Columbia over H/W?

Am I crazy for considering this?  I’m applying to all 3 during the first round and I think I’m competitive at any of them but with such low acceptance rates there are never any guarantees.  The more research I do I’m really drawn to the value investing center that Columbia has and the fact that it’s right there in NYC.  However if I can get in to either Harvard or Wharton clearly the brand name is much stronger and the alumni support is hard to beat.  I’ve been debating about applying Early Decision to Columbia because knowing early would be nice and I think it would boost my chances of getting accepted.  However would it be stupid to lock myself in to Columbia if there is still a potential that I could get into H/W?

 

Some of you people are so weird. Why would anyone consider it crazy to go to Columbia instead of H/W?

I'd go to Columbia over any school, don't care.

"Quote from a book/movie about wall street" - Main character in that movie.
 

If you don't mind me asking, what are your credentials like (ug gpa, major, gmat, work experience, extracurriculars)?

Regarding your question, VERY few people choose columbia over harvard or wharton. I know 1 person who took it over wharton due to personal family reasons, but that's about it. It doesn't happen often. It's true that columbia's value investing program is unique, and if you're 100% sure that you want to work at a deep value fund like omega, gotham, blue ridge, etc., (the managers of those funds teach as adjunct faculty in the value investing program), then I suppose it's not that crazy. But b-school is much more than the classes or the faculty; it's your fellow classmates, the alumni network, on-campus recruiting, name brand, etc. And in those categories, HBS and Wharton trump columbia easily.

 

No, not crazy for sure...

Columbia is way better than Harvard for value investing, if you know that's what you want to do. At Harvard, you have to network more and students have been classified as worse at giving pitches than students at Columbia and Harvard. HBS is the best for general management, etc. but not for value investing.

Wharton is descent and I have heard better than Harvard at pitching ideas and the investing track, but I believe Columbia is the best.

Not to say you won't get a HF or value investing job out of HBS - many have (York, Viking, etc.), but I would think it would think Columbia > Wharton > Harvard in this case (without knowing all the facts)....

As for ED, I am applying regular decision, i've heard there is no difference though you want to explain WHY Columbia and get the app in soon after the ED deadline

 
MittRomney:
No, not crazy for sure...

Columbia is way better than Harvard for value investing, if you know that's what you want to do. At Harvard, you have to network more and students have been classified as worse at giving pitches than students at Columbia and Harvard. HBS is the best for general management, etc. but not for value investing.

Wharton is descent and I have heard better than Harvard at pitching ideas and the investing track, but I believe Columbia is the best.

Not to say you won't get a HF or value investing job out of HBS - many have (York, Viking, etc.), but I would think it would think Columbia > Wharton > Harvard in this case (without knowing all the facts)....

As for ED, I am applying regular decision, i've heard there is no difference though you want to explain WHY Columbia and get the app in soon after the ED deadline

HBS places better than columbia at hedge funds. I think this is due to both the name brand and the fact that HBS gets some buyside superstars.

 

^For Ibanking Columbia could be a good choice M7 and heavily recruited, since most MBA students at Columbia usually go into consulting so less competition coming from Columbia for Ibanking. I would choose H/W/S over Columbia because of the name. See it like this when I go to India all of my family members know of Harvard, not so much about Columbia or Wharton or Standford. The name Harvard is just so well known. Anyhow I'm sure going to Columbia will open just as many opportunites as if you were to go to H/W/S

 
TheKid1:
^For Ibanking Columbia could be a good choice M7 and heavily recruited, since most MBA students at Columbia usually go into consulting so less competition coming from Columbia for Ibanking. I would choose H/W/S over Columbia because of the name. See it like this when I go to India all of my family members know of Harvard, not so much about Columbia or Wharton or Standford. The name Harvard is just so well known. Anyhow I'm sure going to Columbia will open just as many opportunites as if you were to go to H/W/S

No name brand in education inspires as much respect, awe, and envy, than Harvard. And an MBA from HBS is probably the most coveted degree in the entire world.

 
Brady4MVP:
TheKid1:
^For Ibanking Columbia could be a good choice M7 and heavily recruited, since most MBA students at Columbia usually go into consulting so less competition coming from Columbia for Ibanking. I would choose H/W/S over Columbia because of the name. See it like this when I go to India all of my family members know of Harvard, not so much about Columbia or Wharton or Standford. The name Harvard is just so well known. Anyhow I'm sure going to Columbia will open just as many opportunites as if you were to go to H/W/S

No name brand in education inspires as much respect, awe, and envy, than Harvard. And an MBA from HBS is probably the most coveted degree in the entire world.

