I’m an international student applying in the 2015/2016 cycle. If you’re curious about my stats, I would say that my overall portfolio would put me in decent stead to try for the ivy leagues but they will definitely still be “reaches” for me, especially considering the fact that I am an international student.
I intend to study major in Economics at university and hopefully go into finance/banking if possible. I recognize that in accordance with that Wharton should be the dream school. However, I really love New York City and going to Columbia would help me to taste a wider variety of subjects.
My questions are:
Which schools have lower admission rates for ED (i.e. which is harder to get into)? Although the ED rates for UPenn and Columbia are available online, they do not specify the admission rate of Wharton specifically. Could anyone comment on this please (I’m not from the US so I don’t have sufficient knowledge/exposure to infer).
However: I’m assuming Wharton should be HYSPM-level hard to get into, making it harder to ED into than Columbia?
Does Wharton really give you a lot more opportunities banking/finance wise than Columbia?
Hey, although Wharton doesn’t disclose ED acceptance rates, it is generally agreed that Wharton is definitely harder to get into than Columbia. Second, Wharton will give you an advantage over Columbia in terms of finance/banking, but Columbia still does well. Check out http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/files/WHA_2014cp.pdf. Wharton is typically regarded as the school with the best placement when it comes to finance/banking.
I know for JPMorgan Columbia is the most recruited school for I banking. You won’t really be at a disadvantage because of the slightly better program at upenn because it’s so easy for Bankers to meet with Columbia kids, there’s a ton of networking opportunities.
If I do not apply for Financial Aid in ED, am offered a place, but unable to attend because it is too expensive, will they black-list me?
My research so far has indicated that the only way to ‘escape’ ED is when they offer you insubstantial financial aid. My family finances may be able to support but I do not want to suck my parents dry at the same time.
Would they still black-list me if I do not attend for financial reasons after being accepted ED? Even though I did not indicate need for financial aid?
I highly doubt that it would work like that. If you don’t apply for aid, it implies that you don’t need it. BUT I’m not really sure about this so I would ask someone who knows more/is more qualified to answer.
OP says his/her family likely can afford it but OP doesn’t want to ask family to pay for Columbia tuition if accepted. My question is – then why even apply? If OP’s family is of that income level, the OP can only hope for merit scholarships and should then only be applying to those schools. To apply ED and then walk away *because they decide they don’t want to pay the tuition bill * goes against the spirit of the ED withdrawal clause.