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Ok, I’m walking through downtown Philadelphia, wearing my purple Northwestern sweatshirt, when I hear someone walking past me say: "Ivy League Reject". Turning around, I see a man wearing a red Cornell sweatshirt, in addition to a stupid smile. Although I had half a mind to curse him out then and there, I decided to squelch my anger and continue walking. Here are my questions: should I have gotten so upset by his obviously ridiculous remarks; do you think that this is how we are viewed in society, or is this just one man being a real a*&?

By Dallasstar (Dallasstar) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 10:39 pm: Edit

Northwestern is more selective than Cornell. Let him live with his ignorance and false sense of elitism.

By Malicemizer9 (Malicemizer9) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 11:24 pm: Edit

Let him go,

karma's a b1tch.

By Jennyzsong (Jennyzsong) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 11:25 pm: Edit

lol that's lame

i think cornell people are just really really uptight about the whole ivy league thing because they're the least selective ones, so they have to go around telling everyone else how they are better because at least they are IN the ivies... not that it matters anyway.

NU is way better than cornell anyhow. when i was there visiting i got a laid back atmosphere, whereas everyone at cornell seemed to really feel the need to show off how smart they were

By Ly_Yng (Ly_Yng) on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 08:17 pm: Edit

They're going to be living in Ithica the next four years of their life.

Ithica.

Let them laugh.

By Whartonfella (Whartonfella) on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 09:15 pm: Edit

that sad.

cornell is a pathetic peace of crap school. really needs to be torn down.

northwestern on the other hand is a top notch university, something to be very proud of. and yes, its more competitive than cornell.

i considered northwestern but applied ED to wharton. otherwise, if i was an ivy reject and got into northwestern id go there. so perhaps the term is not something completely false. however, lots of schools take ivy rejects (chicago for instance) and are still great schools and are better than some ivies.

no worries man.


PS, really, cornell is crap.

By Swtaznkitty4eva (Swtaznkitty4eva) on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 10:04 pm: Edit

haha, i heard they have a really high suicide rate. My friend is a freshmen there and there are a bunch of freshmen classes that are across this bridge.. and i think there have been three suicides by freshmen there this year. she even told me that she contemplated suicide a couple of times when she crossed the bridge. haha, either she just misses chicago or the school sucks.

By Admitmeplz (Admitmeplz) on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 10:31 pm: Edit

Cornell has got to be the most depressing college campus in the nation. It's cold, barren, windswept, and perpetually cloudy.

On my tour I kept thinking "when can I leave, when can I leave, when can I leave"

By Ly_Yng (Ly_Yng) on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 10:48 pm: Edit

Three words: Low. Self. Esteem.

Cornell is a pretty big school. You think he's compensating for something?

And I realize I said it before, but seriously - Ithica. The University of Beruit has a better nightlife.

By Hahvahd2008 (Hahvahd2008) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 01:09 am: Edit

Personally, I like NU more than Cornell.

But still, you guys are taking the Cornell bashing way too far. It's still a great school, and saying it isn't is absolutely ridiculous. That one stupid Cornell alum doesn't denigrate the entire school. And the Cornell campus is the "most depressing college campus in the nation?" All those gorges, waterfalls, rivers, and trails make it one of the few schools in the nation surrounded in natural beauty. And "perpetually cloudy?" Wow, you visited on a few cloudy days and now you can make grand, sweeping statements on the year-round climate of the entire campus. Good job on that. Additionally, talking about extreme cases of suicide isn't the best way to judge how happy the students are. Sure, Cornell is intensely competitive and some people just can't take that environment. But there are plenty of happy students there, so the school must be doing something right. There will always be unhappy people at any school. Also Ithaca really isn't THAT bad. It's been growing and there's a lot more stuff to do than there was just ten years ago. It isn't Hanover, that's for sure.

Honestly, I think you're ripping apart Cornell excessively simply because the general public perceives it as a better school than NU. Don't let uninformed opinions bother you.

