stanford (90k coa) or boston college (20k coa, gabelli scholar)?

can afford both, but stanford will be much tighter. advice? i'm also not completely sure i want to do finance. i've comsidered engineering and design as well, and bc doesn't even have those majors. lmk thoughts!

7 Comments
 

If you're considering a broader range of fields like engineering and design, Stanford is the clear winner. Based on the most helpful WSO content, Stanford offers unparalleled flexibility in exploring diverse academic interests, including top-tier programs in engineering, design, and management science. Its alumni network, particularly in finance and private equity, is also incredibly strong, giving you optionality if you decide to pivot back to finance later.

Boston College, while an excellent school, is more limited in terms of academic offerings outside of finance and business. The Gabelli Scholar program is a fantastic opportunity, especially with the significantly lower cost of attendance ($20k COA), but it may not align with your broader academic interests.

Key considerations: 1. Stanford's Academic Breadth: Stanford's programs in engineering, design, and management science are world-class, giving you the flexibility to explore and pivot as your interests evolve. 2. Alumni Network: Stanford's alumni network is incredibly strong across multiple industries, including finance, tech, and design. 3. Cost: While $90k COA is significantly higher, you mentioned affordability. If you can manage the tighter budget, the long-term ROI of a Stanford education could outweigh the upfront cost.

If you're leaning toward finance and want to minimize financial strain, Boston College is a solid choice. However, if you're still exploring your career path and want access to a broader range of opportunities, Stanford is worth the investment.

Sources: Undergrad School OPTIONS (please help), Fordham 3+2 with Columbia or Georgetown and 300k Debt, Yale vs. Stanford for NYC Finance, Stanford vs Wharton vs Booth vs Columbia for PE, Cornell Dyson vs Berkeley vs Claremont Mckenna vs ND Mendoza vs USC Marshall vs Stern

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

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Please stop trolling me with these crazy college decision posts… Haas or Wharton… BC or Stanford… what’s next, Indiana or Harvard?


Bruh come on. Take Stanford without a second thought. Take out student loans, don’t feel like you have to drop all your cash on it. Not taking Stanford would be the biggest mistake of your life. You’ve obviously done everything right up to this point to get accepted to Stanford. Now you’re standing outside the door that will open your life to things you can’t even imagine, and you are considering walking away from that for $70k for BC… There’s a reason that people in the college admission scandal were dropping tons of cash to get their kids into these schools. People would gladly buy your slot to Stanford for a shit ton of money if they could. So maybe that slot is worth more than $70k

 

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