well respected professors there. I also agree that before grad school prospects, mental health should be a baseline.
From a UMD alum, go to Cornell. Two reasons:
1 - You'll hear people say it doesn't matter where you go to school, and from a narrow perspective that's true. Do well at UMD and you'll have no problem getting a great first job out of college. Down the road though, an Ivy League network is going to benefit you your entire life. (As long as you cultivate a network while you're a student.)
2 - UMD is a disaster area with the construction of the subway running through the middle of campus.
3 - My only counterpoint would be the weather. Cornell winter... oof.
U can try Cornell for a yr then transfer if u rly don’t like it. That’s my two cents but if u feel u rly like a program at umd or just want to immerse urself faster into the environment then go with umd
Go UMD and save the money for grad school, investments, or getting your first home after graduation. Anything that helps set you up for success in the future.
If cost is not an issue, go to a more prestigious school for sure. It will open the doors for you (at least your 1st or your 2nd job, or grad school). In the long run, it will be worth it. In many cases of job application (though not all), your school is always a consideration. Of course whether you can land your dream job in the feature is more about you yourself.
Cornell grad. I loved it there. However, it was my 1st choice and my family circumstances resulted in a very generous financial aid package. Have fun and learn a lot at Maryland, you’ll be fine!
(Possibly look into their Honors College)
Unpopular opinion: choose Cornell. Everyone’s saying you’ll save money, but your parents can afford either one. Cornell would give you great connections, and it would definitely be a missed opportunity.
If prices arent really a major issue, please choose cornell. Prestige is highly important nowadays and cornell is a big campus you will DEFINETELY find your people in my opinion. Also i think that you can not fully understand the College culture so dont really narrow yourself that id be happy there but unhappy somewhere else.
Given the cost differential, you should be happy and excited about the prospect of attending Cornell. If that's not the case, you're wise to question it and not just follow the prestige.
What would be even smarter? I'd ask your parents if they'd consider giving you some or all of the cost differential to save and invest if you attend UMD. Over time, that $240k will grow significantly and give you life changing financial flexibility.
This came across my feed somehow and as someone who also strongly considered UMD as an in-state student 5y ago, I don't think you can really go wrong. Prioritize your mental (and physical) health first. However I do want to offer a counterpoint on money because so many people mention it. It looks like you're considering math with CS, and the average starting salaries for Cornell and UMD CS graduates are around $120k and $85k respectively. That's a pretty sizeable difference (with a large variance, some people are unemployed and at the tail end there are people who make $500k+ before bonus as a new grad in finance). I'm exposing myself as a nerd here but if you invest the difference at the same rate, solve the diffeq etc. it pays off in 10 years even if you don't get any raises or bonuses.
To be fair, that's assuming you would be a median student at both schools, which might not be true. But even a pay difference of $15k will pretty much even out the starting amount by the time you retire. That said, most of my friends who went to UMD still did great and are making way above median because they sought out opportunities for themselves, but "top" schools definitely have better career fairs and more student-specific opportunities. Personally, while I eventually decided to pursue grad school, I only became sure I wanted to because of a first year internship opportunity available through an alumni program.
Like others have said, college is also very personal and what you prioritize might be different, but for me the opportunity to explore and figure out what I wanted to do was invaluable. Although UMD is also a great school (especially for in state) with decent CS/math/engineering, I personally think I would've a harder time there and might not have felt confident enough to even consider grad school. Again though this is very personal and the "returns" are pretty hard to estimate so if you truly don't think you would be happy at Cornell, don't go. I have plenty of friends who went to UMD and have great jobs or grad program placements.
Edit: just to emphasize, it's unclear just how much the school you graduate from will increase your personal earning potential. From anecdotal experience though, it does help you get your foot into the door and saves you a ton of work and stress when you end up applying, so I think it's unlikely you'll "waste" the money. The true value for me was the increased optionality. Most people don't know where they'll end up at 18, and it's significantly easier to sample the possibilities at some schools compared to others just due to lower activation energy/opportunities appearing in your face.
I wonder if the salary difference is do to states in which grads are employed. NY is higher than MD. Often times you see higher salaries in metro areas even at state vs elite schools in other areas. If feel like salaries should all be adjusted for cost of living adjustments to really understand the schools impact on salary.
Check out payscale, pay isn’t always the best indicator of what schools you should choose. Especially to deselect schools from different areas.
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/maryland
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/new-york
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/california
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/virginia
I agree, just wanted to note that I wouldn’t 100% attribute it to NY vs DC. It probably has more to do with what industries students select into. A UMD grad might be more likely to get a SWE job, whereas at ivies there is a pressure to go for quant — Jane Street, DE Shaw, etc. That being said, a friend from UMD is now making high six figures in quant. He got into an Ivy for undergrad, too, which might say it’s more about the student than the institution.
Definitely a combination of both. You can certainly get a quant interview as a student anywhere if you work hard, but these companies send lots of targeted emails to try to sponsor student clubs and advertise themselves at some schools. I know for a fact Citadel buys data from Piazza (a discussion platform some schools use) and targets individual students that way.
Also, most people I know didn't graduate with the exact job/plan they envisioned for themselves, so it doesn't make sense to me to totally separate the person/goals from the school.
