Amherst College, Boston College or Georgetown University?
Hi everyone! I'm currently a high school senior and am a bit conflicted as to where I should study. I am between Amherst College, Boston College and Georgetown, and would likely pursue some form of finance. Given that that topic is one of the main focuses on this site, I was hoping that you might be able to provide some advice.
Regarding Amherst, I would have to play baseball, but the other two I would attend normally. With that said, and based on my previous knowledge, here are my current views on each school:
Amherst: very strong liberal arts school that seems to have an edge over the other two in terms of prestige and quality of education. However, as I have read in other posts on this site, baseball would be a very significant commitment and definitely increase my overall workload. This college also lacks a business school, so I would major in economics.
Boston College: I would attend Carroll (not honors) and take various business courses relevant to my major. This school seems to be the least prestigious of the three in the context of what I have read, but it arguably compensates for this with a stunning campus, proximity to Boston, far more school spirit, and D1 sports teams. I would also actually be able to major in finance here.
Georgetown: I would attend McDonough and major in finance like at Boston College. Rankings and other posts have led me to place this school between the other two when considering its prestige and education level. Very similar to BC in that it has a nice campus, access to a large city and school spirit.
After graduation, I would probably look to do something in the realm of banking, although I'm not completely set on it. But, going off of that, it seems Amherst generates more recruiting from those large companies than the other two and is more of a target school. So, putting this all together, is Amherst a no-brainer here? Despite the commitment of baseball, does being an athlete there even further help my chances of getting a good job? Would I have the same chance of getting that job at the other two? If so, am I better off not playing and going to one of those?
All assumptions of prestige and education level stem from a large amount of prior information that I have read, but of course I could be wrong. Also, financial aid is not really a factor, as they all would cost me about the same. Thank you so much in advance for your advice, I really appreciate it!!
Go where you think you'll be happiest. You don't seem too thrilled to have the opportunity to play baseball at Amherst, but you can always enroll and then stop playing. They're all good schools with plenty of successful alumni in finance. Wherever you feel the most comfortable is where you'll succeed the most.
Georgetown gets the best recruiting out of those three. You can also go play club baseball there rather than D1.
Amherst is the most prestigious one on the list and you can definitely get some good recruiting at most BBs there from there given smaller size and lesser students interested in Wall Street.
BC is a decent semi-target but you have to do really well there to get to the Street
GTown is a full on target that gets recruiting at most BBs but nonexistent at most high regarded EBs / MMs
I'd probably narrow it down to GTown or Amherst and go with whatever you like better
This is really a debate between Amherst and Georgetown. Those who know those schools would laugh at you for choosing Georgetown over Amherst, although I think you should evaluate campus life at these schools. Amherst is a dramatically different place than Georgetown. It's rural and almost entirely campus based social life, which is currently up in the air since they just got rid of fraternities and exploring some sort of coed social club option. I don't think that's ideal but you may end up finding a real niche for success amidst that transition. Georgetown is an urban school but it has a pretty exclusive social system. 'The Corp' and other major student orgs most people try to seek ought are really no different than joining a fraternity (exclusive selection process based on "fit" and hazing) and then 'going out' means going out to bars, which you'll be doing for the rest of your life anyway. Personally would choose Amherst hands down, but I think most people on this forum are going to disagree with me.
(I'm not address OCR or whatever because you have to be a total retard at some shitty non-target if you really think going to Amherst will be a disadvantage. Their alumni network, while small, is fucking loyal and very accomplished, HYP level accomplished.)
being an athlete is definitely a plus. To get into banking, you'd want some sort of EC's to broaden your resume anyways. Georgetown is one of the strongest schools in banking outside of the ivy league while Amherst is more prestigious within the posh Northeastern world. BC is a step down from those two.
I'd choose between amherst and georgetown based on your personal preference.
Thank you all for your advice so far!!
Georgetown and it's not even close. Given the opportunity, I undoubtedly would study business at a target school rather than go to a small liberal arts college where they don't offer business.
Definitely comes down between Gtown and Amherst, take BC off the table. While Amherst is the better option academically (most of my classmates turned down at least 1 non-cornell ivy to come here) Georgetown is also a great school, and if you can get good grades there you should be in great shape. Socially, Amherst is awful if you're not on a sports team (frats are banned so sports teams throw all the parties and basically act as frats) . However, if you play baseball you will have a great time+ be in great shape for IB. Last year I believe every single senior on the baseball team went BB IBD so you'll have no problems making it on wall street. Also you can major in whatever the fuck you want here and still make it. Georgetown i'm assuming you'd have to be at the top of your class while either majoring in Econ or do undergrad business to have a good shot at NYC IBD. Social Aspect/Fit is still a big deal though cause you're spending 4 years there and I know a decent amount of people who really aren't happy at Amherst but dont wanna switch to a "worse" school and transfer. Look at it this way: Varsity Athlete at Amherst would probably be more fun than being a NARP at Georgetown. However, if you don't do baseball at amherst then Georgetown would be much better socially
However, if you're getting recruited for baseball I'm assuming you're a white upper middle class senior that goes to a boarding/independent school so even if you don't do baseball you'll have no problems fitting it at amherst and navigating the social scene.
