Best undergrad Ivy

Introduction
The first things you need to know are that Cornell is remote, has a big frat scene, that the workload is heavy, but also that you'll be learning from actual Profs and even though there's a lot of people from New York, it's a pretty diverse school if you want it to be. I like the school so I'm going to be really positive.

Campus Life and Social Life
The fraternities here are far from the average american frat. They are multi million dollar mansions. A house will throw 2000-5000$ per party, have the best DJs around, lots of booze and girls.
The campus is big enough so you don't meet the same people at parties, but small enough so you won t get lost.
The University is actually working with fraternities to have a better social scene (instead of kicking them out, i.e. WashU).
Once you turn 21, Collegetown is there for you: Dozens of bars, every style, from the english pub, sports bar to the sophisticated NYC-style lounge. Advertisement
Academics
- Best Ivy League for Engineering and Life Sciences, one of the best for Business, best Hotel School in the World.
- You can study ANYTHING you want here.
- Heavy workload, depending on your major (comm and hotel = light. Engineering = heaviest)
- Greatest Professors you'll ever meet. In contrast to other Ivies, everything s taught by the professor not the TAs.

Student Body
- Very diverse and international. No typical student.
- Cornell has its share of nerds of course, but a lot of very bright, socially aware people that work hard and party even harder.

In Closing...
Cornell's remote location is more an advantage than a disadvantage. You're on a hill above a beatiful lake surounded by ponds and streams. The winter are definitely rough, but the bad part is pretty short and the summers are beautiful. The campus and collegetown area is big enough and has most things you need so you don't have to get out of it often. Cornell feels like its own little world, very active socially and intelectually and very diverse. I don't think you can get the same atmosphere in any other top schools.