<p>As the title suggests, i have been accepted to Columbia and Brown and am struggling to make a decision.</p>
<p>I am an international student hoping to major in economics and have not visited either, nor will i be able to.</p>
<p>I am, of course, aware of the obvious differences such as their approaches to learning (core vs flexible) but i would appreciate any further insights.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Hi lgg! I think that the most important difference is the one you just mentioned- the approach to learning. It could not be any more different. Whichever approach appeals to you should probably have you leaning toward one or another. I will say that I have met several people who have come out of Brown totally lost and confused about where to go next, but, admittedly, I know people who felt that with all of Columbia’s requirements, they didn’t have enough time to choose electives and didn’t get to explore quite as much as they would have liked. So really, it’s whatever appeals to you. </p>
<p>You may want to also consider New York City vs. Providence. As an international student, I don’t know if you’ve visited either of these cities, but NYC is as urban as it gets. There is always something going on, and something new to see. Classes at Columbia utilize this, sending students to actually SEE paintings they are studying in person, go to the opera they are studying, etc. Providence is a tiny city that is beautiful, but doesn’t have a whole lot going on in terms of culture, etc. </p>
<p>It’s a shame that you won’t be able to visit the schools. Since you can’t, I would really encourage you to try to get in touch with as many current students from each school as possible. I know Columbia has an initiative on the Welcome website with an interactive map that lists students from tons of different states and countries that you can email. I’m sure Brown also has a way to connect with students.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Igg, this is mostly to get some of the real econ experts to get on the board and to flower you with details about Columbia’s econ. </p>
<p>But as a primer. It is really at this point world class with every area of economics covered and a lot of recent hires from Princeton/Chicago showing that the department is serious about being a world power. If you are econ that wants business, this is a route many take and clearly advantages in living in New York City. If you are econ that wants PhD, similarly this is something you see quite a few students gain some necessary training to be top flight future economists. Best of luck! And where are my econ majors on here?</p>
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<p>I’m an econ minor in seas I’ve taken nearly as many econ classes as a major would have to, so i feel qualified to speak: econ at columbia is effing awesome. It’s one of the few departments with rockstar professors who win Nobel prizes every few years but still have undergrad professors who are extremely stimulating. I love seas, but I wish I go back in time apply to CC and major in econ-math or econ-OR. Half the professors in the department just blow you away.</p>
<p>It’s a practical subject which teaches you methods of analyzing trade offs, policies, even daily decisions. People on campus think I’m very smart everytime i analyse a decision or policy just because I apply some econ concepts to weigh the pros and cons. I am no genius, but I’ve just been trained to think in an analytical, economic, utilitarian way. I’ve interacted with tons of econ majors from other schools, they just don’t have the rigor of the theory down and how it can precisely help evaluate every decision you make. Econ is a great field, but it’s potential is revealed best in a columbia classroom. </p>
<p>As a sophomore I took Contemporary Civilization, a philosophy survey course required for everyone in Columbia College; the economic analysis gave me something of real value to contribute to the classroom and I loved the material and debated in class and did well without reading much beforehand. I was very passionate about politics and social issues when I came to Columbia and thought I had my ■■■ figured out, but Columbia economics battered and educated me, it changed my political views considerably. This is hardly because of econ as a subject and more because I was in a classroom with some of smartest, funniest and clearest professors anywhere. There was a drive to go to class. now all this in a department known for it’s research, international prestige and nobel prizes. The Economist periodically holds their global debates on campus, beat that.</p>
<p>The decision should still be based on type of school you want to go to and what students you want to be around. I’ve dated someone from brown before, and so have been there multiple time, they’re a bunch of hippies with not as much balance in the student body. Brown is happier, Columbia is more aware of what the ■■■ is going on. (i still think brown is a very competitive school, with a highly talented student body, and good classes)</p>