Transferring: Am I making the right choice?
I currently attend a semi-target (think: UCLA, Vandy, USC, WashU, Georgetown) on a full scholarship and I just got accepted into the University of Chicago. I am waiting to hear from Northwestern University and Columbia University.
Reasons for transferring:
1) Recruiting -- Obviously, UChicago is a few steps above my current semi-target. I have BB experience at a top group, so this improvement in schools can only help with IB recruiting.
2) Current school not academic and intellectual enough -- I need a rude awakening. I did a presentation this morning hungover and made up the whole thing during breakfast. It was the best presentation in the class. I am not being challenged enough and I feel like the only way I can grow (both as a person and as a student of finance) is if I transfer to a more rigorous school. Don't get me wrong. I love going out and getting shitfaced, but there is definitely more to life than that.
Concerns about transferring:
1) Financial Aid -- I am giving up a full scholarship because I believe that going to a more intellectual school will be better for my personal as well as professional life. I will likely incur a lot of debt if I choose to transfer.
2) Social scene -- I am currently attending an institution where the parties are bumpin and considering going to a school whose slogan is "where fun goes to die." Dumb?
Is it worth transferring out of my current school for UChicago? Northwestern? Columbia?
to get an MBA stay at your current college and then apply to an MBA at those schools.
I just cannot see the point in adding tons of debt for no reason.
Do you have any idea of the cost of Columbia? Let me tell you it is high. Cost of living etc.
Sorry to kill your flow but adding a ton of debt when it is not needed, is foolish.
Trust me, having six figures of debt is a pain in the ass.
Good luck
Agree. There are a lot of things that matter. Georgetown, UCLA are much better than USC. I can't imagine it is WashU, as it is very academic.
If you have experience at a top group, you have what it takes and your credentials are fine. Just network. And I'd imagine 5 hours a week of networking definitely beats 60k in additional debt (two years, 30k loans).
I wouldn't transfer to the UChi - it doesn't seem worth it at all and you could actually end up putting yourself in a worse position than you are in now because their grading is notoriously deflated.
Plus, for what you're saying about personal growth, dont underestimate the possibility that transferring schools could actually set you back a bit in this regard. I transferred and luckily it worked out awesome for me, but this isn't the case for a lot of people who only have two years to establish themselves at a school.
In short, don't fix something thats not broken - you are not paying for college, going to a school where you say you enjoy the social scene, and have a BB job that kids all over this board are dying to get.
Plus, I don't see the step up from UCLA or Georgetown to Uchi or Northwestern really being significant at all. If you get into Columbia, repost this topic and my answer may be a little different given that for someone who wants to go into finance, NY and at the connections you'd make at Columbia may be worth considering.
best of luck either way in your decision
It's not worth it.
Stay at your school, party hard and get valedictorian.
UCLA is really good anyways.
Give me a fucking break. If you already have experience in a "top group," then you clearly don't have to worry about recruitment.
Second off, transferring from a "semi-target" to a social graveyard like UChicago is a fucking terrible idea. You've got to reevaluate your life, you fucking puppet.
hahaha wow TheKing, that was harsh
I transferred from a non target to a target after two years and the experience for me was definitely great. Surrounding myself with intellectually stimulating peers and professors was definitely one of the biggest benefits in retrospect.
That being said, if you already have the BB job then no need to transfer. Just get a 4.0 and live life easy. However if you do get into Columbia it would be a different story...
Why the hell would anyone voluntarily transfer to UChicago?
Whatever you do, don't go to UChicago... the school where fun goes to die.
Northwestern isn't a big enough step up.
Columbia is probably worth the move assuming they give you a decent financial aid package.
I don't understand...If you're being granted transfer admissions, you are probably a freshman? Maybe a sophomore? How do you already have experience with a top BB group? Did you pick Goldman over 8th grade basketball camp?
Anyway, my idea of investment banking-related school prestige mostly comes from this board, but, from my understanding, UCLA, WashU, and Georgetown would be lateral moves to Chicago or Northwestern. Columbia would give you an advantage because of location(Unless you want to work in LA/Chicago?).
Anyway, if the BB thing is true and you're still having a great time partying your ass off in school, you would be out of your mind to transfer. I don't know that Northwestern or Columbia would be that much more intellectually stimulating.
It doesn't really matter what school you go to.....its more on yourself and your drive...if you can convince the recruiters that you know your shit and want this job more than anyone else you'll be set at any school.
I don't want to get into a debate to which institution is better but I know from personal experience that USC has the same recruiting opportunities that UCLA has. All BBs actively recruit on campus and there is a decent Trojan presence at least on the West Coast (I've met countless USC alumni in my superdays). If you don't go to USC (I'm not aware of any of the other schools you mentioned offering full scholarships) I am sure there are banks that recruit at all of the institutions you mentioned.
If you feel that your schoolwork is not challenging enough, perhaps you should find a part time job/internship/research that you can pour your passion into. In my opinion schoolwork/GPA doesn't mean much once you have a round a 3.5....what really separates you is your drive and extracurricular experiences. If you coast through school and find these opportunities in your spare time I believe that you will set yourself apart from all other candidates (including those that have less time for extracurrics because they have more challenging coursework and have to study more).
Best of luck!
didn't realize you had experience in a top group.......nm then.
I call bull shit on this post.
Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend
Bullshit indeed... As pointed out above, how do you have top group/bank experience if you're probably in the first half of your undergrad career? And if you do actually have the experience, why do you think your school's going to start mattering now? And if you think transferring to say Columbia will improve your lot as a student of finance...you do know Columbia has no programs for undergrads in business, finance, etc. right?
Neither do many other top universities like Harvard and Yale. And, to be honest, you're far better off doing a rigorous academic major like econ or math rather than some vocational course in business or finance. Use your time at university to study something challenging, then learn about the practical details once you get on the job.
ok didnt reach much of this thread but dont go to chicago or NW, social scene is pretty weak from what ive heard and dont underestimate the importance of that, if you get into columbia, go.
If you get I to Columbia and they give you some decent financial aid, then go there if you really need more intellectual scintillation. NW and UC are not fun whatsoever, probably the opposite of your current school, and as fellow semitargets not worth giving up a full scholarship for. Think LONG and hard before transferring. To me, the only way I'd transfer is if its a total no brainer. Going from say UCLA to UChicago is not a huge step up, and definitely not worth losing a scholarship and social life for.
If you get into Columbia, go there. Otherwise stay at your current school
I'm a sophomore amd landed the BB job as a freshman through networking. Thanks for the responses; will keep you updated if new circumstances arise.
Not worth it. Plus, Chicago does not have an undergrad business school...stick with your 'semi-targets' and enjoy the free ride. As for your BB experience as a freshman, hope you enjoyed making those lattes
take into account the prestige factor. im not going to debate which school is more prestigous than others, but its something for you to think about when transferring, esp. if you want to get into PE. Also, its easier to get into bschool with a better ugrad on ur resume.
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