Columbia University vs. UChicago
Hi, I'm a senior in high school and recently got my college decisions.
I got into the College at Columbia University and the University of Chicago and I need help deciding between the two! I'm interested in getting an IBD job or working in finance like everyone else, and possibly going to business school.
Which school has more opportunities for IB? Any input is appreciated. Thank you!
this will likely turn into a ny vs. chicago decision. both are obviously great schools and youll have great OCR opportunities, but i would say if you want to be in ny go columbia, and uchicago for chicago.
Columbia has more opportunities for NY, Chicago for Chicago. That's perhaps obvious advice, but despite the intellectual parity of the schools the recruitment opportunities are very different. I'm a Columbia alum, feel free to PM me with specific questions.
I'm from continental europe, and around here everyone thinks columbia business school is a top 4 school prestige-wise (after H/S/W). (definitely more famous than Uchicago)
I take it that in the US it's perceveid as less prestigious than I thought?
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/na…
Both schools are prestigious and difficult to get into, but the undergrad programs at these schools arent typically viewed as big feeders into Wall Street. B school is a different story as both schools are big targets for MBA recruiting.
ametista that is completely irrelevant as we're talking about undergrad. same idea that Yale having a weak MBA doesn't mean you should take UCB or Northwestern over Yale undergrad, or that Johns Hopkins' medical school shouldn't influence someone choosing JHU undergrad
first off congrats as both are terrific schools. it really is a toss-up, and I think fit/college experience would be a better criteria to choose at this point. Columbia is a more "prestigious" undergrad in my opinion, but doesn't have much of a campus experience. Chicago from what I hear is a tough tough school with ridiculous workloads, very intellectual/academic students, and not a great social life if parties/tailgates/bars are your thing. Neither are your traditional college experience obviously but they are close enough that you should base your decision on fit
I would argue Columbia's undergrad is relatively stronger than it's business school.
Basically all business schools other than Harvard and Stanford are garbage. Columbia's undergrad is not really garbage, but not that great.
I would agree with most of the above posters. If you like the midwest, go with Chicago, if you prefer NYC/east coast, go with Columbia. Beyond that - I would say visit both schools, meet some students, hang around campus and so forth. Both schools have different student bodies, different campuses and are in very different cities. Additionally, Chicago is considered the more academically demanding school
if you are less of an academic and intellectual and you want a more worldy experience, Columbia is the way to go. Being in NY affords you so many more networking opportunities for NY, which I presume is where you want to be if you want to go into IBD. Also, if you're going into finance and not trying to cure cancer, who gives a fuck how demanding the work is. You really don't need to be that smart for IBD and your undergrad education is really irrelevant once you enter the work place
There are significant advantages to being a college student in Manhattan if you're interested in finance.
Both are shitty. Columbia is significantly harder to get into.
You're an idiot. They're both infinitely superior to the community college you're in.
That's funny because I got into both of them. I go to an HPW. Sorry buddy, too bad you couldn't make it to a real target.
I thought this whole controversy was on MBA but wtf undergrad?
FOR UNDERGRAD: COLUMBIA >>>>> UCHICAGO.
Go to UChicago if you want a PhD or enter academia. For finance in particular, Columbia hands down.
Agreed. I'd say Columbia vs. Chicago MBA is much more of a toss-up IMO.
Columbia has the most nobel laureates and come on your undergrad education doesn't really matter
UChicago is an econ powerhouse, but for undergrad, I would definitely take Columbia
Are you fucking kidding me
UChicago undergrad is equivalent to signing your life away. Trust me, I applied undergrad and visited/stayed overnight. Bunch of extreme intellectuals/nerds who study all the time because their classes are ridiculously intensive. In class, you aren't allowed to formulate your own thoughts or contribute your own thoughts--during discussions, you must end your comment with a citation(s). Think a smarter Reed College (crazy hippy liberal school in Oregon) plopped in a ghetto neighborhood in the middle of Chicago.
Pick Columbia, it's a no-brainer. You'll actually have engaging classes, a great city, decent looking girls. No contest. I might be a little biased since Columbia was my 1st choice but no one should have to pick UChicago.
lesson learned. just read the rest of his posts and he's clearly a massive troll
If you like to freeze go to Chitown
Columbia is better for IB, but Chicago still a terrific school. Columbia is way more fun, Chicago is more work, Chicago girls are generally not that hot - go to SMU for that!
