Trouble deciding between two colleges to commit to
Ok, so I am an HS senior and my best options are Cornell and Williams. I am interested in healthcare/general IB, as well as potentially pursuing a career in bioequity or even pharma sales.
However, I am not sure what option to go for. For Cornell, my anticipated major is Human Biology, health and society from HumEc, whereas for Williams, it could be a B.A in Econ&Comp sci. For cornell they do have a business minor, but I am not sure if choosing Cornell would work out in the end bc it feels there will be simply too much competition, as I am not in Dyson for my main degree... Other peers have said it wouldn't be smart to turn down an ivy but then again I have no idea what will best fit me here. Both options are also affordable
Williams is an incredible school - has a much higher per capita elite placement into jobs and graduate schools that Cornell, has a much more involved alumni network per capita, has much higher resources per capita, and the academic experience is unmatched. The school really pours tons of resources into each of its students, and it's not a very cutthroat/competitive place (among your peers). That being said, it is a very idiosyncratic place: you have to be okay with living in the wilderness (Williamstown makes Ithaca seem like a city), academics are going to be tougher since you can't hide from your professors, and the school is not a party school (i.e., you won't have big Greek school events, tailgates, etc.).
Cornell's "Ivy" status is kind of a running joke among people who went to elite schools, so that should not be a factor in your criteria. If you want to attend a bigger school with professional graduate programs and wider layperson recognition, Cornell would give you that. Williams is considered a more elite program among people in selective, highly sought-after professions, and the academic experience is very well-regarded. However, the average guy on the street will probably not know what Williams is, but will probably have heard of Cornell.
In terms of career success, both schools will provide you opportunities to launch your career and you'll have tons of opportunities to explore different paths (whether you settle on IB or not).
Guy didn’t reply in thread, see below
Thank you for your insight! But one thing I was thinking about is that for Cornell my BS would be from HumEc as I mentioned prior. I mean im not sure if this would be ideal bc ik firstly switching majors at Cornell can definitely be tougher than other places, and how much of a disadvantage will I face during IB/Equity Research recruiting when competing directly against Cornell's Dyson students who hold traditional finance degrees? Does the HumEc label create too steep of an uphill battle for high finance compared to the Econ/CompSci path at Williams? Idk if im worrying too much about Cornell and stuff
Switching majors at Cornell is easy, even across schools, with the exception of trying to switch into Dyson. Cornell’s recruiting isn’t by major or school like it is at other schools so it doesn’t really matter what you major in. You can do econ, hotel, ILR, and a bunch of other majors and land top finance jobs.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to consider when deciding between Cornell and Williams for your career goals in healthcare IB, bioequity, or pharma sales:
Cornell
Williams
Key Considerations
Recommendation
If your primary focus is healthcare IB or bioequity, Cornell might be the better choice due to its specialized program, stronger alumni network, and proximity to NYC. However, if you value a smaller, more personalized academic environment and are open to a broader career path, Williams could be a great fit.
Ultimately, both schools are excellent options. Choose the one where you feel you’ll excel academically, build strong relationships, and enjoy your college experience.
Sources: Undergrad School OPTIONS (please help), UNC or Williams College, Brown vs. Cornell
Two incredible schools but vastly different culturally. Recruiting opportunities from both schools are fantastic, but my pick is Cornell since Williams got a lot of nepo kids. I work at an EB right now and the Williams kids that I work with are all nepo 😂😂
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