ND vs CORNELL (Again)

Hi everyone n I am down to ND and Cornell and originally I thought to go to Mendoza as the starting salary in financial services is 105k vs 100k at cornell for my admitted major (hotel). With that being said I am now considering transferring to econ after my freshman year as for career outcomes econ and dyson are almost identical salary wise atleast for the last 5-6 years or so. I have a few questions, is the internal transfer worth is to econ (want to be in IB; little to no interest in Real estate which is what hotel is more like) and also is trying to transfer to econ after a year at cornell worth it over ND. Thanks so much in advance, I have to decide by the May 1st deadline so any timely answers would be greatly appreciated!

5 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know:

  1. Cornell Internal Transfer to Econ: Transferring internally to Econ at Cornell is a viable option and aligns well with your goal of breaking into IB. Cornell as a whole is considered a target school for IB, and Econ majors have strong placement outcomes. Additionally, Cornell's alumni network is robust, especially in NYC, which is a significant advantage for IB recruiting. The flexibility to take finance/accounting courses across AEM, Hotel, and other schools further enhances your preparation for IB roles.

  2. Notre Dame Mendoza vs. Cornell: Mendoza is a strong program, and ND has a solid reputation in financial services. However, Cornell generally has a stronger presence in NYC IB recruiting compared to ND, which tends to have a more regional focus (Midwest). If your goal is NYC IB, Cornell might offer a slight edge in terms of alumni network and placement opportunities.

  3. Salary Comparison: While the starting salary difference between ND Mendoza ($105k) and Cornell Hotel ($100k) is minimal, the real consideration should be the career trajectory and opportunities. If you transfer to Econ at Cornell, the outcomes are comparable to Dyson, which is highly regarded for IB placement.

  4. Interest in Real Estate vs. IB: Since you have little interest in Real Estate (a focus of the Hotel School), transferring to Econ at Cornell makes sense. It aligns better with your IB aspirations and provides a broader foundation for finance roles.

Recommendation:

If you are confident in your ability to transfer to Econ at Cornell and are focused on NYC IB, Cornell is likely the better choice. The combination of its target school status, strong alumni network, and flexibility in coursework makes it a compelling option. However, if you prefer the culture, fit, or cost advantages of ND, Mendoza is still a solid choice, especially for Midwest opportunities.

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

Cornell alum here - don’t make these choices from the vantage point of “expected salary”. You can do whatever you want from either Hotel or Econ or Dyson or English/History for that matter. Do what interests you more. 

 

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