<p>Currently I'm a freshman at UChicago planning to major in economics or math, looking to go into IBanking. I can't say I'm very happy at this school, but I can't say that I'm miserable. It's just not a great overall experience. I enjoy the toughness and the workload, but I find that there's very little campus life or stimulation outside the classroom.</p>
<p>I'm considering transferring to Harvard, Stanford (yes, yes, long shots, but I have a very high GPA), as well as Penn (college, not Wharton), Columbia, and Duke.</p>
<p>My question is: In terms of recruitment, placement, networking, etc, are the last three schools as good as Chicago if I major in math or econ? Or am I better off staying where I am if I don't get into Harvard or Stanford? Or is it worth transferring and having to work less hard for a high GPA?</p>
<p>Also, I've already taken a Graduate School of Business course, and Chicago seems to allow its undergrads a lot of access to graduate resources. I don't know if the other schools do. How much should that influence my decision?</p>
<p>Thanks very much for your time.</p>
<p>I suggest applying to Harvard, Stanford, MIT & Yale. Otherwise stay here (I'm a 3rd year econ major at UofC). Though you'd probably get a higher GPA at Columbia, Duke & Penn college too. Though a lot depends on: what is your GPA now, and what classes have you taken? Also, what do you want to do in Ibanking? If you are interested in trading/financial mathematics, because UChicago lets you take a lot of very advanced classes as an undergrad, it is most definitely a very good place to be. Otherwise, other peer institutions are probably equivalent.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure most schools are more restrictive than Chicago, grad course wise. Also, check out the course catalog for HBS; it's mostly filled with BS classes, while the Chicago GSB course catalog is pretty hardcore (read: mathematical)</p>
<p>P.S. I knew a guy who applied to transfer from UChicago to Stanford w/a 3.7 as a 2nd year, and he didn't get in. Then again, I knew a girl who applied as a 1st year with almost certainly lower than a 3.7 to Harvard, but wrote a very compelling app. (for a major at H, that wasn't at UofC) and got in.</p>