Hello all,
I’m currently looking forward to my undergraduate studies as a business major. However, I am unfortunately stuck between my two safety colleges, Rutgers & TCNJ. I applied to a few ivy leagues and middle-reach schools, but all waitlisted/rejected :(. I’d like some advice on which college would be best for me to attend.
Background Information:
Rutgers New Brunswick, standard
v.
TCNJ with a $5,000/yr & honors program
I am leaning towards TCNJ, even though money is NOT a problem for me with a family income >$200,000 a year. Although I MUCH rather choose TCNJ over Rutgers due to the campus, I have future plans which TCNJ might not be better for. My dream was to get into Wharton Business School, and after being deferred and later rejected, my new goal is either to transfer there OR go to graduate school for my MBA. Therefore, I am left in a dilemma that the Rutgers’ name may carry more wait for internship and future education.
If this is the wrong section, please let me know, as this is my first time posting on College Confidential.
They are both good schools, but TCNJ + honors puts TCNJ over the top to me. Since you prefer TCNJ, I would have no concerns choosing TCNJ. Bloomberg ranks TCNJ’s undergraduate business program higher than Rutgers. The kids I know at TCNJ have had no problems getting internships. If you do well in school and score well on your GMATs, I don’t see TCNJ holding you back. I think you would be considered equally to a Rutgers grad with similar stats.
Rutgers has a good business program as well, particularly in accounting.
TCNJ Business > Rutgers Business, and TCNJ Honors even more so. It’s become the go-to college for top NJ students who’d rather not deal with the split New Brunswick campus and don’t go to college for six football games a year.
Ultimately, the only name that matters is your own - do the most of the opportunities at TCNJ and you will be more than fine.
TCNJ IS a very highly regarded institution and is looked upon favorable by top grad programs. It is a very competitive
school. Don’t make the mistake of thinking somehow its this safety school and thereby … Not at all. Barrons ranks is as one of the 75 most competitive schools in the entire nation. And the finance program in particular is very demanding.
It will be up to you to get the very high grades needed to accomplish a top grad school as it would be at any private institution. if you take advantage of all the opportunities and do excellent work you can absolutely 100% certainty accomplish you goals.
Those are two nice options to have. I’m not sure one would be better than the other for your future MBA plans. I think they’d be about equal.
The “name recognition” you are looking for, might come in to play only if you were planning on looking for your first job (pre MBA) far outside of the tri-state area. Not many people outside of the Northeast have ever heard of TCNJ, and, of course, Rutgers would have a larger alumni base that might be helpful. But, unless this is your plan, I wouldn’t worry about it.
There are pros and cons to each program, which, IMO, wash each other out. Therefore, I would base my decision on other factors. Those two universities have very different feels to them. Have you visited both campuses? Which place would you rather live for the next four years? Do you prefer a quieter, smaller campus, that gives off a private school feel? If so, then maybe TCNJ is a better fit. Would you prefer a large school with a big 10 sports team, and all that comes with that? Then choose Rutgers.
Whatever you do, do NOT make your decision based on which one you think might serve you better in hopes of transferring to U Penn - Wharton undergrad. Not only is that transfer highly unlikely (I don’t know your stats, but it is a reach for everyone with a < 9% transfer admission rate), but you really need to go into your college choice with an open mind and heart to get the most out of your experience there. That will be impossible to do if you are already planning your exit strategy.
justlookingnow is correct, the chance of getting in as a transfer is very small
have you looked at the average age of the Wharton MBA students? Majority do not go in direct they go in after working for a few years, usually from a large bank or consulting firm. So, that being said find out which college places students in jobs that ultimately could lead them to get accepted into a top MBA program.
Email career services, check linkedin as well as schools websites to see where grads get jobs and where
they get internships.
Good luck
I respectfully disagree here. The OP is asking about applying to a top GRAD program like Wharton. That can and has been done by TCNJ business students in the past but as I have said will require very high gpa andscores. NO different than if you were already an undergrade at UPENN or elsewhere. It is true that often work expereinece can help in the application process and its why many choose that path. having said that , it does not preclude others who have gone straight into the program upon graduating. Obviously the OP should also consider all of the top 10 mba programs just as if you wouldn’t apply to only one undergraduate school.
In addition , there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a plan . In fact , its a good idea and there is nothing wrong with going into this thinking about being an undergraduate transfer. You know youll need top gpa to get to a top school and if you have a gpa in the top 5% of the class there is NO reason why you shouldn’t apply and see what happens. Just be flexible. Plans change and you may find you like it just fine wherever you are and there is nothing wrong with that either. But I am here to tell you 100% you can transfer to top schools, it may take a 4.0 gpa but it certainly doable.
^ Regarding U Penn/Wharton, OP said " and after being deferred and later rejected, my new goal is either to transfer there OR go to graduate school for my MBA". So, based on this sentence, it sounds to me like the OP IS considering transferring as one option.
Of course it is possible to transfer to U Penn/Wharton. Pursuant to U Penn’s most recent Common Data Set, 210 of the 2,491 Transfer Applicants were offered admission for 2015 school year. (No idea how many may have been Wharton transfers). I just said it is “unlikely”, as IMO, any place with an under 10% admit rate would fit that definition. I think the OP just needs to be aware that it is just as difficult (maybe even more so) to gain admission as a Transfer applicant than it was as a Freshman.
I still stand by my comments. Whether it is TCNJ or Rutgers, I hope OP starts college with an open mind and gives the school a chance. I think either would suit him just fine in the long run.