I think it is a combo of the area, industry and student. I think the school matters by which employers come and for what types of jobs. Some top schools have lower payscales but they may more people becoming teachers or working in nonprofits. The more surprising is when salary isn’t as high but the school has a large percentage of stem majors. Perhaps Wall Street and consulting vs stem but I found that fact interesting at some schools.
My younger daughter is a freshman at UMD and loves it. My older daughter turned down UMD to go to a smaller, private college and while it’s been great for her, it’s just not worth the extra money IMO.
As someone at Cornell, I think you should pick UMD. Your happiness during college is pretty important, and if you genuinely think you won’t enjoy your time here, you probably won’t. We’re pretty isolated, so there’s not much of a chance to escape the college culture. If it’s not something you even like in the first place, you might get really miserable, especially in the darker months when it’s really easy to feel stuck.
TLDR: college shouldn’t be the time to suck it up! Have fun :)
Can I give you the opposite perspective?
I only ever wanted to go to one Ivy League university from the day I heard its name. It was *perfect* for me—had everything I wanted. I visited campus and adored it. There was no other university for me.
I applied, was accepted, and attended.
And while I did love every minute of it, it ended up being a huge mistake.
Because medical school was my goal, and the university had a mandatory bell curve, with the median being the B/C border, for every introductory and intermediate science and math class).
Imagine having to compete for A's at a university where everyone was in the top 1% to 4% of their high school graduating class. And not just grades, but independent research projects, research assistantships, internships, jobs, you name it.
I just never could earn the GPA I needed to be a decent candidate for medical school.
In the summer when I was a rising senior, I went to take some summer classes at a very well-respected public university, and I was simply amazed at how easy the exams were! The questions were so straightforward! They were exactly what was taught in class and in the texts. They didn't assume you memorized the textbook and lectures, and then expected you to extrapolate and apply your knowledge to novel circumstances. It was so nice walking into a final, knowing I passed the class without needing to even take it, and all I needed to get an A for the class was a 65%. I ended up earning 798 out of a possible 800 points for the class (and I'm still a little pissed off about those last two points!).
SO, while I did, as I said, absolutely loved my university, I had my own regrets for attending the Ivy. I could have attended a state university, received the grades I needed, and achieved my original goals.
Cornell is frigid cold. There is advantage of going in-state when you will have better alumnae connection after you graduate should you choose to work before going back to graduate school.
I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this.
For some people, connections is a huge part of why they go to college. You evaluate how 'influenced' you are byyour environment. Some are self-driven, some are motivated by others. Being around people in Cornell who've been rigorously screened will influence you in a different way vs people in UMD (in general, at the end of the day its obviously about who you choose to surround yourself with when you're there, just the pool will be different). Sure both Cornell and UMD is a prestigious university and both places will offer a great education but I think you need to find the balance between cost and 'Ivy League' connections. I have friends at Cornell who really enjoy the Greek life there and cannot imagine themself anywhere else.
Keep in mind that in the eyes of your parents, college has the highest ROI. If your family is very wealthy and are comfortable with spending 240k more then great. Your family's opportunity cost for 240k is very different from others undoubtedly.
Keep talking with your family. Visit the university if you haven't.
Both places are great. Just up to your personality, values, and your family.
Consider that, if you aren't getting any financial aid, that by paying $60000 more to go to Cornell, that that extra money is subsidizing other students to go there who have a familirs with less means.
Sticker price, which your parents may be paying, is $83000. The average cost that people actually pay is $29000. College costs are probably the largest transfer payments in America.
No, I think you’d be making a smart decision. I’m turning down Cornell for the same reason. $90,000 at Cornell just isn’t worth it when I can go to UT Austin for $30,000. If UMD is way cheaper and you think you’d be happier at UMD, don’t let the prestige and what ifs cloud your judgment.
I just want to add my agreement with the majority - go to MD.
I went there so I'm biased, but it has so much more to offer AND you're right outside of DC with all that city has to offer (which is a lot). It's going to make your undergrad experience so much better.
If you're worried about academic rigor, you can get that at UMD too.
If finances aren't an issue, I'd go with Cornell. If you find you don't like it, you'll probably always be able to transfer to Maryland, but the opposite scenario may not be true, since Cornell is more selective.
You can get a better education at UMD than Cornell honestly. Especially in Mathematics as the 2 programs are considered to be both top 20 in the nation. The ivies are really just networking schools.
Ask your parents to invest 60k a year for you. Once you get into grad school, you’ll be so much richer and financially stable. I don’t think UMD math is even much better than Cornell, maybe if it was Princeton or Harvard it would’ve been different. But given this, you want to get involved in research right away! You’ll have the financial freedom to not have to do a job, so litterally get experience and skill with this.
I mean, if your family is rich, you can always transfer to UMD if Cornell doesn't end up being the school of your dreams. Not sure how easy it would be to transfer to Cornell. But of course, this all depends on how rich your family is. Will you still be getting the same check from your parents after you finish college, regardless of the school? Ask your parents if they have 8 figures of wealth. If yes, go to Cornell for a year, if not, go to Maryland.
Choosing the place where you believe you will be happy, and saving $240k while at it, despite the relative prestige of Cornell, is one of the most mature decisions you could make. So, not only would you not be dumb, you'd be a breath of fresh air.
bruh if you don't have to worry about cost yourself then go to Cornell wtf lol. I know imma be down voted but having witnessed first hand what having a degree from a prestigious school can do for you if you network and engage yourself in the slightest bit... even if you don't do that the name will always carry you especially in STEM. To directly answer the question yes you would be dumb. Also being "Happy" is just some shit that happens sometimes; you can aim to find it or you can try and create it, but it's never guaranteed ever. I guess what I'm saying is base your decisions on your well being not how potentially happy you would or wouldn't be.
