<p>Hi there,
I'm a frequent reader but unfrequent poster, however I could use all the help I can get in deciding on a college, so here goes:</p>
<p>I'm interested in business--more specifically, marketing, management, and applied economics, not finance or accounting. I'm interested in service-based industries such as retail, hospitality, and the like. I can see myself doing anything from marketing to consulting to entrepreneurship, and though I may be interested in pursuing an MBA down the line, I'd like to be able to get into the business world after college.</p>
<p>Right now, I'm deciding between the Olin School of Business at Wash U in St. Louis and the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell. At Cornell, I really like the classes and work experience offered. Wash U is definitely a more traditional business school, but looks to be good all around.</p>
<p>WashU is a bit smaller than Cornell, so if you like a more intimate experience than the former would be a better bet. As for work experiences, St. Louis has some great ones. A. Busch the III went to Olin in the late 1990's, and the b-school has many graduates who look for kids from WashU.</p>
<p>If you like the mall town feel, Ithaca would be a good bet. I personally like the area that WashU is in, so I'm a little biased.</p>
<p>I'd go where you feel more comfortable.</p>
<p>If it were me, I'd go to WashU since it is much smaller than Cornell, with amazing resources.</p>
<p>Hotel management is too narrow a field, unless you are really interested in hospitality. At WashU, you have more flexibility, if your interest changes over time.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, the Hotel School is a comprehensive business management program with a focus in hospitality. If this is the case, I was hoping it wouldn't be too narrow. Has anyone heard something contrary?</p>