<p>I'm currently a freshman at Dartmouth College and doing really well. I've made lots of friends, received an award for academic excellence and even started my own club. I have to admit, I had a rocky start in the beginning friends-wise. Now, however, I can count on lots of people.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I applied as a transfer to NYU Stern and with a bit of luck, was accepted. I'm interested in becoming an investment banker (oh so cliche, shoot me now lol) and I believe that both Dartmouth and Stern can open doors for me.</p>
<p>My family believes that Stern is the better choice because it's in the heart of a major financial district. It's also known for its finance major. I love Dartmouth College and I'm very interested in double-majoring in math and econ. I want to stay here, but being Asian, the stereotype of being forever loyal to family has to be applied.</p>
<p>I'm really confused right now. In fact, I can't completely grasp the point of this post. I guess all I really want to hear is some feedback from you guys and girls (especially those that know a lot about one/both schools). Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>You need to IM Slipper1234 - he can give you the Dartmouth perspective, the NY perspective and definitely the ibanking recruitment perspective, and Asian credibility.</p>
<p>blitz me at <a href="mailto:imperator@dartmouth.edu">imperator@dartmouth.edu</a> and I can give you the name of my buddy here (an '07) who transferred from stern to dartmouth. according to him, dartmouth's recruiting is superior in every major area relative to stern's--investment banking, private equity, consulting, etc. If you don't want to take my word for it contact me and I will put you in touch with him. Bottom line, stay here...I can't emphasize that enough...your family is not correctly apprised of the situation.</p>
<p>Can anyone elaborate on how Dartmouth is better for finance? I'm curious to know because i'm applying there next year, and also because I heard NYU's finance program was known to be strong. If this is true, I should probably submit an app to Dartmouth too. Hmmmm</p>
<p>Stern's finance program is very strong -- some of the bulge bracket investment banks use Damodaran during analyst training. </p>
<p>What you have to realize is that, while taking finance in college makes you more appealing, investment banking analysts go through two month intensive training programs for a reason.</p>
<p>Ultimately, investment banks, consulting firms, private equity shops, and hedge funds want people that are exceptionally intelligent. Think of prior knowledge of finance as something extra on the side. To this end, Dartmouth is harder to get into, theoretically has "smarter" kids, which makes more desirable candidates. Sure, someone from Stern will know more than a kid from Dartmouth initially, but within a month or two, everyone will be on the same footing.</p>
<p>I understand the perspective that the family is coming from, but as others have mentioned, it is erroneous.</p>
<p>While most Asian parents seem to have never heard of Dartmouth in my experience, it certainly doesn't mean it isn't very well recruited. I've heard and talked to people going the other way for the prestige (Stern to Dartmouth/Ivy, or trying to anyhow) but you'd be the first I've personally heard of going to Stern from Dartmouth.</p>
<p>If you want, you can try to convince your parents with the Wall Street Journal feeder statistics that places Dartmouth pretty close to the top. You can also use the Brody Prestige ranking. All of this is overall meaningless to you, but it can help convince your parents to let you stay.</p>
<p>Finally, I do suggest you not hop schools just for the purpose of the recruiting (misconception or not). For one thing, it would make you less genuine--if the question comes up on why you transferred, what are you going to say? It would especially not be fun if one of the interviewers is a Dartmouth grad (which wouldn't be inconceivable at all).
Also, there's simply the factor of being happier--NYU and Dartmouth are quite different--if you like Dartmouth, there's certainly no guarantee you'll end up liking Stern. If you really want to look at this one as a cost-benefit too, think of the recommendations you'd get as a result, and the easy connections you'll make while at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Personally, I would rather see it as a happy vs. not-happy scale, but even from a purely cost-benefit side, it doesn't seem like it is worth it.</p>
<p>If you were transferring from Dartmouth to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, or Stanford, you would definitely see a benefit. However, with Stern, not so much.</p>