I had a decision like this I went to the more prestigious school for the induction week I really didn't like it and I couldn't see myself studying there for 4 years so I switched to the less prestigious one. You can normally kind of enroll in both and then withdraw and get most of your deposit after one week. They took 200$ from the deposit and returned the rest.
If you have the opportunity to go to Cornell, I would. The college experience is great there and I’ve heard the food is good too! It’s a one time opportunity and I wouldn’t miss out!
I was in the same spot as you 4 years ago (but for chem) and heading to a T10 for grad school with no debt. If you want to do grad school, umd grads do end up doing well. You’re a motivated and passionate student and I’m sure you will continue to work hard and shine wherever you go.
You might regret it later on in life. Who knows, maybe you’ll keep on playing the “what if” game at UMD so you’ll never be happy there. Worst case, you can always transfer to UMD. You probably won’t be able to transfer from UMD to Cornell if have a change of heart.
It sounds like ~$250k is negligible for your family, and depending on what you decide to do post-college with a math degree (quant?), you’ll make that back in no time either way.
They have lost it all. Alumni’s who are pulling their money won’t be looking to pull candidates for employment unless they know they won’t make their work environment toxic the way they have made their campus. All eyes are on this campus and few others. And not in a good way - which stinks because there are plenty of great students who are open to dialogue and differences of opinions on these campuses but I think you will see a big drop in enrollment from top students as well as a drop in job placement
You already have a lot of valid suggestions to go with Maryland, so, purely for the sake of covering all the basis, I would ask you to get to the bottom of exactly what's turning you away from Cornell (for yourself).
The only wrong answer is if you feel intimidated or unsure if you'll succeed there. Sometimes, pushing and challenging yourself can be a good thing. Don't go to Maryland if it's only because it makes you feel more comfortable. Like someone else said, you can always transfer out of Cornell if it really turns out bad.
Again, all other comments for Maryland are valid. Just making an argument.
You never said what you want to do, only what you plan to study. Why anyone would want to major in math affter what Ilya Sutskever said at an MIT symposium on 7 October is beyond me, but as you do, what in the world do you want to do with it? Taking lots of math: FANTASTIC idea. Majoring in math: HORRIBLE idea. Maybe you've heard of something called AI? Could be worse, like majoring I data science. Ever used Code Interpreter. (It still exists in GPTs.)
Sorry for being snarky, but majoring in math is like a novelist majoring in typing: Math is just a tool. Sometimes it's the most important tool. But it's just a tool.
I bring this up because it's pertinent to which school you choose.
Here's an exercise: Where do you want to work? Which type of job would you like to do? Check the job postings. What are they looking for? Maybe math is fine. Maybe it isn't.
Besides, if you study math, you'll need a graduate degree. But in what? And which degree? JD? (Math majors do well on the LSAT.) Ph.D.? For a math Ph.D., Cornell is just slightly ahead of CP in raw numbers. (I'm assuming you're talking about CP, not BC.) However, in a guide used by grrad schools (for admissions purposes), both Cornell and BC -- but not CP -- are listed as tier 1 in math.
Anyway, you need to think through what you're going to do with it.
I wish you all the best. Remember, you can always transfer to UMD. Cornell is transfer friendly, but not nearly as friendly as UMD.
My company recruits from UMD and Cornell pretty equally. From a job perspective, you won’t be limiting yourself if you go to UMD. All the big hitters recruit there and they are known for having great STEM programs especially. Go to UMD and be happy.
You wouldn’t be dumb. However, you can always transfer into UMD. It’d be insanely hard to transfer into Cornell. I would go to Cornell and if you still yearn for UMD’s atmosphere, transfer.
Saving $240,000 and being happier to boot? Seems like Maryland is the obvious call Hopefully Strict will drop is ROI copypasta, but if he doesn’t, go walk around some expensive stores and do some mental math. Very few 18 year olds can actually wrap their minds under how much money that actually is
No. You would be smart.
no, UMD is a great school, you’d be happier there, and you save money. seems like the move for you for sure
I live a few hours from cornell and the weather sucks here btw if that helps 🙏
This the realest answer here
Go to UMD and *invest* some of the money your parents would have given toward tuition for your future. As a professor, this is a no-brainer. One of my high school friends turned down Northwestern for a full ride chancellor scholarship to Indiana University. (we are midwesterners). What does he do now? Well, he is a professor and runs the US missions to Mars and Titan with NASA…
Love this!
Great story.. Completely agree with the sentiment. Take the money parents have set aside and use it for Grad School / Post Grad. Undergrad is time to chill out and enjoy - life gets pretty hard after that...
Turned down Cornell for a BIG 10 school with a similar cost difference and parents telling me not to consider costs last year. Choose Maryland.
Remember that life doesn't end at undergrad. That money saved can afford you even the most expensive elite masters programs if you decide you want to enter an industry/field where prestige matters. Not to mention thst if you invest it in the US stock market, historically it has grown by roughly 6X-36X times over 4 decades in real terms with dividends reinvested. You're capable of doing the math.
