Yale Economics + Data Science or Columbia Financial Engineering
I was recently lucky enough to be offered admission to both Yale and Columbia. At Columbia, I believe I would focus on financial engineering under industrial engineering. At Yale, I would major in Economics and then possibly double in most likely Data Science (maybe Cognitive or Psych). I want to go into possibly something more consulting focus with lots of travel and problem solving. Disregarding any other factors, which degree do you think is more valuable as a career investment?
Unless you plan do enter a career where you would need absolutely need Columbia's financial engineering background, you should choose Yale.
Should also disclose that I'm biased because I'm an Econ major at Yale.
Haha, thank you for the disclosure! I don't think I want to be a straight up engineer, so I don't think it would ever be that necessary. Are you having a good experience at Yale?
I’m loving it so far. I think the whole “liberal arts” thing is actually really nice— I’ve gotten to explore a ton of classes that I never would have been able to otherwise. The people here are also a lot nicer than those at other comparable schools from what I’ve seen and heard from around the Ivy League. I think that holistically, Yale offers a lot more than Columbia.
Yale is tier 1, Columbia is tier 3 at best.
I didn't know the difference was that big! I would love to know your perception of other schools for each tier. My family all went to state schools, so this is a bit unfamiliar for me.
This dudes a clown — the different isn't lol.
Columbia is at worst a "tier 2". Even then both are very strong targets with Yale being marginally better.
These are both two very great schools. Yale may be considered more prestigious, but Columbia has heavy Wall Street ties since it's literally 20 minutes away. Columbia also has a lot of finance-centered clubs if that helps (look up Lion Fund). That will help a lot with networking. Overall I think it comes down to you on your personal preference, perhaps consider the locations and school culture?
If you don't mind me asking, did you take APs in high school focused on economics? If so, which ones? I'm curious since I'm also looking to apply and I'm not sure which APs to take/include. Thanks in advance!
I did 7 undergrad-level economics classes, up to the senior level in UG!
Wow! So are Yale and Columbia your masters?
For pure degree practicality, engineering > liberal arts which I will lump econ under as it is generally not very mathematically rigorous at the undergrad level. So if you want to maximize that you go to Columbia SEAS. But if you don't want to pursue a hardcore STEM career then there is really minimal difference in degrees, just go where you will enjoy more. Columbia city life vs Yale college town, highly decentralized vs centralized. Anyone arguing about prestige is an idiot, just visit both and see what lines up with your personality/hobbies best. I go to one and have friends at the other, neither of us would trade schools because we found good fits for ourselves.
Yeah, definitely struggling with fit because I want to live in NYC at some point in my life, but I don't know if it needs to be during undergraduate. I am trying to add back that rigor with a double in Stats + Data Science for Yale. I have done pretty extensive work in econ already, so I am not as worried about rigor at Yale. Do you know if some of the networking is possible at Yale via day trips to NYC?
I haven't heard of day trips but it seems very doable. I wouldn't obsess about career trajectory because they're both schools that are heavily recruited at so events will be held on campus for you. The main difference is that Yale has a strong campus community/culture while Columbia does not. Rez colleges/geography keep everyone on campus at Yale, the subway means kids at Columbia might go to Brooklyn to study, head downtown with friends, and go to the West Village for dinner. I would strongly recommend focusing on that point because it is the big one, pretty much everyone can have fun in a college town but not everyone is built to enjoy a big city when they're 18.
Econ at elite schools (such as Yale) are just as quantitatively rigorous as a pure math, physics or cs/engineering degree.
I study econ at an elite school and I can assure you that outside of a handful of high-level classes it is not rigorous in the slightest. There's a reason econ PhD programs prefer math majors
Go based on where you think you'll have a better experience. If you're a wealthy kid from a big international city, go to Columbia. You'l be able to frequent michelin star restaurants with friends every weekend, hit up cool clubs, attend NYC conferences in fashion, crypto, tech, etc. If you want more of a traditional small town college experience and potentially closer relationships with your classmates, go to Yale. There's nothing to do socially in New Haven except study and eat pizza.
Both schools are equal in terms of recruiting.
yale is miles ahead of columbia
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