By Alex86 (Alex86) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 02:58 pm: Edit

i don't know exactly how this plays into the entire coversation, but i will add my own experience to the pile. I was just at northwestern for previewnu, plus visiting a friend. and i commented to her that it was weird to see all these people with yale/harvard/stanford/stanford/princeton sweatshirts. (she applied ed fyi.) and she said that wasnt uncommon, that lots of people wear the sweatshirt of the school they wanted to go to.in a seperate experience, i met a '94 northwestern grad whose first words out of his mouth when i inquired as to his college experience were "well, i wanted to go to yale and brown but they rejected me so..." and then went on to talk about northwestern. so perhaps, whether the reputation is warranted or not (which honestly, has nothing at all to do with what type of school cornell is,) it might be partially perpetuated by northwestern students.

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 03:33 pm: Edit

I guess my problem is that I'm not an Ivy League Reject; I was accepted to every school to which I applied: Penn, Yale, NU, Chicago, Swarthmore, Brown, Penn State, U Park...(Represent PA!!!!), and even Cornell. It seems like when I tell people the schools that accepted me, and that I’m going to NU, they feel like I am some how cheating myself: that's just crap! NU is, in my opinion, a far better school than is perceived by the public. However, I have noticed the whole “I wanted to go to_____ but was rejected, and went to NU” theme of some students; I think people need to realize that NU is a fantastic school and not always a person’s second choice.

By Largegreenturt (Largegreenturt) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 08:05 pm: Edit

You applied early decision KK, so either you are lying or broke the rules. You should have withdrawn all your apps when you heard from NU...unless I am missing something.

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 09:28 pm: Edit

Actually, the financial aid that the school offered me was inadequate; my parents could not afford the amount of contribution expected. The university told me to wait until my parents filed their tax forms to get updated financial aid. It just so happens that they filed after all other schools had admitted me; since the aid was proven to be insufficient, I could not be bound by the agreement until I could afford to attend the school.

By Largegreenturt (Largegreenturt) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 03:59 am: Edit

lucky you

By Sulurph (Sulurph) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 11:01 am: Edit

Statistics from 2003 NU class of 2003: 14,138 applicants, 4, 702 admitted, 1,941 enrolled. That a 41% yield, low for such an excellent school. My guess is the admitted students are also getting (and accepting) offers from the Ivies.

By Knightmare (Knightmare) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 09:56 pm: Edit

Kk, if you hate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and UPENN so much (as indicated by your profile), why did you apply to UPENN and Penn State?

Northwestern is a decent school, but I turned it down for Penn. My reasons: too many NU buildings look like office buildings, not as selective, and a little too laid back. Although, NU students are very nice and have tons of school spirit.

Overall, I don't think people should severely bash any of these top schools. NU, Penn, Cornell, etc. are ALL great.

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 11:00 pm: Edit

Well, I applied to Penn because I have taken soooooooo many classes there, and it has always just been assumed that I would apply (and attend). I don't hate Penn, I'm just annoyed with it. Penn state was a backup school; it was my safety school, moreover, it would have been very cheap to attend, and is a very good public school. I stand firm in my general disdain for PA.

By Raiti (Raiti) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 11:03 pm: Edit

Please don't judge the Cornellians based on the stupid comment of one individual. I'm going to be a Cornellian next year and I think that NU is an awesome university. I believe that the NU and Cornellian student body is similar so I don't see why anybody would make such an inflamatory comment. The "Ivy League" is just a title of a sports conference just like the Big 10 and is stupid to say that someone is an ivy reject.

By Shahab (Shahab) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 06:20 pm: Edit

you should have said "hey you're an ivy league reject too"

after his inevitable response "cornell is an ivy moron", you would simply say "yeah, you keep telling yourself that"

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 01:33 am: Edit

LOL, too bad you weren't there to say that; I would have been on the ground laughing.

By Incog (Incog) on Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 02:10 am: Edit

agreed with hahvahd. though im not quite sure that the general public perceives cornell as being better than NU.

By Angelnikki1 (Angelnikki1) on Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 12:06 pm: Edit

Dude, it's nothing against Cornell. It's people in Philadelphia. I don't know who named it the city of brotherly love, but people are cut-throat competitive there...