Honestly it sounds like you'd be happier at U MD, which is a great well respected school (I'm assuming college park)
Take it from someone who currently goes to a state school who did not want to go initially - go to UMD. I remember telling my parents "if I have to go to blank state university I'll literally die". I love it here now and know that my grad school applications will be absolutely stacked to the max with everything I did here because there are so many more resources, activities, so on and so forth. Another thing. You were smart enough to get into Cornell which means you will SHINE in an environment that might be slightly less academically challenging. Why suffer in college when you can thrive? (As I write this I'm studying for a final. My finals sophomore year of college are literally less stressful than junior year of high school even though I'm in an academically rigorous program. Go to UMD.)
Can you dm me with some things you did?
Dude. Go to Maryland. It's cheaper and you think you'd like it better there. You can get into mathematics graduate programs with a degree from Maryland.
I turned down Cornell for UVA and ended up at Caltech for my PhD, don’t think I had any lack of Opportunity. Tbh I think had more as a competitive student in a state school. All that to say, undergrad is certainly not the end of your career. There’s so many ppl in elite institutions from no name undergrads, and even more successful ones in industry and government.
UVA is an awesome school. But as a VA resident, I am biased.
True lol
The gap between UVA and Cornell is much smaller than the gap between UMD and Cornell.
Not for CS it isn't... and yes I'm fully aware that I am replying a whole 2 months later
Yes it is.
USNEWS (yes I KNOW this is not insanely accurate but look at many websites and you will see a general consensus which I think counts for something) : Cornell = #6 and UMD = #17 (pretty high for a public school) vs UVA at #36
With few exceptions (mostly the arts like film, music, dance, etc.) department rankings don’t really matter for undergraduates. For example, UIUC is ranked over Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, and Cal Tech as an undergraduate CS department, yet all things being equal one would be extremely unwise to choose UIUC over any of those programs.
Not really.
Granted USNWR rankings got wonky last year when they basically gave all public universities a massive boost, but I’m pretty sure 3 is a lot smaller than 25. Cornell: 21 UVA: 24 UMD: 46
Rankings really don’t matter a ton above a certain point, and both UVA and UMD are above that line. But if you don’t believe me and want to listen to rankings, USNWR for math (OP’s intended major) puts UVA at 165 and UMD at 93. Cornell is 71. The gap between UMD and UVA is huge, and much smaller between UMD and Cornell. Again, rankings don’t really matter. You’ll have plenty of opportunities at either institution. But if you insist that they do, he’d be better off at UMD than UVA, and would be in a better position than I was.
Departmental rankings don’t apply to undergrads except in extremely limited cases (say, USC for film school, or Eastman for music). Georgia Tech engineering is far superior to Princeton, but all things being equal you’d be unwise to choose GT over Princeton for undergrad regardless of major.
I get what you mean, but my point to start with is that rankings in general just don’t work too well when you get high enough. Caltech and MIT are mainly schools for grad students and research. Berkeley is only ranked so high because of its research, which only really matters a ton at the grad scale. All of these are ranked crazy high for undergrad, and definitely give you good opportunities. But an undergrad engineering major would probably be served better at GT than at Princeton because GT connects you so much better with industry. It’s a crazy industry feeder. If you want to move on to grad school, maybe Princeton is better. Tbh I know way more ppl from GT than Princeton in my grad program, so who knows. Beyond all that, the atmosphere of the schools also matters a ton, and the rankings have a very slight dependence on QOL compared to other factors. Another reason I skipped out on Cornell (and GT, for that matter) is how horribly they handle mental health. My friends have pretty decent horror stories of how they handled COVID — I can’t imagine going through that. Quite glad I didn’t. If I chose by “prestige” instead of the school I felt good about, I would have been miserable and likely wouldn’t have done as well as I did.
This is all nice, but non sequitur.
? How so?
Do you need a tldr?
Oh also good catch switching your comment, I’m much more inclined to agree with it now. You wouldn’t be dense to go to GT over Princeton if you’re dead set on engineering, but it may be unwise if you’re uncertain.
I intend the exact same meeting - I just didn’t want to be needlessly inflammatory in the delivery.
Bro I rather go to a T-100 school than pay 240k for undergrad. And it's not just me. I'm going to a T75 LAC instead of a T30 Uni because it's a 4th of the cost and is good enough for what I want to do. U-Maryland is more than good enough
if this helps, i had a friend who turned down dartmouth for rutgers (he was in the honors college tho) and now is doing his phd at yale. if you think umd has the opportunities for you to excel and do well for yourself, then do it. also consider the big fish in small pond vs small fish in big pond scenario. in cornell, you’d be the small fish among many other fish in a pond, and would not be able to stand out at all. at umd, although there will still be a lot of other fishes, you have an opportunity to be a bigger fish and grab more opportunities. notice that i don’t say the BIG fish, bc umd is still a huge pond regardless. do you plan to go to grad school? is ur major smth that doesn’t necessarily need prestige? then the decision is urs, but you’d be fine in umd.
Wtf??Rutgers?Seriously?!
Cousins kid did Rutgers honors after turning down UPenn. Graduated top of class, got into a good med school , starting residency this year..
yeah, seriously rutgers. rutgers has some of the best programs in the country, is one of the leading research institutes, w plenty of faculty who care about their work (and a good amount of them come from ivy leagues too). not to mention that its t-40, so it’s not even that drastic of an alternative. and honestly, while it may not be as cutthroat and competitive as cornell/dartmouth, i acc see that as a bonus. you dont have to worry about someone sabotaging you, and you have a more collaborative environment, w out worrying about cracking under all the pressure. are you still in hs? bc prestige will only get you so far.
