Late applications to business schools, a few difficult decisions.

Hello, all,

New member here. Looks like a great forum.

Anyway, I am looking at business schools to transfer to and there's a couple of different issues that I am struggling to decide on.

About me: I am a 33 year old father of two who never applied himself in high school, never attempted college back then, and worked in tech for some years. Couple years back I enrolled at my community college here on Long Island (Suffolk), and am graduating next month with a 4.0. Initially started as a CompSci major but switched to Bus Admin so I could transfer into an econ or finance program at a four year school. I originally planned to attend Stony Brook University due to its proximity to me and its affordability (SUNY school).

As I sit here applying for graduation and seeing my accomplishments and GPA, I am feeling that I am selling myself short by going to Stony Brook U which doesn't even have a reputable business program. In recent weeks, I began to scour the internet to educate myself on other schools to set me up on a path to a solid, well-paying finance career in banking of some sorts. Naturally, I am well-past deadlines for most schools, but I see I am still well within the application period for Fordham. In addition, I am looking at Hofstra U on Long Island since I know they will offer me >$20k in scholarships. I am doubtful that I would get into Columbia or NYU even if I had made the deadlines, and I hear NYU is terribly cheap when it comes to financial aid for transfer students. Also, I am past the deadline for Baruch as well.

I see that even if I apply to Fordham and get accepted, it doesn't necessarily mean I would get into Gabelli. Although, I've read many students get accepted into Fordham College and begin a transition/transfer into Gabelli.

The second main issue is the major; I am undecided on whether I should go finance or economics. The only reason I am considering economics over finance is the fact that I made it to Pre-calc at my CC and started sweating it. My confidence level isn't so high if I have to pursue higher level math courses, and I don't want to set myself up for failure. With that said, I know the top earners on Wall Street bust their asses and failure isn't an option. As I research Fordham's econ program, I see that it's a BA degree and is not part of Gabelli. In addition, I've read that some econ programs are just as heavy in math, if not more, than finance. If I did go into the econ program at Fordham College (not Gabelli), would I be getting a worse ROI? Fordham is not cheap at all and I hear their financial aid offerings are more heavily leaning towards need than merit which won't help me. Wife makes six-figures and I never qualify for anything in that regard. So if I rack up serious debt from Fordham, I am worried that I won't do as well right out of school with an econ degree from Fordham as the Gabelli grads.

So it's really two issues here; 1) do I hope to get into Fordham for the Fall and if not, attend Hofstra? If Fordham, is the econ degree not as desirable as finance from Gabelli? Do I apply to Columbia, NYU, Fordham and Baruch and if I get accepted/waitlisted for Spring, just wait? If I have to wait, I could always try to knock out Calc at my CC while I have the time. 2) Do I go econ or finance?

I appreciate any advice or insights and thanks for having me.

Chris