Ekudfoekud - you probably go to Wharton and likely didn't get into H or P - haha, so don't shit on ppl who go to other good schools - my guess is that statistically speaking they are not that different from you
Although you might think its not, college acceptances are essentially a total crap shoot, and a lot of students who do get into good schools can't afford to go and end up at slightly lesser schools. Judging someone's intellect based purely on what university they attended is possibly the worst way to get a true gauge of the intelligence.
Rpalli - no, many of the top schools offer very substantial financial aid packages. All ivies cost roughly the same. I am sure there are SOME cases where a kid turns down a better school for a huge financial aid package but those are exceptions that prove the rule. In most (but definetely not all) cases a school you go to is not a bad rough representation of how smart you are
Which school you go to is much more a function of how driven you were in HS. Most of the kids that were top performers in my HS are now not doing anything worth talking about. A lot of them didn't make it to med school and so they're doing some BS masters or working in research labs making 30K per year. Some of them are mediocre engineers working for no name companies making 50K a year. Some of them are lawyers working for these tiny practices that pay them nothing and they handle traffic violations.
Then there are the kids who didn't give a shit in HS (myself included) and started to shine in university, who are so much further ahead than the kids that everybody thought would be the successful ones.
I was referring more to the getting into college is a crap shoot rather than the financial aid packages, but even in regards to those, although HYP offer great packages, outside of them the other ivies do not offer the best aid, and top non-ivies (i.e. MIT, Cal Tech, etc.) definitely don't offer good aid. I would agree that in some cases what school you go to is a good representation of your intelligence, I would say even most is a stretch.
I feel like Columbia is better for getting into IB but perhaps Chicago has more of an academic feel and a larger presence in hedge funds and economic consulting.... both are great... well done.
In the end it's where you're going to have a better time...
My cousin actually just got into Booth MBA. She's been to NYC plenty of times, and although didn't attend Columbia, told me that UCH is extremely academically focused. Apparently their's a saying on campus that, "UChicago is where fun goes to die."
Definitely visit them both, but I'd guess from what I've heard Columbia will have more of a traditional (relative) college feel.
Plenty of smart kids don't go to top schools, but the ones who do tend to be smart. Anyway in regards to the original post - Chicago will give you a better academic education, but my sense is that Columbia is a more rounded experience
Columbia vs UChicago for Undergrad (Canadian Citizen) (Originally Posted: 03/18/2015)
Hey Everyone!
I have been admitted to UChicago (EA) and Columbia (likely letter). At this point, I may be receiving around $10,000 more in financial aid at UChicago. As someone who will NOT be majoring in Econ but is still looking to go down the consulting route, which school should I attend? Also, how likely are firms willing to sponsor work visas?
Thanks so much in advance!
I have friends at both schools who went through recruiting and can tell you that Columbia is NOT a target for the top consulting firms (MBB) and I believe Chicago has all the MBBs recruiting on campus
McKinsey, Bain and BCG all actively recruit at Columbia (info sessions, club associations, case competitions, etc.). Whether it's an actual 'target' for MBB is unclear, as none of the MBBs do on-campus interviews. They all take people every year though, for both internships as well as full-time opportunities.
I've committed to Columbia! Does anyone have any tips for getting an internship as a freshmen? When is the best time to apply?
Chicago vs Columbia -- Investment Management (Originally Posted: 09/25/2011)
This has been talked about in other peoples threads but curious to hear what others knowledge and experience has been with the schools in these arenas
Chicago - Friendlier and more collaborative campus, less cut throat than CBS due to non grade discolosure -Uber flexible curriculum, more quantitative.. but taught by professors and not as many practitioners? - Chicago reports IM, ER, and S&T as seperate 'fields being gone into' -- more specialization in those nature vs columbia?
-Chicgo has has more AM vs hedge funds recruiting at it?
Columbia -Value investing program but what if you don't get in? More qualitative in nature since you are taught by hedge fund managers vs professors. I've heard the majority of people interested in IM with some background DO get into the IM program and it isnt as bloody to get in as you may think (besides, 40 slots is 9 percent of the class and i doubt 9 percent wants to do IM vs PE S&T IBD etc) - Right in NYC so lots of hedge funds, networking opps etc
bump
bump too, am very curious about this - I think these two schools are the main ones people would be thinking about in IM, maybe through Wharton in there too
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