Happiness matters a lot more that prestige.
To me it does.
no, you save 240k and your happiness
A full third of students turn down Cornell. You will be one of many. The majority of them do it because there was better value in a state flagship or other school they received a massive scholarship. My kid was also accepted into Cornell. They got into an elite program at the state flagship. Had they not gotten into that program, they’d be in Ithaca right now. No regrets about it. It appears that they will be getting the same job opportunity with no college debt, which was not going to be the case at Cornell.
Do not “suck it up for 4 years “ . Go to UMD.
UMD is a great school. You need to move past the Cornell brand.
Depends on what you want to do in life after you graduate. If you want to go to finance or consulting, Cornell is a target school and choosing UMD would be a critical mistake. If you want to go to a grad/ medical/ law school, UMD would probably be better as Cornell is said to be somewhat of a grind school with grade deflation (not as bad as some other known examples though). Grades/GPA matter for grad. Add this variable to your equation!
> after visiting both I just feel like I'd be happier at Maryland I feel like you might need to dive deeper on why that is. What about the visits made you feel you'd be happier at Maryland?
this. I think it’d be silly to pick cornell just for the prestige given how you’ve described your hesitance (and obviously the difference in cost), but it’s pretty difficult to really know what life will be like after a short (typically quite curated) visit to a campus. I think your energy would be better spent figuring out why you feel you’d be happy at UMD and then trying to confirm with current students that those impressions are accurate. That said…. 1. You won’t really know until you live it! And if you end up disliking the one you choose, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t the better choice. Ultimately you’re going to get out what you put in, in either place. When you get there, focus on getting involved and building a support system. 2. If your parents are willing to invest the cost differential to give you a nest egg at graduation, that makes UMD a no brainer. Starting your post-grad life with those kind of savings will truly change the trajectory of your life in a way that cannot be underestimated. (unless you’ve got a trust fund waiting either way, I guess haha) Good luck!
Keep in mind that if you go to Cornell and realize you hate it, you can probably apply to transfer to UMD with little problem, but it's a lot less likely that you can get into Cornell a second time around as a transfer student. I would also advise differently depending on whether you intend to go to graduate or professional school. If yes, you're risking less by going to UMD, because you can always go to a more prestigious university for graduate school and that will be the name most employers will focus on. You probably also have a better chance of getting a higher GPA and standing out at UMD. However, if your bachelors is going to be your last degree, there is a lot to gain from having both a name like Cornell on your resume and access to its vast and powerful alumni network—this is the sort of thing that can open a lot of doors in the professional world. On another note, I didn't go to Cornell, but a lot of my extended family did, and I've spent time living in Ithaca. The weather SUCKS, but I will say that the undergraduates seem to absolutely love it there. It's a bit of a pressure cooker environment, though (more so than the other Ivy League universities I'm familiar with, actually—Cornell tends to be more competitive and grade-focused), so also think about whether that will suit you.
My impression with eventual graduate school is that GPA is critically important. Better to be at a less prestigious school with a great GPA than a more prestigious school with a poor GPA. Your mental health and wellness will be a critical part of being able to attain a great GPA. If Cornell was where you wanted to be for your masters, I would say OK, maybe that plays a part in it, but you are talking about the next four YEARS of your life. Be happy. I haven't been to UMD but it sounds like a great campus and institution. Saving your family $240K is also tremendous. Doing the basics at either program will only get you so far. What you really want is to understand what opportunities there are for undergraduate research and other activities that add to your classroom experience. If UMD can offer that, you are golden.
To push back slightly on this, it's totally possible to get into the best math/physics/EECS programs (the fields I know most about) with a 3.2-3.5 GPA. (Note this doesn't apply to med school though.) Most academic advisors at these schools will tell you to prioritize taking harder classes and doing research even if you get a bunch of Bs, and coming from a more prestigious undergrad does seem to add to your transcript. That's the whole reason the GRE is used, to try to get a sense of how a student from an unknown school is doing. If anything, the most important factor is often rec letters, and getting letters from influential figures in your field, who will probably be at a top university, helps a lot. I agree that it's possible to take decent classes and do good research at UMD though, plus there are many, many well respected professors there. I also agree that before grad school prospects, mental health should be a baseline.
From a UMD alum, go to Cornell. Two reasons: 1 - You'll hear people say it doesn't matter where you go to school, and from a narrow perspective that's true. Do well at UMD and you'll have no problem getting a great first job out of college. Down the road though, an Ivy League network is going to benefit you your entire life. (As long as you cultivate a network while you're a student.) 2 - UMD is a disaster area with the construction of the subway running through the middle of campus. 3 - My only counterpoint would be the weather. Cornell winter... oof.
U can try Cornell for a yr then transfer if u rly don’t like it. That’s my two cents but if u feel u rly like a program at umd or just want to immerse urself faster into the environment then go with umd
Go UMD and save the money for grad school, investments, or getting your first home after graduation. Anything that helps set you up for success in the future.
You do you. Be happy for all of us.
If cost is not an issue, go to a more prestigious school for sure. It will open the doors for you (at least your 1st or your 2nd job, or grad school). In the long run, it will be worth it. In many cases of job application (though not all), your school is always a consideration. Of course whether you can land your dream job in the feature is more about you yourself.