I certainly hope that no MBA from any school is the most coveted degree in the entire world. MBA = $150,000 rolodex

"One should recognize reality even when one doesn't like it, indeed, especially when one doesn't like it." - Charlie Munger
 
shorttheworld:
RatinaMaze:
With a GPA rounded at 3, I doubt you are competitive at any of those schools.

not true

virtually impossible to get into HBS or wharton with a 3.0. You better have SICK work experience, recs, extras, etc.

The 80% range at wharton, i believe, is 3.2-3.8. And the median gpa at HBS is 3.7 and only getting higher due to the 2+2 program.

 
shorttheworld:
RatinaMaze:
With a GPA rounded at 3, I doubt you are competitive at any of those schools.

not true

Kinda is I think. Would be shocked to see someone with 3.0 but wont say it here because I'm not aware of OP's background. Good luck to you though.

 

Damn Brady, you sure seem to get a raging boner whenever you hear the word "Harvard" huh?

It's kinda sad

If your dreams don't scare you, then they are not big enough. "There are two types of people in this world: People who say they pee in the shower, and dirty fucking liars."-Louis C.K.
 
Brady4MVP:
scottj19x89:
Damn Brady, you sure seem to get a raging boner whenever you hear the word "Harvard" huh?

It's kinda sad

Huh? I'm just admitting that Harvard is the best name brand in all of education. What business person would not want to go to HBS? The place is fucking awesome. Go visit the campus, and you'll know what I'm talking about.

It just seems like you're the biggest Harvard fanboi on these boards. I've seen quite a bit of posts like this from you.

If your dreams don't scare you, then they are not big enough. "There are two types of people in this world: People who say they pee in the shower, and dirty fucking liars."-Louis C.K.
 
Brady4MVP:
scottj19x89:
Damn Brady, you sure seem to get a raging boner whenever you hear the word "Harvard" huh?

It's kinda sad

Huh? I'm just admitting that Harvard is the best name brand in all of education. What business person would not want to go to HBS? The place is fucking awesome. Go visit the campus, and you'll know what I'm talking about.

This is just a personal question, and I'm not getting wrapped up in the flaming and trollbaiting everyone else is with you right now because I know you're a serious b-school applicant, but have you visited GSB as well?
I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 
Enigmabk:
consider what you might regret if you pick columbia specifically because of value investing but end up wanting to do something else

Great point. And also, the value investing program is highly selective. Absolutely no guarantee at all that you will get into the program.

And yes, HBS is more versatile and open more doors if you want to do something else.

 

Wow I stirred up quite a conversation here. I come from one of the "under represented" groups but I'm not 100% sure how much that will help my application. I know I'm on the low end with a 3.03 GPA (Engineering from Georgia Tech) and 710 GMAT but coming from a military officer career and not the traditional banking or consulting background will hopefully help. That's why I said I'm competitive but far from the normal candidate or a "sure thing." That's what is really making me lean towards applying Early Decision. I feel like any extra boost it might give me could be just enough to set me over the edge and make it worth it. The likelihood I would get into more than 1 of the 3 is probably pretty slim as it is.

 
mappleby:
Wow I stirred up quite a conversation here. I come from one of the "under represented" groups but I'm not 100% sure how much that will help my application. I know I'm on the low end with a 3.03 GPA (Engineering from Georgia Tech) and 710 GMAT but coming from a military officer career and not the traditional banking or consulting background will hopefully help. That's why I said I'm competitive but far from the normal candidate or a "sure thing." That's what is really making me lean towards applying Early Decision. I feel like any extra boost it might give me could be just enough to set me over the edge and make it worth it. The likelihood I would get into more than 1 of the 3 is probably pretty slim as it is.

Oh, that changes EVERYTHING. You're an URM, engineering background from a good school (my home state of georgia!), AND you're a military officer. Yeah, you're an autoadmit at wharton/booth/columbia and a very good shot at HBS.

Good luck.

 
Best Response
mappleby:
Wow I stirred up quite a conversation here. I come from one of the "under represented" groups but I'm not 100% sure how much that will help my application. I know I'm on the low end with a 3.03 GPA (Engineering from Georgia Tech) and 710 GMAT but coming from a military officer career and not the traditional banking or consulting background will hopefully help. That's why I said I'm competitive but far from the normal candidate or a "sure thing." That's what is really making me lean towards applying Early Decision. I feel like any extra boost it might give me could be just enough to set me over the edge and make it worth it. The likelihood I would get into more than 1 of the 3 is probably pretty slim as it is.

