<p>My daughter has been accepted as an undergraduate student at Columbia as well as at Christ's College Cambridge University, UK to study Economics. She is keen on doing grad study in Economics later and possibly a PhD. Which of the two is a better option? cambrideg UK is a 3 year program.. so obviously saves a lot of time and money.. can she be admitted to a grad school in the US after the Cambridge Uk undergrad?</p>
<p>I don’t think there would be any problem going to grad school in the US after Cambridge (but I’m not sure).</p>
<p>If your daughter is 100 percent intent on pursuing advanced studies in Economics, Cambridge University is the superior and sensible choice.</p>
<p>Come on… Cambridge is Cambridge. SEND HER TO CAMBRIDGE! But wait, is the offer conditional??? Because if it is, you might want to consider accepting another college offer until you’re sure you’re going to Cambridge. Good luck.</p>
<p>Bachelors degrees from UK unis are considered equivalent to bachelors degrees from US unis. It will not be a problem. </p>
<p>If finances aren’t a consideration - if you’re not relying on financial aid to pay for her to go to uni - then you are free to pick either uni, and have no fear that either choice will in any way hamper her ability to get into a PhD program in the US or the UK afterwards. </p>
<p>Both are great unis. Both are strong in econ. I’d say Cambridge might be a big stronger in that particular field, but not by so much that, if she preferred Columbia, I’d send her to Cambridge instead. Honestly, which one does she prefer? Which does she think fits her better, personally? That can, and should, be a major factor in this decision.</p>
<p>The fees for her living in England may well outpace the extra year at Columbia with financial aid.</p>
<p>Can you be admitted to do a U.S. degree after an undergrad at Cambridge? OF course. Many many international students come over here after they finish undergrad at places much less prestigious at Cambridge, so she likely wouldn’t have a problem. As long as she gets involved in doing research in economics at Cambridge, she should be fine. UK students usually don’t take all the general education requirements that U.S. students have to take and so the program takes 3 years, but if I recall correctly, students can opt to do a fourth year to get an honors degree, and if that’s the case she probably should do it if she wants a Ph.D in economics.</p>
<p>She should really go where she wants to go, though, and not the school that would be “better” to get her into graduate school. What you do is more important than where you do it, the prestige of Cambridge and Columbia is comparable, and chances are good that she’ll change her mind about what she wants to do anyway.</p>
<p>If you think she might change her mind, it would be easier at Columbia. At Cambridge, you get accepted into a specific program. It’s not so easy to switch from Economics to History or Philosophy.</p>
<p>Yes, be cautious UK schools DO require you to stick to your intended major. i would go for Columbia for that matter even though Cambridge sounds nice…:)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot… this helps. She is quite committed to Economics (probability of change of mind is quite low) and believes Cambridge is a better choice… so guess that’s where she will go.</p>