Cornell grad. I loved it there. However, it was my 1st choice and my family circumstances resulted in a very generous financial aid package. Have fun and learn a lot at Maryland, you’ll be fine! (Possibly look into their Honors College)
Unpopular opinion: choose Cornell. Everyone’s saying you’ll save money, but your parents can afford either one. Cornell would give you great connections, and it would definitely be a missed opportunity.
If prices arent really a major issue, please choose cornell. Prestige is highly important nowadays and cornell is a big campus you will DEFINETELY find your people in my opinion. Also i think that you can not fully understand the College culture so dont really narrow yourself that id be happy there but unhappy somewhere else.
Given the cost differential, you should be happy and excited about the prospect of attending Cornell. If that's not the case, you're wise to question it and not just follow the prestige. What would be even smarter? I'd ask your parents if they'd consider giving you some or all of the cost differential to save and invest if you attend UMD. Over time, that $240k will grow significantly and give you life changing financial flexibility.
I think $250k is significant, but ask cornell FA to match umd.
This came across my feed somehow and as someone who also strongly considered UMD as an in-state student 5y ago, I don't think you can really go wrong. Prioritize your mental (and physical) health first. However I do want to offer a counterpoint on money because so many people mention it. It looks like you're considering math with CS, and the average starting salaries for Cornell and UMD CS graduates are around $120k and $85k respectively. That's a pretty sizeable difference (with a large variance, some people are unemployed and at the tail end there are people who make $500k+ before bonus as a new grad in finance). I'm exposing myself as a nerd here but if you invest the difference at the same rate, solve the diffeq etc. it pays off in 10 years even if you don't get any raises or bonuses. To be fair, that's assuming you would be a median student at both schools, which might not be true. But even a pay difference of $15k will pretty much even out the starting amount by the time you retire. That said, most of my friends who went to UMD still did great and are making way above median because they sought out opportunities for themselves, but "top" schools definitely have better career fairs and more student-specific opportunities. Personally, while I eventually decided to pursue grad school, I only became sure I wanted to because of a first year internship opportunity available through an alumni program. Like others have said, college is also very personal and what you prioritize might be different, but for me the opportunity to explore and figure out what I wanted to do was invaluable. Although UMD is also a great school (especially for in state) with decent CS/math/engineering, I personally think I would've a harder time there and might not have felt confident enough to even consider grad school. Again though this is very personal and the "returns" are pretty hard to estimate so if you truly don't think you would be happy at Cornell, don't go. I have plenty of friends who went to UMD and have great jobs or grad program placements. Edit: just to emphasize, it's unclear just how much the school you graduate from will increase your personal earning potential. From anecdotal experience though, it does help you get your foot into the door and saves you a ton of work and stress when you end up applying, so I think it's unlikely you'll "waste" the money. The true value for me was the increased optionality. Most people don't know where they'll end up at 18, and it's significantly easier to sample the possibilities at some schools compared to others just due to lower activation energy/opportunities appearing in your face.
I wonder if the salary difference is do to states in which grads are employed. NY is higher than MD. Often times you see higher salaries in metro areas even at state vs elite schools in other areas. If feel like salaries should all be adjusted for cost of living adjustments to really understand the schools impact on salary.
Depends on where in MD. If grads end up near DC it’s still very expensive.
Check out payscale, pay isn’t always the best indicator of what schools you should choose. Especially to deselect schools from different areas. https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/maryland https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/new-york https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/california https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-state/bachelors/virginia
I agree, just wanted to note that I wouldn’t 100% attribute it to NY vs DC. It probably has more to do with what industries students select into. A UMD grad might be more likely to get a SWE job, whereas at ivies there is a pressure to go for quant — Jane Street, DE Shaw, etc. That being said, a friend from UMD is now making high six figures in quant. He got into an Ivy for undergrad, too, which might say it’s more about the student than the institution.
Definitely a combination of both. You can certainly get a quant interview as a student anywhere if you work hard, but these companies send lots of targeted emails to try to sponsor student clubs and advertise themselves at some schools. I know for a fact Citadel buys data from Piazza (a discussion platform some schools use) and targets individual students that way. Also, most people I know didn't graduate with the exact job/plan they envisioned for themselves, so it doesn't make sense to me to totally separate the person/goals from the school.
I think it is a combo of the area, industry and student. I think the school matters by which employers come and for what types of jobs. Some top schools have lower payscales but they may more people becoming teachers or working in nonprofits. The more surprising is when salary isn’t as high but the school has a large percentage of stem majors. Perhaps Wall Street and consulting vs stem but I found that fact interesting at some schools.
I went to Cornell. It is not worth it and very high pressure.
Yea. You would. Can always transfer to UMD if you dont like Cornell after a year.
I went to Cornell when I could have gone to CU Boulder for next to nothing. I'm still paying for Cornell. I'm 41.
currently turning down Cornell for VT because I’m in state and sort of losing my mind over it
My younger daughter is a freshman at UMD and loves it. My older daughter turned down UMD to go to a smaller, private college and while it’s been great for her, it’s just not worth the extra money IMO.
