<p>Is an Econ degree from Columbia more impressive than a Finance degree from Stern or from Georgetown's business school? I mean, will it hold as much weight as a more specific degree from a non-Ivy?</p>
<p>Columbia is undeniably a better school than NYU or Georgetown, and it's my opinion that any degree from Columbia is more impressive. The person w/ the Columbia degree is likely perceived as smarter and has more doors open to them, and plenty of people recognize that nobody (including someone with a fancy major) learns jack sh-- in college that's applicable in the real world.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but the prestige that Columbia carries would open doors to you even if Stern or Georgetown is better in a certain major.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses...I was thinking that it was but I just wanted others to confirm it for me.</p>
<p>in terms of wall street jobs open to students, Columbia definitely beats out those two. Stern in some divisions is comparable to Columbia, G-town isn't really. It tougher to get in and do well at Columbia so that leaves you with more competitive job applicants.</p>
<p>(not that an econ degree is impressive). undergrad majors at columbia are designed just so people can graduate, especially in cc.</p>
<p>Scooter,</p>
<p>I think a finance degree is a waste of time because if you're planning to hit wall street you'll learn all that stuff anyway in the span of a few months. That's just me, though :) Do something else during your undergraduate years--you'll never get that chance again.</p>
<p>I do agree with the other people.</p>
<p>I tihnk it's better to focus on a "harder" major and leave the "soft" major (i.e. finance/econ) alone</p>
<p>^Econ is not really a soft major, sociology maybe, but not Econ. Ivilleslacker is an over-achiever, but he is right, that in CC it's not tough to finish almost any major (bar physics, math, chem) without an epic struggle. Econ is doable, but you can make econ very tough if you want. There are hard classes and kids who take those classes are serious about doing well and moving on to phd programs. Some more mathematical, higher level econ courses have an attrition rate of 50%, I took one such class last sem, not much fun at all.</p>
<p>^^ you're right. sorry about the vagueness.</p>
<p>i don't mean to imply that the major cannot be difficult, but it can be very easy if you make it so (which most econ majors will do).</p>
<p>as a side note, it's disappointing that columbia allows math/apmath majors to place out of real analysis with much easier classes. how they can justify conferring a math degree to a person who hasn't had real math? i guess this might not be so widespread a problem since math majors are pretty self selective, but still a strange policy.</p>
<p>i'm bashing columbia, but it's really just nitpicking. this place is amazing.</p>
<p>^most math majors do modern analysis, and many apma majors do too. The rest do analysis and optimization (Math V2500) which is real analysis (in that it's not complex Analysis) but not "real" (i.e. not hardcore). 2500 can still be quite challenging, I hear some classes have means of below 50%, because people are out of their depth, I wouldn't underestimate it.</p>
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Columbia is undeniably a better school than NYU or Georgetown, and it's my opinion that any degree from Columbia is more impressive.
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<p>The first part of your statement is an opinion too.</p>
<p>I suppose that, given the turn this thread has taken, this thread was not about the difference between an Economics degree and a Finance degree, but between Columbia's prestige and that of Stern/McDonough?</p>
<p>forget vague terms like "impressive" and "hold more weight". what is it specifically you are seeking to do with this degree?</p>
<p>Possible answers include:
"Get a job doing ___ in the ___ industry"
"Get a well-rounded education that broadens my mind and challenges me to be a better thinker and better person"
"To meet and make friends with future movers and shakers of this country"
"Prepare for a graduate degree program in the subject of ____"</p>
<p>etc. we can't answer this without context.</p>
<p>Sorry about the vagueness before...I'm looking to go into business obviously, hopefully Wall Street, and get a great education.</p>
<p>If you have to ask the question, then you should stay away from Wall St and head towards Main St.</p>
<p>As someone who lives a block away from Main Street, I resent that =)</p>