ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS, AMSTERDAM OR ROTTERDAM?

Hey everyone, I really need your help here. I got accepted from both Erasmus School of Economics and Uva Amsterdam, almost same course [Economics and business Economics]. Based on the fact that I want to break into IB, so that determines that I need an university who gives good internship opportunities (that’s why it’s name is so important as u might know better than me), and also on the fact that i intend to do a Master’s degree after my Bachelors, (hopefully a target one, it will depend on my GPA and GMAT), what do you think i should choose? The only thing that stops me from going to Rotterdam is that even if I hear a lot of people saying it is better, i don’t know HOW MUCH better is it in terms of placement. Because also, as I mentioned before, I am not interested in working in the Netherlands, I want to work in London, and to do so, I necessarily have to get into a Target Uni for my masters. Also, Amsterdam seems to have a better lifestyle, and that is not something not to worry about, cause i’m choosing the place I will live in for the next 3 years, but also here I don’t know if Rotterdam Lifestyle is so much worse instead ! Keep in mind also that I give more importance to my future career rather than my lifestyle, so it will all depend on the equilibrium I will find. Thoughts? Thank you, i’m really confused and don’t know what’s best for me. Alberto Angelini

5 Comments
 
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If you trust yourself to do well, Rotterdam is a great choice.

Rotterdam requires you to pass all your courses to remain enrolled, whereas UVA is more relaxed, like other Dutch universities, only requiring a 75% success rate to progress.

If you're aiming for IB and a perfect GPA, you'll find it manageable since the conversions are favorable (>8.0 equals a 4.0 GPA), so that shouldn't be an issue.

The main considerations then are the organizations and networking opportunities, which are solid and nearly identical at both schools. FSR (Rotterdam) and FSA (Amsterdam) collaborate on all the important events like the London banking cycle, which is essential for landing gigs where the recruiting isn’t a crap shoot.

FSA has more members, but FSR is more active and better connected. Plus, Erasmus has more alumni and a slightly better brand name.

One final tip: if you choose Erasmus, aim to get into the honors program. It starts after your first half-year and offers 2.5 years of extra activities and face time with professors, which is highly beneficial.

 

Thank you for the response, so you are basically saying that Rotterdam is a great choice, but Amsterdam it is also, right? What would you suggest considering that I would prefer going in a more fun city like Amsterdam if they are almost equally good and if I trust myself to do well?

 

I wanna add Erasmus also has an investment society, B & R Beurs, which is super good. Rotterdam is also a fun city, plenty of young people as well. But as the other said, the ability to not need to pass everything at UVA can be slightly more reassuring. I have a friend who goes to UVA, and told me in NL, no one cares what school you went to, but say London or Frankfurt, big banking hubs, Erasmus has better reputation. 

 

I should add: all the big associations are open to students from wherever.

The only consideration then is the commute to a few events a month, which is not that massive anyway because university cities in NL are well connected

 

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