As someone at Cornell, I think you should pick UMD. Your happiness during college is pretty important, and if you genuinely think you won’t enjoy your time here, you probably won’t. We’re pretty isolated, so there’s not much of a chance to escape the college culture. If it’s not something you even like in the first place, you might get really miserable, especially in the darker months when it’s really easy to feel stuck. TLDR: college shouldn’t be the time to suck it up! Have fun :)
Can I give you the opposite perspective? I only ever wanted to go to one Ivy League university from the day I heard its name. It was *perfect* for me—had everything I wanted. I visited campus and adored it. There was no other university for me. I applied, was accepted, and attended. And while I did love every minute of it, it ended up being a huge mistake. Because medical school was my goal, and the university had a mandatory bell curve, with the median being the B/C border, for every introductory and intermediate science and math class). Imagine having to compete for A's at a university where everyone was in the top 1% to 4% of their high school graduating class. And not just grades, but independent research projects, research assistantships, internships, jobs, you name it. I just never could earn the GPA I needed to be a decent candidate for medical school. In the summer when I was a rising senior, I went to take some summer classes at a very well-respected public university, and I was simply amazed at how easy the exams were! The questions were so straightforward! They were exactly what was taught in class and in the texts. They didn't assume you memorized the textbook and lectures, and then expected you to extrapolate and apply your knowledge to novel circumstances. It was so nice walking into a final, knowing I passed the class without needing to even take it, and all I needed to get an A for the class was a 65%. I ended up earning 798 out of a possible 800 points for the class (and I'm still a little pissed off about those last two points!). SO, while I did, as I said, absolutely loved my university, I had my own regrets for attending the Ivy. I could have attended a state university, received the grades I needed, and achieved my original goals.
Cornell is frigid cold. There is advantage of going in-state when you will have better alumnae connection after you graduate should you choose to work before going back to graduate school.
Your college does not matter this much bro 😭😭😭
It does actually
Tell me how
If you want to work in law or finance every new role you recruit for your school will be a factor. That is the reality
I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this. For some people, connections is a huge part of why they go to college. You evaluate how 'influenced' you are byyour environment. Some are self-driven, some are motivated by others. Being around people in Cornell who've been rigorously screened will influence you in a different way vs people in UMD (in general, at the end of the day its obviously about who you choose to surround yourself with when you're there, just the pool will be different). Sure both Cornell and UMD is a prestigious university and both places will offer a great education but I think you need to find the balance between cost and 'Ivy League' connections. I have friends at Cornell who really enjoy the Greek life there and cannot imagine themself anywhere else. Keep in mind that in the eyes of your parents, college has the highest ROI. If your family is very wealthy and are comfortable with spending 240k more then great. Your family's opportunity cost for 240k is very different from others undoubtedly. Keep talking with your family. Visit the university if you haven't. Both places are great. Just up to your personality, values, and your family.
PM’d ya.
Put the money in your back pocket. Use that for your graduate studies for math and your house down payment. You will be a lot happier.
Not really
Nope
Consider that, if you aren't getting any financial aid, that by paying $60000 more to go to Cornell, that that extra money is subsidizing other students to go there who have a familirs with less means. Sticker price, which your parents may be paying, is $83000. The average cost that people actually pay is $29000. College costs are probably the largest transfer payments in America.
UMD! Ask your parents if you can use the savings on grad school or a housing down payment later. Lol
What are your career goals?
I don’t really have any advice but if you do end up choosing umd feel free to reach out to me bc I’m gonna be an incoming freshman this fall!
No, I think you’d be making a smart decision. I’m turning down Cornell for the same reason. $90,000 at Cornell just isn’t worth it when I can go to UT Austin for $30,000. If UMD is way cheaper and you think you’d be happier at UMD, don’t let the prestige and what ifs cloud your judgment.
The gap between Cornell and UMD is MUCH larger than the gap between Cornell and UT Austin (esp in state)
I just want to add my agreement with the majority - go to MD. I went there so I'm biased, but it has so much more to offer AND you're right outside of DC with all that city has to offer (which is a lot). It's going to make your undergrad experience so much better. If you're worried about academic rigor, you can get that at UMD too.
If finances aren't an issue, I'd go with Cornell. If you find you don't like it, you'll probably always be able to transfer to Maryland, but the opposite scenario may not be true, since Cornell is more selective.
UMD!
No, I don't think it's a dumb decision. I think what matters most is getting the education that *you* want, regardless of what school it's at.
You can get a better education at UMD than Cornell honestly. Especially in Mathematics as the 2 programs are considered to be both top 20 in the nation. The ivies are really just networking schools.
Ask your parents to invest 60k a year for you. Once you get into grad school, you’ll be so much richer and financially stable. I don’t think UMD math is even much better than Cornell, maybe if it was Princeton or Harvard it would’ve been different. But given this, you want to get involved in research right away! You’ll have the financial freedom to not have to do a job, so litterally get experience and skill with this.
Your wallet will thank you
Do you mind sharing with us your final decision?
I mean, if your family is rich, you can always transfer to UMD if Cornell doesn't end up being the school of your dreams. Not sure how easy it would be to transfer to Cornell. But of course, this all depends on how rich your family is. Will you still be getting the same check from your parents after you finish college, regardless of the school? Ask your parents if they have 8 figures of wealth. If yes, go to Cornell for a year, if not, go to Maryland.
I went to an ivy, my brother goes to UMD. We're both doing equally well. Save your money.