Amherst College, Boston College, or Georgetown (Originally Posted: 01/24/2016)
Hi everyone! I'm currently a high school senior and am a bit conflicted as to where I should study. I am between Amherst College, Boston College and Georgetown, and would likely pursue some form of finance. Given that that topic is one of the main focuses on this site, I was hoping that you might be able to provide some advice. I also posted this in the Investment Banking section, but I thought I might as well include it here too.
Regarding Amherst, I would have to play baseball, but the other two I would attend normally. With that said, and based on my previous knowledge, here are my current views on each school:
Amherst: very strong liberal arts school that seems to have an edge over the other two in terms of prestige and quality of education. However, as I have read in other posts on this site, baseball would be a very significant commitment and definitely increase my overall workload. This college also lacks a business school, so I would major in economics.
Boston College: I would attend Carroll (not honors) and take various business courses relevant to my major. This school seems to be the least prestigious of the three in the context of what I have read, but it arguably compensates for this with a stunning campus, proximity to Boston, far more school spirit, and D1 sports teams. I would also actually be able to major in finance here.
Georgetown: I would attend McDonough and major in finance like at Boston College. Rankings and other posts have led me to place this school between the other two when considering its prestige and education level. Very similar to BC in that it has a nice campus, access to a large city and school spirit.
After graduation, I would probably look to do something in the realm of banking, although I'm not completely set on it. But, going off of that, it seems Amherst generates more recruiting from those large companies than the other two and is more of a target school. So, putting this all together, is Amherst a no-brainer here? Despite the commitment of baseball, does being an athlete there even further help my chances of getting a good job? Would I have the same chance of getting that job at the other two? If so, am I better off not playing and going to one of those?
All assumptions of prestige and education level stem from a large amount of prior information that I have read, but of course I could be wrong. Also, financial aid is not really a factor, as they all would cost me about the same. Thank you so much in advance for your advice, I really appreciate it!!
All 3 are great schools. I would actually rank Gtown above Amherst, especially for someone looking into a finance / business career, (I do admit I am not the biggest fan of LAC so maybe a bit biased). I think it all boils down to what kind of experience you want to have in college and whether you want to commit to playing baseball or not.
Hmm I'm not sure about Georgetown but Boston College should be out for sure.
About Amherst - its a much smaller school, the food sucks. It will be a very different experience from Georgetown. Amherst does very well with banking and finance though. I would say they are the most prestigious but Georgetown is very good as well.
Career wise Amherst could be the best situation but overall college experience I think Georgetown will be way more fun and probably get you in the same position as Amherst.
If Georgetown gets you into the same position as Amherst Id probably go there. Id research it first.
Playing on a sports team will have its pros and cons though. You'll have an instant group of friends and a network but youll have a lot less time to do work and other things. I'm not sure how big of a deal baseball is to you.
You can always play your first year and quit since its D3. You aren't bound to play.
Personally after going to a LAC I wish I hadn't.
If you like playing baseball and enjoy the outdoors, Amherst is a no brainier. You will likely be in a city the rest of your life.
Amherst has better recruiting and less completion than those other school and you won't be at a disadvantage studying Econ (as long as you do some prep on the side).
Also Amherst is very close to two other top women's colleges which skews the ratio strongly towards Amherst men.
I am biased as I went to a peer nescac school and played a sport there and really enjoyed it. You create great long lasting friendships.
Does Amherst actually have formal recruiting or is it all through the alumni network? I can't imagine banks actually go to out to any of the top LACs as the amount of kids interested has to be quite small.
Yes it does. Most BBs and a few MMs host info sessions and interview on campus. JPM had a super day on campus for which 3 MDs came to conduct interviews.
I auto ding every Amherst baseball and football resume I see. I'm not an MD so I don't have the ultimate say, but I vote no (that's what I mean by auto ding). Those kids are flat out retards who very clearly only got in through sports or family connections; they make the other sports teams look bad
Lol NESCAC, too bad every senior on the baseball team last year went into BB IBD last year with most at GS/MS... I'll give it to you that SOME of the football players clearly got into Amherst for their athletic skills, but I know plenty of 2200+/4.0 kids on the football team, and the majority are very intelligent people
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