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Assuming UW stands for UW Madison, they're both good schools.

If you want to work in NYC, Colgate will give you a moderately better chance than UW-Madison based on its proximity to New York. If you want to have a better average outcome, though, UW-Madison's business program has a significantly better reputation in Chicago and the Midwest than Colgate has even in the Northeast. Being a state school, it will also save you $40K (more like $60-$100K if you live in Wisconsin or a midwestern state like Minnesota with a reduced tuition agreement) over an undergraduate degree or still at least five figures over an MBA.

IIRC, UW Madison has an incredible reputation in risk management- typically better than most Ivies. If you have any interest whatsoever in being the nerdy guy who says, "Umm, you can't do that trade. If SHTF, that trade's going to take the firm under," you can have a great career with a finance degree from Wisconsin.

 

As someone that came from a NESCAC school (Colgate, Hamilton, Bates) I am highly partial, but I think Colgate would be the way to go. Coming from a school like Colgate you're best asset is not going to be your finance knowledge, but rather your classmates parents. The connections you make at a school like that are invaluable. For my BB's incoming class I'd say the amount of kids coming from NESCAC schools was much higher than the amount coming from the higher tier state schools. Based on the fact that most of these NESCAC schools also have 1/20th the amount of students graduating from them every year , I believe it is especially telling.

 

Yeah, if you want to work in NYC go to Colgate. Just make friends and you will be fine.

UW Madison is a great school so if you are comfortable with working in the Midwest then go for it.

 

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