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!

 

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

 
firefighter:
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

 
manbearpig:
ekudfoekud:
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.

 
chubbybunny:
I thought this whole controversy was on MBA but wtf undergrad?

FOR UNDERGRAD: COLUMBIA >>>>> UCHICAGO.

Agreed. I'd say Columbia vs. Chicago MBA is much more of a toss-up IMO.

Proboscis
 

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.

 
There are no 'state schools' in Canada, moron. I pity you, little boy. You'll have a very tough time going through life with your shitty attitude.
  1. don't get into a pissing match with that guy; he's full of shit
  2. Canadian schools suck (being slightly facetious on that one)
 
Solidarity:
There are no 'state schools' in Canada, moron. I pity you, little boy. You'll have a very tough time going through life with your shitty attitude.
  1. don't get into a pissing match with that guy; he's full of shit
  2. Canadian schools suck (being slightly facetious on that one)

  • lesson learned. just read the rest of his posts and he's clearly a massive troll

  • for wall street recruiting, agreed.
  • -MBP
     

    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

     
    ILOVENYGUY:
    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.

    -MBP
     
    ILOVENYGUY:
    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

    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.

     

    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

    ~High GPA Crew~ ~Firms Reach Out to Me Crew~ ~Round Down My GPA to Look Modest Crew~ ~Never Use 'Incoming' on LinkedIn Crew~
     

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