Econ Umich vs Vandy! Which one should I choose!

<p>Hey guys~ I'm an international transfer and was admitted by umich and vandy. Both are Econ. I also plan to find a job related to business.
I am quite confused and do not know which one to choose cuz I really do not know vandy much.
I wonder what on earth is vandy's reputation in america, especially beyond the south? How is its career center since I can not access to their career website. Is it a target school? I have heard that it can be difficult for vandy's students to find job or intern outside the south.
And if I want to go to graduate schools (maybe MFin), which one would be better? Whose undergraduate education is more recognized?
Million thx!!!!!!!! Hope to learn more information about vandy and know your preference!!!!! </p>

<p>Please give me some of your suggestions!!!
thx!!!</p>

<p>Both schools are not top top tier (HYPS), but still very competitive schools. I don’t know the specifics of the econ program at either school, but I would say they are very similar in terms of prestige, with Vanderbilt possibly being only very slightly more prestigious. Both are great schools, congrats for getting in. I would focus more on which school seems to be a better fit for you holistically, as academically and prestige-wise they are both very similar.</p>

<p>@warmweatherpls‌ thx a lot!!! btw, I also heard that Vandy is kinda a “party” school. In this way, if I’m not that keen on party, will it make me feel uncomfortable to study in vandy? </p>

<p>Keep in mind that you may choose to apply for Ross business school for your Soph year. You won’t have the choice of an undergrad business school at Vandy. Ross is also as good as it gets for undergrad business after Wharton. My son went to Umich seeking out Econ and ended up at Ross and he couldn’t be more pleased.</p>

<p>@wayneandgarth‌ thank you very much!!! but one thing I have to consider is the time. I’m a sophomore now and, if went to Umich, would transfer in as a junior. Ross also requires students to study in its program for three whole years after one year study in america. So in this way, I will have to spend another four years for undergraduate studies. I do know that Ross is great and amazing, but it seems that I do not have enough time >_<</p>

<p>You cant transfer to Ross I think, because the school is not that flexible. But I think you should go to UMich. Vandy is a top 20 unis, but its international reputation is not as good as UMich. So, UMich degree will open more doors outside the US.</p>

<p>Job recruitment for a Vandy Econ major is better than that of a Michigan Econ major so I would choose that. Private schools like Vandy have amazing career centers.</p>

<p>Remember that as an international, school name recognition and presige in your country of origin is very important. </p>

<p>Do you have proof to back your claim ennisthemenace? A list of companies that recruit Econ majors specifically? From what I hear, the same firms recruit Michigan Econ and Vanderbilt Econ majors. Ross trumps boty by a large margin. As an international student, the OP’s best bet is to get into Ross. As an Econ major at Michigan or Vanderbilt, finding a job will not be easy, especially in this economy. And optimally, the OP would return him and work there after graduation, in which case, a degree from Michigan will be more recognized than a degree from Vanderbilt. </p>

<p>I get what you are saying Alexandre but Bain and BCG along with a host of investment banks still recruit at Vanderbilt and it is at worst a “semi-target” in the financial world. Ross is in a different league for recruiting but Michigan LSA almost gets zero recruitment activity from firms for Sales & Trading, Investment Banking, and Management Consulting. It used to be easier in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s for Economics majors at places like Cal, Michigan, Georgetown, Cornell, UVA, etc. to land these high-profile jobs but now these firms only focus on the elite undergraduate business schools (Ross, Haas, Wharton, Stern, McIntire, and McDonough) and top engineering firms at these larger schools since they now recruit at a much wider range of institutions overall including Emory, Rice, Wash U, and Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>Vandy has fewer Econ majors than Michigan, far fewer students interested and aware of careers in the financial industry compared to Michigan (whose undergraduate student body primarily hails from prominent financial hubs like NYC and Chicago, a more active career center, and no world-class undergraduate business school to compete with in job recruiting. Since the OP intends to transfer in a junior, Vanderbilt is the better option overall for a prospective Economics major.</p>

<p>I agree that Ross is the best option but that would require the OP to spend 4 years at Michigan after emigrating to the United States before starting the job search. I’m not sure if the OP has the time or money for that to be feasible.</p>

<p>^^^Please ignore ennisthemenace OP. He is a Michigan hater on these boards and will almost always recommend the school that is rated higher at USNWR. Michigan has a world class reputation and it will be much better known in your home country. </p>

<p>^^Do you have proof to back your claim rjkofnovi? </p>

<p>I’ve seen many general assertions that UM is better known outside the U.S. than many other schools - what is that based on? Also, even if the general statement is true, how can you know about the OP’s home country since he didn’t even mention it?</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/University-of-Michigan---Ann-Arbor.html”>http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/University-of-Michigan---Ann-Arbor.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/world-ranking/institution/university-of-michigan”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/world-ranking/institution/university-of-michigan&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Top 200 QS World University Rankings 2013 | Higher Education Network | The Guardian”>http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/table/2013/sep/10/qs-world-university-rankings-2013&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>^^Thanks. You have proven that certain publications in two countries rate UM highly. I’m still not sure though how you know that it will be better known than Vandy in the OP’s country.</p>

<p>These rankings only measure academic research output and faculty citatations, not general international appeal. Brown and Georgetown for instance are very well-known schools globally and they perform poorly on all these international rating systems. Why are so many powerful European and Asian families sending their kids to Brown and Georgetown if these schools are considered second-rate abroad?</p>

<p>According to this paper many countries’ leaders take the int rankings quite seriously.</p>

<p><a href=“http://cshe.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/shared/publications/docs/ROPS.CSHE_.5.14.Douglass.FlagshipUniversities.4.24.2014.pdf”>http://cshe.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/shared/publications/docs/ROPS.CSHE_.5.14.Douglass.FlagshipUniversities.4.24.2014.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>^^^Because Georgetown is known for its SFS and is in our nation’s capital. Brown is known as an IL school. What exactly is Vanderbilt known for internationally?</p>

<p>ennisthemenace, I agree that when a university has an elite undergraduate business program or school of engineering, most firms will focus their recruiting activity on them. And while many IBanks and consulting firms chose to focus almost exclusively on Ross and the CoE at Michigan, there is nothing that stops LSA students from submitting their resumes for consideration at those firms. Given the University’s large alumni representation at senior levels at all such firms, and of the University’s elite status, LSA students will often find jobs in those . It just requires more initiative. </p>

<p>By the way, Bain and McKinsey recruit directly at LSA.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.joinbain.com/apply-to-bain/bain-on-your-campus/school_welcome.asp?school_id=352”>http://www.joinbain.com/apply-to-bain/bain-on-your-campus/school_welcome.asp?school_id=352&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/join_us/university_recruiting/schools/ba/university_of_michigan”>http://www.mckinsey.com/careers/join_us/university_recruiting/schools/ba/university_of_michigan&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>That being said, for those who are really keen on a career with such firms, Ross is the best bet. And while admission into Ross is by no means guaranteed, it should be too difficult to manage for a qualified student.</p>

<p>

You are right that we don’t know about the OP’s home country. However, the OP would know about Vandy’s prestige among employers at home, and it would be wise for him/her to take this into consideration when picking a university. The chance of landing one of these “high profile job” is not good as many on-campus recruiting now requires citizenship or permanent residency.</p>

<p>One thing we know for sure if that Michigan will have much stronger alumni network overseas.</p>