International needs help (Columbia/NYU)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>I’m sorry for posting yet another treat from a confused HS student, but I’m from Europe and I really don’t have anyone here who would be able to give me a good advice on what to do.</p>

<p>After giving it a lot of thoughts and research, I decided I would love to go to either Columbia (for economics-math) or NYU Stern. It would make my like A LOT less complicated if I knew where I’m standing college-wise as soon as possible, so I’m applying ED. Which means I have to pick one for now. </p>

<p>My question for you is: do you think I have a chance of getting into Columbia? Because if you already know it would be huge reach than I think I’m gonna try at NYU which I guess is a little easier to get into. However, if you think I have a reasonable chance of getting there ED, it may be worth a shot. </p>

<p>And a second one: I know it’s a Columbia forum so it will probably be very one-sided but: do you think Stern (and NYU overall) is a lot worse school than Columbia (for business/econ)? It’s hard for me to tell, because it seems to be way higher in rankings than Columbia in terms of business program but way lower overall. And also, I keep hearing that Stern is really overrated and that Columbia is actually better for econ.</p>

<p>Oh, and I mean just for undergrad, since I don’t think I can afford a grad school. </p>

<p>So, my stats:</p>

<p>I’m a rising senior from Poland.
White female
GPA: 5.3/6.0
Rank: 3/~800
SAT: 2310 (740 W 800 M 770 CR)
SAT II: 750 World Hist, 790 Math II
TOEFL iBT: 110/120
No AP since they’re not available in here.
We can’t pick classes individually so I took the same subjects as everyone, with some extra hours in math and geography, total 14 subjects, taking 11 senior year. </p>

<p>ECs:
Finalist of national Economics Olympiad
Captain of school’s Business club (we were very active at school, also raising money for school events)
1st place in youth Best Business Plan competition in Warsaw with the club
Working for a small accounting company (part-time) as an assistant for almost 2 years now.
Volunteer for a foundation similar to Make a Wish Foundation (a lot of hours, been involved in it since I was 12)
Fundraiser and local coordinator for one of the biggest charity organization in Poland GOCC every year since I was 14)
Volunteer in a local community theater as an assistant director in a theater workshop for kids aged 8-12
2nd place in a photography contest in my area (random, I know ^_^)</p>

<ul>
<li>Fantastic (and completely dishonest :-P) recs. Working on a good essay.
Thoughts?</li>
</ul>

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<p>I would ED at Columbia for sure! You sure have the demonstrated interest and grades to show for it :slight_smile:
Also, you could also RD at NYU because they have such a high acceptance rate …
I think you are probably going to get in at both lol.</p>

<p>Why Columbia?

  1. Financial aid (Stern has 0!)
  2. Liberal arts keeps doors open
  3. Very possible to enter business after Columbia (right in NY)
  4. Much higher prestige and Ivy-league quality teaching</p>

<p>Good luck! I am an international as well, so I have crossed fingers for both of us!</p>

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<p>Cross my fingers too!!! I’m also international and I’m planning on applying ED also…except I’m only a rising junior, so I have yet to apply :)</p>

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<p>It really depends on whether you want to concentrate in economics and mathematics (Columbia, theory-centric) or business (NYU, applied). An economics-mathematics major is no substitute for a business degree, although the former leaves more options open.</p>

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<p>Thanks :)</p>

<p>I read my OP once again today and I don’t think I made myself clear.
I think I like NYU better for it’s non-existing campus and location and most importantly - the fact that they have an undergrad business school (which is what I think I want to do). However I want to go to the best school I can get into (don’t we all?) and that’s why I’m seriously considering Columbia. I already know what NYUers think of Columbia so I wanted to see how does it look from your point of view. </p>

<p>So my question was basically: Should I:
A: Go to Columbia for its prestige and Ivy league status and major in Economics (which still allows me to do pretty much everything I can imagine myself doing)
B: Go to NYU even though I can potentially get into a better school (assuming I could)</p>

<p>I just don’t know how big of a difference there is between those two in terms of job perspectives and stuff. Are they roughly the same or is Columbia actually that much better?</p>

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<p>what jobs are you interested in?</p>

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<p>Columbia doesn’t have an undergraduate business school. If you want a “business” degree, but you don’t plan to get an MBA right away, you should probably attend an actual business school. Stern is not a bad school at all; it’s one of the best undergraduate business schools in the country. If you want an urban campus environment and you want to go to an undergraduate business school, my recommendation is that you apply to Stern ED (it’s much more selective than NYU’s main College of Arts & Sciences).</p>

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<p>sorry for a simple question
What is a stem?
Program offered at NYU, undergraduate business?</p>

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<p>“Stern” is the school of business at NYU, which offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.</p>

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<p>Thanks
It’s one of the best undergraduate business programs?</p>

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<p>According to US News & World Report, it’s one of the top five undergraduate business schools in the country: [Best</a> Undergraduate Business Programs - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-business]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-business) If you’re interested in business, I’d probably advise you to apply to Stern over Columbia.</p>

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<p>As an old guy living day-to-day in the business world, and with all due respect, I don’t know how a 17 year-old could decide to pidgeon-hole him- or her-self into a business degree. What if you decide you want to do something else? You should decide on where you want to spend four years of college if you plan ED. Your course of study should, and will, follow. If you can’t decide, apply RD.</p>