Wharton or Princeton undergrad for HF?
Hello! I recently got accepted to Wharton and Princeton. I'm very excited but also rather struggle to make a choice.
I was invited for the Joseph Wharton Scholar program (as well as Benjamin Franklin). I didn't apply for the M&T program, but I think if I go with Wharton it would be possible to transfer into that program.
If I go to Princeton, I would probably go with Operation Research and Financial Engineering (or maybe Computer Science).
I feel really excited about Wharton because of the special programs. But:
Princeton gives me a full ride!!! I didn't get anything from Wharton at all.
So if I go to Wharton, I have to pay full tuition. If I go to Princeton, everything would be free.
My family is middle class, they can afford Wharton but it would still be a lot of money for us.
I would like more advice from you! I'm very interested in working in Hedge Fund after graduation. I think ORFE from Princeton is also a very well-regarded program right? I'm just concerned because from what I've heard, getting good grades at Princeton is much harder than Upenn and I'm afraid a lower GPA from Princeton would put me at disadvantage...
PS: I'm an international student.
Thank you for reading this!
Go for Princeton especially since it's a full ride!! btw what are your ECs?
If you could choose to dine at either Sukayabashi Jiro or Le Jules Verne, but one of these had a US$250k pricetag and the other was free, which would you choose?
Princeton because it is free.
No brainer...go for Princeton
Have you talked to the financial aid office at Penn? When I was going through the process you are currently in I found that all the Ivy Leagues matched the best financial aid package available from other Ivy League schools. I was told that they do this because they do not want you to have to make a decision based on finances, however this was for need-based aid so it might have been a completely different situation.
Thank you for your advice! I'm trying to argue but I doubt there would be any changes. I didn't apply for any aid because Penn does not have need-blind policy for international students....
Princeton
Go to Princeton and use the $250k savings to get a head-start in life. No recruiter debates Wharton vs Princeton when evaluating applicants. Plus if you pursue an MBA or other grad programs, that $250k you didn't spend on undergrad can come in handy.
Thank you for the advice!
I looked at the orfe department placement on Princeton's website, somehow I don't think it is as impressive as Wharton's (but still Princeton ORF is doing extremely well). I think maybe the lower GPA from Princeton would put the graduates at an disadvantage when looking for a job?
Remember that ORFE only makes up a small portion of the finance-bound crowd at Princeton. Econ is much larger and CS/Math/Physics, etc. all send their fair share.
IMO, Wharton still has an edge for HFs right out of school, though you can get those same jobs from HYP if you try. But 5yrs down the line (when the Princeton history major -> Goldman IBD guy goes to HFs), that edge is pretty much gone. And Princeton may get you jobs and a network that Wharton can't.
Also, grades don't matter.
Or rather, grades are less important than people think.
Princeton. And congrats on landing such an amazing offer from the best Ivy!
Honestly Princeton is the better school and the fact that its free makes it a no contest for me. Take Princeton, work hard, and don't look back.
Princeton. Hands down, no question. Even if the aid were the same.
Wharton is my personal fav, but Princeton is a top Ivy and FREE, your path is clear my friend!
1) Congrats on the acceptance; by way of background, i currently work at a multi bn HF and went to Wharton (graduated in 2011); yea please go talk to the Penn and see if they can get the offer matched; otherwise, go w/ Princeton BC it's $250K of after tax money; Key is maintaining good grades and both schools are good enough; congrats again!
If one is free - there is no question (I guess in this case, Princeton) - if you are leaning towards Wharton, see if you can talk to financial aid and see if they can come up with something... But FREE is tough to beat and if you tell most HF managers this, they'd agree. Both top schools. One is free, one aint. What is the probability that the one that isn't free will give you THAT much more opportunity than the one that is free? In this case probably not that high? I can't assign a dollar value to it, but I'd probably say that it ain't 250k/300k or whatever it is that undergrad costs nowadays...
Use some of those savings to start investing on your own. Read up (books, 10ks etc) come up with investment ideas, maybe even learn to model (people can send you samples here and some may even walk you through it). Then hit the streets/Princeton network. Princeton has plenty of people in HFs and if you are enthusiastic and bright eyed and have some ideas, more than a few will be willing to listen to you/give you a shot. Heck a fair few will give you a shot if you are enthusiastic and they just like you.
Good Luck and congratulations on having a "good problem"
Your family can afford Wharton, yet Princeton gives you a full ride which is need based. Something is not quite right in this picture.
This list would suggest Wharton, but I agree with everyone else, and would take Princeton http://www.finalternatives.com/node/29327?p=0
Not that it matters for the OP, but I'm going to leave this here for anyone else who might stumble upon this thread:
Nearly every single M&T transfer comes from engineering. That's because there is, barring some exceptional circumstances, so much more reason for an engineering student to pick up the Wharton degree than vice versa. It's also just more authentic to be passionate about tech and pick up the business knowledge than the other way around.
Just so that you have one more voice saying this. Princeton. Debt is crushing. Free tuition at Princeton, and your folks should be able to pick up your COL tab. Being debt-free is the difference between having to make a decision to pursue a certain career path, and having the option to.
The fact that this is even a question makes me doubt your future as an investor.
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