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 01:27 am: Edit

One of my best friends is going to Wharton (the business school at UPenn) and he won't shut up about how much better it is than NU. He was really set on going to UC when he got in Early Action there for economics but changed is tune pretty fast a soon as he got into UPenn. It's really freaking annoying because I know that NU is an awesome school but somehow he constantly manages to demean everything about NU and tells me how I couldn't have gotten into Wharton. (I applied in general below where I could have gotten in, NU was the highest school I applied to and I didn't get a single rejection letter.)It makes me so mad I almost want to apply for a transfer just to see if I could get in to show him up for being so pompus. We went out to dinner the other night and all he talked about was how Donald Trump went there and how he disses all of the other ivy business programs. I told him about a guy I met who said he is in charge of hiring for his company and he will hire a University of Colorado person over anyone else and he returned with, "If I'm ever in charge of hiring I'm only going for Wharton kids. I don't care if they got good grades, if they got into Wharton they're way better than anyone else." Grrrr

My best friend is going to Cornell and is really excited. She has no ego about it either. She didn't even know it was an ivy until I told her after she got in. Too bad that alums call her program archi-torture.

People need to drop the attitudes about their schools and just enjoy what they have without considering themselves superior to others.

My friend going to Cornell sent me this thing for an a capella group there

www.cayugaswaiters.com and then go to music then downloads and you can listen to the We didn't got to Harvard song. It's great.

By Azntoccata (Azntoccata) on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Why is he your friend.

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 02:29 am: Edit

He was my friend at school from my AP US class. I hung out with him a bit too outside of school and we were in knowlege bowl together. Actually, my best friend and I got in a bit of a rowe with him over the whole UPenn thing, he still insists that he has no ego... whatever. I don't really talk to him any more. It makes me mad to. When I tell him stuff that is great about NU back he accuses me of being competative and having an inferiority complex. He doesn't do it to his other friends, just my friend going to Cornell and myself. We figure it is because he already feels superior to the other because they are going to CU (U. of Colorado) and that he sees us as a bit of a threat or challenge because we're both going to good schools, and we're women. He's Indian and has retained some of his sexist veiws inherent in his culture.

I don't even know why I brought it up. It just makes me mad.

By Mahras (Mahras) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 08:24 pm: Edit

wattsski,

please dont think that all Indians are sexists. I know I am not sexists or I hope I am not sexist. I also dont like to show off. The kid has an inferiority complex. Just tell him this.....people actually recognize Northwestern but UPenn shhhh.....most people in the US thinks its a state school.

BTW I also would like to go to Wharton but I woulldn't rub my @$$ against the face of a NU admit. Both are awesome schools. It would be very funny when he finds out how Wharton really is....(can you say uptight, uber competitive classmates who are at your throats, and ofcouse the infamous Wharton curve) Harsh very harsh

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 09:31 pm: Edit

I work at Penn

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:02 am: Edit

No, I don't think that all Indians are sexists. But he often got on my case about being a bit of a feminist and then one time he said, "Yeah, I'm kinda sexist, but it's just because I'm Indian and that's the way things just are." So while I would never assume that all Indians are sexist, (come on, can we say racial biggot?) if he's willing be blame it on culture, let him do so.

He was instant messaging me today about running for the internship organization treasurer and he's applied for some technical suppourt program. I think he might be putting too much on his plate right now with the way things are reported to be at Wharton. Chances that he'll get that stuff being a freshman have got to be pretty low anyway.

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:42 am: Edit

When the heck does the college plan to tell me what dorm I got?????? I can't wait 3 weeks

By Wattsski (Wattsski) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 01:03 pm: Edit

I'm getting antsy too! I wanna talk to my roommate so I can start figuring out what I need to get. I also need to find out if I got into Project Wildcat or not so my mom can figure out if she needs to take a whole week off work or just a few days. And I want to know if I ended up on North Campus or South Campus....

By Kimfuge (Kimfuge) on Saturday, July 24, 2004 - 10:21 am: Edit

I think based on selectivity Northwestern is just as selective as Cornell, but not as selective as the other Ivies. But they're all great schools, and Northwestern is the Ivy of the midwest

By Happeepanda (Happeepanda) on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 03:36 am: Edit

hmmm...how far away is northwestern university from chicago?

