Cornell, Amherst, or Brown?

Made a similar post earlier, but now have an acceptance to Brown as a transfer via the RUE program. I’m 24 going on 25 next month, and the consensus last time was Cornell, but curious to see what it is now given the option of Brown. All are full-rides.

I should note at Cornell I’d be a junior, at Amherst a sophomore, and at Brown I have the option of startingas a freshman!

12 Comments
 

Steam

Intern in CorpStrat:

amherst >= brown >> cornell


Agreed.

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown to help you decide between Cornell, Amherst, and Brown:

  1. Cornell:

    • Pros: Cornell has a strong alumni network, especially in finance and Wall Street. It’s a top target for bulge bracket banks and consulting firms like GS, MS, JPM, and McKinsey. The school’s size and diversity of programs also provide flexibility if you’re considering tech, quant, or other fields.
    • Cons: The environment can be highly competitive and stressful, with significant job competition. If you’re transferring as a junior, you might face challenges integrating into clubs and professional networks, which are often critical for recruiting.
  2. Brown:

    • Pros: Brown offers a more relaxed and less stressful academic environment, with grade inflation and no core curriculum making it easier to maintain a high GPA. It’s a strong target for MBB consulting and provides a fun, party-heavy atmosphere. The RUE program might also offer unique support for non-traditional students like yourself.
    • Cons: While Brown is a semi-target for finance, it doesn’t have the same level of Wall Street representation as Cornell. However, fewer students compete for finance roles, which could work in your favor.
  3. Amherst:

    • Pros: Amherst is a prestigious liberal arts college with strong academics and close-knit alumni connections. It’s a semi-target for finance, and its small size can provide personalized attention and networking opportunities.
    • Cons: It doesn’t have the same breadth of alumni representation in finance as Cornell or even Brown. Starting as a sophomore might also extend your timeline compared to the other options.

Recommendation:

  • If your primary goal is breaking into finance or Wall Street, Cornell is the strongest choice due to its alumni network and recruiting strength.
  • If you value a less stressful environment and are open to consulting or other career paths, Brown could be a great fit, especially with the flexibility of starting as a freshman.
  • Amherst is a solid option but may not offer the same level of opportunities in finance as the other two schools.

Ultimately, your decision should align with your career goals, preferred academic environment, and how much you value the unique aspects of each school.

Sources: Brown vs. Cornell, Transfer from UVA (Pre-commerce + Echols) to GTown, Vandy, ND (Econ), Brown, WashU (Olin), Cornell (Econ), Chicago or stay?, Is Brown a target? How about Williams?, Should I transfer from my T20 semi-target to a stronger target?, UVA or Cornell?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

For IB recruiting and general cost savings, I'd probably consider Brown = Amherst (because you can recruit for junior summer right away, unless you feel that your resume is so weak that you need that freshman summer at Brown to pad it up. In a vacuum, would choose Brown but not sure of your financial situation) > Cornell (junior year means you missed recruiting).

 

I went to Cornell. I'd say Cornell's network and volume are much larger than the other two. However, I would recommend going to Brown because it's less competitive, so you could argue that per capita is better. Also, I think lives are also better at Brown compared to Cornell. You don't really have to consider Amherst because Amherst is just a worser version of Brown

 

when i visit my friend at brown's campus, it does give a sort of liberal arts college feeling, maybe just because brown is so artsy and RISD is next door, especially when you are comparing to Cornell, which is just an ultra-competitive vocational school 

 

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