Well, to give you a bit of color on how being from an "under reprsented" group will help your application... in my opinion it will essentially move you from having no chance at H/S/W and low chances at the rest of M7 to being a lock at most of the m7 and having a damn good chance at HSW. In other words, it will help you about the same as a congressional medal of honor.

 
International Pymp:
mappleby:
Wow I stirred up quite a conversation here. I come from one of the "under represented" groups but I'm not 100% sure how much that will help my application. I know I'm on the low end with a 3.03 GPA (Engineering from Georgia Tech) and 710 GMAT but coming from a military officer career and not the traditional banking or consulting background will hopefully help. That's why I said I'm competitive but far from the normal candidate or a "sure thing." That's what is really making me lean towards applying Early Decision. I feel like any extra boost it might give me could be just enough to set me over the edge and make it worth it. The likelihood I would get into more than 1 of the 3 is probably pretty slim as it is.

Well, to give you a bit of color on how being from an "under reprsented" group will help your application... in my opinion it will essentially move you from having no chance at H/S/W and low chances at the rest of M7 to being a lock at most of the m7 and having a damn good chance at HSW. In other words, it will help you about the same as a congressional medal of honor.

Yup. Being a URM is a HUGE boost to one's application. I know so many sub-par URM's who got into top 5 business schools this year. Of course, the OP seems pretty well-qualified in his own right.

 

URM and officer you're likely to get in to HBS / Wharton even with notably weak grades and below average scores that you have.... if you get into HBS, just go there. Definitely, definitely go there. Wharton vs. Columbia i could see either choice being a smart move, depending on personal preference etc.

 

Not to dampen your enthusiasm but a 3.03 GPA is mediocre at best. This notion of a tough program excusing a bad performance is ridiculous. I was in a tough program but I turned out a solid GPA.

You're gonna have of trouble with Columbia not to mention H/W. Good luck to you though.

 

OP's GPA is offset by the 700+ GMAT score. His work experience in the military more than offsets his lackluster average academic criteria.

If the problem is that he may find the schools difficult/challenging, he should be fine picking the right school with a grade non-disclosure policy, which should set him up for his future career change.

Life, liberty, and the happiness of pursuit.
 
wikit:
OP's GPA is offset by the 700+ GMAT score. His work experience in the military more than offsets his lackluster average academic criteria.

If the problem is that he may find the schools difficult/challenging, he should be fine picking the right school with a grade non-disclosure policy, which should set him up for his future career change.

I think its more GMAT and GPA's compliment each other rather then completely offset. If I was in adcoms, I would be inclined to think whether OP can handle the rigours of business school on the basis of just one test.

 

I think most people on the forums overall ejaculate over themselves based on the prestigeof their undergrad name, their baseline profession and the GPA. I think GPA is quite possibly in the tertiary tier of things adcoms care about, the only reasOn it becomes such a "mandated" link is that usually shitty GPA means shitty job or work experience but if that isn't the case you can throw that out the window as a negative

 

Asking Columbia/Harvard/Wharton is kind of like asking Blake Lively/Giselle Bundchen/Kate Upton? All have their unique pluses and minuses, all are truly superlative.

My limited take is that HBS has a brand above all others. Many of the HBS grads I know and know of wound up in public office of some sort after making a ton of money. Columbia places well into a lot of the value funds but it is no guarantee. There are a limited number of value investing funds and it is a narrow objective to focus on entering business school. Even if you don't get into the program, there are still tons of opportunities in banking, traditional asset management, etc. All of the Wharton grads I have met are impressive and very successful.

Your GMAT and military experience are impressive, but once you find out which programs you actually get into your decision might be easier. It is rare for people to get into all three.

Best of Luck.

 
Gray Fox:
Asking Columbia/Harvard/Wharton is kind of like asking Blake Lively/Giselle Bundchen/Kate Upton? All have their unique pluses and minuses, all are truly superlative.

My limited take is that HBS has a brand above all others. Many of the HBS grads I know and know of wound up in public office of some sort after making a ton of money. Columbia places well into a lot of the value funds but it is no guarantee. There are a limited number of value investing funds and it is a narrow objective to focus on entering business school. Even if you don't get into the program, there are still tons of opportunities in banking, traditional asset management, etc. All of the Wharton grads I have met are impressive and very successful.

Your GMAT and military experience are impressive, but once you find out which programs you actually get into your decision might be easier. It is rare for people to get into all three.

Best of Luck.

Stanford and Kate Upton please. Am I doin' it right?

 

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