Harvard vs. Wharton for undergrad

Have a cousin who starts his senior year on Monday and has football offers from Harvard and Penn. This is very weird but he wants to start his own construction industrial contractor company (Think like Bechtel and Kiewit). Graduate from College, get some corporate experience, save enough money to start it.

Which school would be better for him? Harvard has the brand and better connections but at Wharton you can take the best business classes in the country while you can't take any business classes at Harvard.

13 Comments
 

My Dad played football at Penn for 4 years. I think Wharton is the way to go.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
NewIndustryHorizon

Harvard because that name generally carries more weight in any industry.

OP is talking about gaining valuable business skills. Wharton is #1 for undergrad business schools, Harvard isn’t even close.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-overall

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Harvard will be respected in every industry (including finance) - Wharton is a bit above in finance but what 18y.o can give a definitive answer as to what they’ll be doing in 5 years. I’d take Harvard for the optionality

 

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