Harvard vs Wharton

<p>I posted this a while ago, but I was told to wait until admissions results come out before worrying about which school to attend.</p>

<p>Harvard and Wharton were two of my top three choices (Princeton was the third because of their financial engineering program, but I got waitlisted and declined to stay on). I'm pretty certain I want to go into finance, even after this debacle, but I can't decide between these two schools. </p>

<p>They are generally considered to be tied in first for recruiting in the financial/consulting industry, so that won't be the deciding factor. </p>

<p>Right now I'm leaning towards Wharton because their curriculum seems more applicable and focused on finance whereas at Harvard I would just do a general economics major (which is much more theoretical). However, it's hard to turn down Harvard because of the school's prestige and international recognition. </p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

<p>Harvard will provide you with the same opportunities if not better. Wharton is an excellent finance school arguably the best in the world for undergrad and MBA. In the end Harvard is Harvard.</p>

<p>I would go to Wharton in your spot.</p>

<p>It seems like Wharton is a better fit for you. Don’t worry too much about the name, at this level and for your interests its moot. Harvard is Harvard, but Wharton is Wharton as well.</p>

<p>Go to Wharton for undergrad, Harvard for MBA </p>

<p>Nice name btw =)</p>

<p>I would go to Harvard, unless Penn offered a better deal.</p>

<p>Go to Wharton, you seem focused like a Wharton-type</p>

<p>I would go to Harvard, Same to better recruiting options with a more well-rounded experience.</p>

<p>I’m having a tough time with this, it seems like you’re aching for Wharton but do keep in mind that recruiting opps will be the same out of Harvard. Most financial companies don’t really care too much about how much finance you’ve taken, your exposure to math/comp sci will be far more important.</p>

<p>50/50.</p>

<p>They each have an advantage over the other:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Wharton gives you the legitimate option to not ever stop your career to pursue the MBA. Any future employer (Wall St., Commercial Banking, Consulting, Management fast track in a F500) will assume you have a broad exposure to all the funtional areas of business and possess those tools in your bag – finance (and the math that supports it), econ, accounting, operations, sales/marketing, strategy, information tech.</p></li>
<li><p>Harvard gives you slightly more interview opportunities<em>if</em> you decide ultimately against a business career. You might change your mind in college and decide, for example, you want to do foreign service, or become a dentist, or attend graduate school in philosophy, or any other graduate school other than MBA or Law.</p></li>
</ul>