Amherst College (Econ) or Cornell (ILR) for transfer student
Recently admitted to both as a 25 year old transfer student. From being deported when I was younger to this, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity—but so confused as to which school I should choose. Amherst would cost about $14k a year including housing, while Cornell is completely free.
I’m from LA and El Salvador so either school will be a huge change for me. My dream career is consulting so I’d like to go to whichever school recruits better. The one thing about Amherst is that I’m worried I’ll be a much older student than everyone else, although UMass is right next door. Otherwise it seems amazing.
Let me know what you think please!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to consider:
Cost: Cornell being completely free is a significant advantage. Avoiding debt or financial strain can give you more flexibility post-graduation, especially if you're aiming for consulting, where early career salaries are good but not always enough to comfortably manage large debts.
Recruiting for Consulting: Both schools can get you into consulting, but they have different dynamics:
Age and Fit: At 25, you might feel more out of place at Amherst due to its smaller size and younger student body. While UMass is nearby, the social and academic environment at Amherst might feel more isolating compared to Cornell, which has a larger and more diverse student population.
Location and Opportunities: Cornell's location in Ithaca offers a more traditional college-town experience, while Amherst's proximity to UMass and the Five College Consortium provides access to a broader academic and social community. However, Cornell's size and resources might offer more extracurricular and professional development opportunities.
Recommendation:
Given that Cornell is free and offers strong consulting recruitment opportunities, it seems like the more practical choice. The financial freedom combined with a larger alumni network and more robust on-campus recruiting makes it a compelling option for your goals. However, if you strongly prefer the liberal arts environment and are willing to put in extra effort for networking, Amherst could still be a great choice.
Congrats. Cornell alum here - consulting/finance are standard paths from ILR. And when firms do on-campus recruiting, they’re usually not that interested in what college you are in / your major (excluding scientific/tech fields obviously). Cornell is also massive by comparison so you’ll have the alumni network and resources available.
Take the free Ivy. Absolutely no question.
It's all the same - go to the free school
Some thoughts. Went to Williams/Amherst/Middlebury (general 3 LACs I'd consider "targets") Tl;dr though is go to Cornell.
Take Cornell and don't look back. Congrats.
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