Cornell Dyson vs Macaulay @ Baruch (URGENT PLEASE HELP)

I was accepted to both Cornell Dyson and Macaulay @ Baruch, but I am having a lot of trouble choosing between them. I'm planning to major in finance.

For Cornell, I have to pay full tuition (~55k per year with dorming) while Macaulay is practically free. I know Cornell is a top tier school, but this is primarily the reason why I'm leaning towards Macaulay.

However, do grads of Macaulay @ Baruch get a lot of great career opportunities in finance? Could I possibly get a job on Wall St with a Macaulay degree? And, do they have a good reputation in the business world?

 

How much debt will you walk away with if you go to Cornell? If it's under $100k, go there. Your odds are much better and you'll have many more doors open to you.

If you're going to be in more debt than that, go to Baruch. You'll have to grind much harder, but you won't have debt hanging over you. This will give you more freedom with the rest of your career.

 

Then go to Baruch, grind like hell and don't get distracted. For $200k plus in debt, not even banking is worth it. That's $18k/year in interest alone.

Or talk to your parents and see what financial aid is available. The ivies throw money at people who look in the right places.

 
Most Helpful

I generally don't comment on these sorts of posts, but I think that not choosing Cornell would be a huge mistake. Your personal brand's foundation begins with your college degree, and Cornell is infinitely better than Baruch. Baruch necessitates being literally top of the class to do well in finance, and even a mediocre Cornell graduate has more cache and opportunities than a top student at Baruch. 100k in debt is nothing to sniff at, but if you are a good student at Cornell you can maximize your future earnings. If you do well in a finance career, 100k becomes a smaller and smaller figure over time

 

Even so, on the career path I am on, 200k in debt can be paid off fairly easily (even for me, and I am in my mid-20s, early in my career). I have met plenty of people from Cornell or similar schools where I am and where I have interviewed; I cannot recall a single Baruch person, not even at an entry level position. Not to say it is impossible to break in, but as a Cornell grad you have many opportunities that are relatively straightforward to break in to.

 

I will have to second this as well. Going to Baruch will close so many doors. In addition to just the 'brand' and the 'opportunities', it's important to consider the network you will build if you go to Cornell. People in Cornell are more motivated and the environment will drive you to be more motivated. Plus quality of education and a fun campus college experience.

 

There are plenty of Baruch/Macaulay students on the street. Are there as many as Cornell? Of course not, but for free tuition and convenience of being able to network in the city whenever you want Baruch doesn't seem to be a bad choice. Going into IB and have many other peers across BB's and EB's from Baruch. Brand doesn't compare to Cornell, but quality of student that go for front office roles are practically the same.

 

Gonna have to hustle regardless of which school. Cornell isn't a HSW. Better network at Cornell, but Baruch places into IB, although not a lot. Would recommend petitioning Cornell financial aid office to see if they can improve their package.

 

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