Hi!
I was fortunate enough to get into both the University of Michigan (CoE) and Columbia University (SEAS) for CS as a transfer. Both appeal to me equally, and the cost of attending is the same, which is making it hard to decide. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on which one I should go for. I’m mostly concerned about prestige and what would help me out more for my future career.
Thanks.
What do you want out of the rest of your college experience?
I initially thought Columbia, but I think there are multiple factors in play.
Do you want to go into Tech or Finance or Grad School?
Where do you want to live after?
Thanks for your reply. Since it’s only two years I will be at any of these colleges, as I’m a transfer, I want to optimize for what will help me out more for the first job and my future career, in terms of connections and brand name. I don’t want to go to grad school though, I mainly want to go into big tech, or possibly software engineering at a financial firm, whatever chance I get. I’m indifferent to location, but I think chances are slim of staying in the Midwest.
I’d pick Columbia simply because Google, FB, Amazon and a few others are already in NYC, as are the hedge funds, banks, high freq traders etc… And others will come to the fairs and will recruit.
Not that you’d have any issues landing a good job from Michigan, the NYC angle is an added benefit.
Congratulations. What do you mean as a transfer student. Are transfer decisions out for Columbia?
It’s via the combined plan
Columbia since you’re mostly concerned about prestige.
Have you checked transfer credit at each school?
Columbia says that admitted students should receive a preliminary transfer credit evaluation: Transfer Credit | Columbia College and Columbia Engineering
Michigan CoE transfer credit is shown here: Course Equivalencies | Home | Michigan Engineering . Be careful in that Michigan is sometimes stingy with transfer subject credit, forcing students to retake courses that they mostly already know the material for.
What do you mean by “prestige”? Do you care about job opportunities or do you care about impressing grandma?
Grandma probably would be more impressed by Columbia.
UMich is a target school for all the top software companies (it’s one of the most heavily represented schools in SV).
Columbia isn’t bad either and obviously would be more helpful for getting in to finance or tech in NYC.
And yes, it’s important to check to see how much credit UMich would accept. If that is a risk, Columbia is the obvious choice if there is no risk of finishing in 2 years there.