By Admitmeplz (Admitmeplz) on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 06:24 am: Edit

Northwestern's Evanston campus is only about 2 miles from Chicago's city limits, but downtown is about 15 miles away

By Madelinemay11 (Madelinemay11) on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:46 pm: Edit

The guy mentioned by the OP seems to be a real ass, but in all fairness, Northwest is seen a somewhat of a backup school to the Ivy Leaguers. I know several people that pretty much think the same way, so I know that that is a general public perception.

But, you shouldn't let that get you down. If you focus on your studies, you can get a good education anywhere, including state and community colleges.

By Asianalto (Asianalto) on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 09:50 am: Edit

"you can get a good education anywhere, including state and community colleges. "


I don't know if this makes you feel better, but a lot of programs at Cornell, including the biology program, are part of the STATE section of Cornell.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 11:12 am: Edit

"you should have said "hey you're an ivy league reject too"


That is the funniest thing I have ever seen.

By Zcat18 (Zcat18) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 01:36 pm: Edit

WHO THE HELL CARES? News flash: once you get to college nobody will give a hoot whether you went to Northwestern or Cornell or friggin' Oakton Community College. I'll be a senior in college this year (oh, and for the record, I'll also be earning a master's degree in June), and I just came back to this site for sh*ts and giggles, but to be honest, it's sickening to think that I might have been as whorish as half of these people are when I was applying to colleges. For my part, I've never had anybody say, "oh, you go to Northwestern? You must be a reject. I'm so sorry." That's insane. Out of 2,000 colleges in this country, NU has to be somewhere around the top 15. Isn't that enough to satisfy all you people who are sh*tting yourselves because Harvard, God forbid, didn't accept you? Anyway, it shouldn't matter. Anybody who feels unfortunate or slighted by fate to attend a school like NU doesn't deserve to be there in the first place.

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 02:14 pm: Edit

Hey ZCat, that's wonderful you will be getting your Masters in your 5th year. Too bad Northwestern doesn't have an MA program for Social Policy majors like me. I wouldn't mind getting my Masters when I graduate. I'm not sure though if I will be getting a Ph.D. though

By Zcat18 (Zcat18) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 11:23 pm: Edit

Wow, there's no MA in Social Policy at NU? That's surprising. You might want to consider looking through NU's other graduate programs to see if there's one that fits your interests. It can't hurt, and in the end, the extra degree will help improve your career track as well as aid your chances for PhD program admission, should you choose that route. The program I'm doing isn't a standard one. I simply contacted the Graduate School and told them of my intention to use my knowledge of Chinese language and culture (it was previously my minor before I switched to the 2-degree course of study--I'm actually in China right now doing research for my thesis) toward a master's degree. The process was a long one, but basically, they gave me a choice of a couple of degrees that might fit my interests and then asked me to write a detailed proposal and prospective course of study (kind of like an informal "application"). After the Graduate School reviewed my proposal and found it acceptable, I then had to gain the approval of my undergraduate school. I'm actually managing to get out of NU with both degrees in 4 years, because I only have 4 more undergraduate courses left before I can graduate. As suicidal as it may be, I'll be cramming those courses as well as my 9 required master's coures and thesis into the standard 3 quarters of my senior year. It'll be a crapload of work, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will help me when it comes to PhD program admissions.

Anyway, the point to that whole rant was that, if you want to be a bit creative with your education and maybe go for a master's, it's worth a try, even if NU doesn't offer the exact program you're looking for. NU is very good about listening to and trying to accomodate students who want to expand their education in one way or another, be it an undergraduate research grant, a special thesis topic, or even possible admission to a graduate program while you finish your undergraduate degree. Good luck!

By Hdotchar (Hdotchar) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 03:39 pm: Edit

the people who are dumbest are those who believe that they are the smartest.

i dont see why wharton is so selective anyways. its not like business majors are especially difficult (besides economics). i would think the main advantage you get from attending a 'top business school' is job oppurtunities and name recognition.

not trying to insult wharton or anything. i just think your friend needs a reality check.