Rising Senior: ED Columbia or USC
I’m a rising senior looking to recruit into IB and hoping to eventually pivot into HF. I was wondering on which would be better to apply ED, especially considering that deadlines are coming up soon. For USC I would be applying to Marshall with an emphasis in finance. For Columbia I would be doing their BS ORFE program.
Here’s my general stats
large uncompetitive title 1 public school in a suburban area
maxed out course rigor (4 APs with all 5s, IB Diploma 40+, 16 dual enrollment courses) with a 3.9 uw and 4.6 w gpa
pretty good extracurriculars
awards aren’t crazy but aiming for AIME coming up
1560 SAT
Pros and Cons for USC:
Pros:
1. its in california, and i love living in this state
2. Feel like its more of a traditional college experience than columbia would be, and more opportunities for fun.
3. Pretty strong target school for west coast
4. less academic stress and competition from what ive heard
Cons:
1. Recruiting for east coast would be slightly harder but not impossible
2. Lower ranking, but thats really minuscule.
Pros and Cons for Columbia:
Pros:
1. ORFE is probably a better path for HF and wouldnt be difficult to recruit into IB either.
2. strong recruiting especially with nyc location.
3. Would get to explore life on the east coast
Cons:
1. Kind of repeating some pros for usc.
Made this post hastily, but let me know your thoughts.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to consider:
Columbia University (BS ORFE Program):
Pros: 1. Recruiting Strength: Columbia has strong recruiting ties, especially for investment banking (IB) and hedge funds (HF), given its NYC location. Top firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan actively recruit from Columbia, with significant representation in their associate classes. 2. ORFE Program: Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) is a rigorous program that aligns well with quantitative finance roles, making it a strong foundation for HF aspirations. 3. East Coast Advantage: Being in NYC provides unparalleled networking opportunities, proximity to Wall Street, and access to alumni in finance.
Cons: 1. Academic Pressure: Columbia is known for its competitive environment, which could lead to higher stress levels compared to USC. 2. Lifestyle Adjustment: Transitioning to the East Coast might be challenging if you're deeply attached to California's lifestyle.
University of Southern California (USC Marshall with Finance Emphasis):
Pros: 1. West Coast Target: USC is a strong target school for West Coast IB recruiting, with firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Credit Suisse showing interest. It’s particularly advantageous if you aim to stay in California. 2. Traditional College Experience: USC offers a vibrant campus life and a more relaxed academic environment compared to Columbia. 3. California Lifestyle: If you love living in California, USC allows you to stay close to home while pursuing your career goals.
Cons: 1. East Coast Recruiting: While not impossible, breaking into East Coast IB roles from USC might require extra effort, as it’s not as strong a target for NYC-based firms. 2. Lower Prestige for HF: Columbia’s ORFE program might give you a slight edge for hedge fund roles due to its quantitative rigor and proximity to NYC.
Recommendation:
If your ultimate goal is to pivot into hedge funds and you’re open to the East Coast lifestyle, Columbia University would be the stronger choice due to its NYC location, ORFE program, and robust recruiting pipeline for both IB and HF. However, if you prioritize staying in California and value a more traditional college experience, USC Marshall is still a solid option, especially for West Coast IB roles.
Ultimately, your decision should weigh your career aspirations against your personal preferences for location and lifestyle.
Sources: USC Marshall vs. NYU Stern, Cornell Dyson vs Berkeley vs Claremont Mckenna vs ND Mendoza vs USC Marshall vs Stern, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/yale-vs-columbia-vs-nyu-stern-undergraduate?customgpt=1
As a current USC Marshall student going to a top IB group, ED1 to Columbia— don't waste ED on USC. USC is great, but Marshall is in no way a differentiator, and the academic experience/professors are extremely mid. USC is easy, and that makes it "chill", but think about what you're actually going to college for. From an intellectual standpoint, I'd argue that the average SC grad is far behind the average Columbia grad. SC grad would likely be more well-rounded, yeah, but it's much easier to be a Columbia grad who is as well-rounded as a USC grad than a USC grad who is as intellectual as a Columbia.
Personal preferences aside (location/college experience), Columbia has a much higher ceiling for SA/FT, and you could probably get into Marshall during EA/RD if you don't get into Columbia ED. Even if you know that you want to live in CA post-college, Columbia would not harm your chances of landing a role in CA whatsoever.
Also don't get why schools like Columbia/NYU get trashed against schools like USC/UCLA in terms of "opportunities for fun". You're in NYC. If you can't enjoy college and make the most of it while in the most lively city in the world, that's on you.
Spot on. Based on historical placements from USC, to have a shot at a top HF you need to be in either VIG or GIS Investment Research, and both of which take only ~7 students per semester combined. If you want top IB, you can certainly get it from USC in NYC/SF/LA without having to be in the most selective clubs, but for buyside it is materially harder even if the student quality is at the same level. You simply won’t get the same opportunities at USC vs Columbia.
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