Cornell vs USC

I got into both schools, but for engineering. Industrial engineering for USC, engineering physics for Cornell. I haven't visited LA, but I do feel like USC will have a better atmosphere and environment, plus it's in a large city. Cornell on the other hand, well it's an ivy league and I feel like I can't go wrong with that. I do want to eventually (maybe 15+ years after I graduate) start a hedge fund. I'm honestly, very naive and I won't be surprised if my ambitions change once I'm in school. Price wise, they're mostly the same, but USC will probably be more expensive by $5k a year for plane tickets and living in LA. I'm considering transferring into the business school (Dyson for Cornell, Marshall for USC), or studying engineering and getting a minor in finance or something similar. I'm going to be visiting both schools very soon, before making my decision. But on the sole basis for someone who wants to work in IB after graduation, then eventually start my own hedge fund, what would be the better school?

4 Comments
 

Cornell. It's a target for NYC IB and is a no-brainer especially if USC did not offer any merit scholarships.

Edit - I'm looking at this purely from a NY recruiting standpoint. I don't know much about west coast recruiting, but I think SC does pretty well in LA and possibly SF/Bay Area.

 

USC could make sense if you want to stay in the LA area long term and there are plenty of kids at LA banks from USC. Cornell will generally open more doors in NYC simply by virtue of having a critical mass of alums there although USC certainly won’t hurt you.

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your going to start a hedge fund in 15 years?

LOL and I'm going to win the ballon d'or and be a better player than messi in a couple of years as well.

Go to USC, and enjoy your life for a bit. Also try to organize your life in small steps. Your goals shouldn't be any longer than 2 years in advance. You can't see or predict any further than that.

 

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