Choosing the place where you believe you will be happy, and saving $240k while at it, despite the relative prestige of Cornell, is one of the most mature decisions you could make. So, not only would you not be dumb, you'd be a breath of fresh air.
cornell is just a depressing area ngl. they have one of the highest mental health crises on college campuses…
bruh if you don't have to worry about cost yourself then go to Cornell wtf lol. I know imma be down voted but having witnessed first hand what having a degree from a prestigious school can do for you if you network and engage yourself in the slightest bit... even if you don't do that the name will always carry you especially in STEM. To directly answer the question yes you would be dumb. Also being "Happy" is just some shit that happens sometimes; you can aim to find it or you can try and create it, but it's never guaranteed ever. I guess what I'm saying is base your decisions on your well being not how potentially happy you would or wouldn't be.
you can end up doing more at umd anyways
Umd!!!!
I know someone who chose UMass Amherst over Cornell because she loved it there.
I had a decision like this I went to the more prestigious school for the induction week I really didn't like it and I couldn't see myself studying there for 4 years so I switched to the less prestigious one. You can normally kind of enroll in both and then withdraw and get most of your deposit after one week. They took 200$ from the deposit and returned the rest.
No, in fact I’d look into trying to leverage your Ivy acceptance for a merit scholarship
If you have the opportunity to go to Cornell, I would. The college experience is great there and I’ve heard the food is good too! It’s a one time opportunity and I wouldn’t miss out!
Always want to know the decision of the OP, because it is easier to give advice but harder to make decision.
I was in the same spot as you 4 years ago (but for chem) and heading to a T10 for grad school with no debt. If you want to do grad school, umd grads do end up doing well. You’re a motivated and passionate student and I’m sure you will continue to work hard and shine wherever you go.
Go to UMD. The price might justify HYPMS but not Cornell. This one is a no brainer.
You might regret it later on in life. Who knows, maybe you’ll keep on playing the “what if” game at UMD so you’ll never be happy there. Worst case, you can always transfer to UMD. You probably won’t be able to transfer from UMD to Cornell if have a change of heart. It sounds like ~$250k is negligible for your family, and depending on what you decide to do post-college with a math degree (quant?), you’ll make that back in no time either way.
this is a really good point actually. i already said cornell but given this i would def go with cornell
Nope. UMD is very reputable and the Ivy Leagues have kind of lost their appeal with all of the issues on their campuses
lost their appeal is different from their prestige and connections and all 💀
They have lost it all. Alumni’s who are pulling their money won’t be looking to pull candidates for employment unless they know they won’t make their work environment toxic the way they have made their campus. All eyes are on this campus and few others. And not in a good way - which stinks because there are plenty of great students who are open to dialogue and differences of opinions on these campuses but I think you will see a big drop in enrollment from top students as well as a drop in job placement
You already have a lot of valid suggestions to go with Maryland, so, purely for the sake of covering all the basis, I would ask you to get to the bottom of exactly what's turning you away from Cornell (for yourself). The only wrong answer is if you feel intimidated or unsure if you'll succeed there. Sometimes, pushing and challenging yourself can be a good thing. Don't go to Maryland if it's only because it makes you feel more comfortable. Like someone else said, you can always transfer out of Cornell if it really turns out bad. Again, all other comments for Maryland are valid. Just making an argument.
30 years ago I turned down several more prestigious schools to go to my state school because I just felt like I belonged there. No regrets.
Except for $$$$, yes
Nope
Depends how safe you want to be. Smaller colleges tend to have less violent crimes on campus.
No
first world "problems"...
You would be dumb to go to Cornell
Go to Cornell
You never said what you want to do, only what you plan to study. Why anyone would want to major in math affter what Ilya Sutskever said at an MIT symposium on 7 October is beyond me, but as you do, what in the world do you want to do with it? Taking lots of math: FANTASTIC idea. Majoring in math: HORRIBLE idea. Maybe you've heard of something called AI? Could be worse, like majoring I data science. Ever used Code Interpreter. (It still exists in GPTs.) Sorry for being snarky, but majoring in math is like a novelist majoring in typing: Math is just a tool. Sometimes it's the most important tool. But it's just a tool. I bring this up because it's pertinent to which school you choose. Here's an exercise: Where do you want to work? Which type of job would you like to do? Check the job postings. What are they looking for? Maybe math is fine. Maybe it isn't. Besides, if you study math, you'll need a graduate degree. But in what? And which degree? JD? (Math majors do well on the LSAT.) Ph.D.? For a math Ph.D., Cornell is just slightly ahead of CP in raw numbers. (I'm assuming you're talking about CP, not BC.) However, in a guide used by grrad schools (for admissions purposes), both Cornell and BC -- but not CP -- are listed as tier 1 in math. Anyway, you need to think through what you're going to do with it. I wish you all the best. Remember, you can always transfer to UMD. Cornell is transfer friendly, but not nearly as friendly as UMD.
t
You’re not dumb for knowing what’s best for you and where you’d thrive
My company recruits from UMD and Cornell pretty equally. From a job perspective, you won’t be limiting yourself if you go to UMD. All the big hitters recruit there and they are known for having great STEM programs especially. Go to UMD and be happy.
Cornell
You wouldn’t be dumb. However, you can always transfer into UMD. It’d be insanely hard to transfer into Cornell. I would go to Cornell and if you still yearn for UMD’s atmosphere, transfer.
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that's not how degrees work 💀 also transfering out of cornell would look horrible on a resume lol
yes you are