<p>So I was just offered admission off Amherst’s waitlist but had initially decided on Columbia SEAS.</p>
<p>I will probably study applied mathematics + economics at Amherst or Operations Research at Columbia SEAS.</p>
<p>So now I am torn between these two great colleges and they both attract me in different ways. I would enjoy a bustling city like NYC AND a small liberal arts college like Amherst… They both stand out in different ways.</p>
<p>Choosing Amherst would save me $30-$40k over four years compared to Columbia, but I know I’d most likely need a graduate degree to get a reasonably well-paid job (unlike Columbia SEAS).</p>
<p>So if anyone here could give me good reasons why to choose Amherst (or not), I’d greatly appreciate it!</p>
<p>I think it’s very clear you are looking at two very different (but both excellent) types of education for the next four years, and that’s what you should looking at juxtaposed with the cost. I believe the deadline is something like 24 hours, have you decided? (I’m rather anxious to know as I am a waitlistee hoping for a spot at Amherst)</p>
<p>Would suggest Amherst for undergrad and Columbia for graduate school if you are truly interested in a liberal arts education. I saw on their website that Columbia SEAS offers the traditional Columbia Core curriculum so you will get a broader education than most engineering students; however, your last two years are essentially pre-professional training. Once you are immersed in your career, you will find it difficult to find the time and opportunity to study so many interesting areas of human knowledge.</p>