<p>Hi guys! I am fortunate enough to have been admitted by both Stanford and Columbia, but now I am struggling to make a choice. I am from mainland China and want to major in econ and go into investment banking in the future. Here are several things on my mind right now:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>With my intention to go into I-banking, NYC is just the perfect place to start. The connections and experiences I could acquire in NYC would help me a lot;</p></li>
<li><p>Stanford, in my impression, is more of a school focusing on the sciences, engineering, maths, CS and stuff instead of the arts. I am 99% sure I don't want to and am not able to get into those things considering my intelligence level... </p></li>
<li><p>Stanford is on the west coast and is therefore somewhat "isolated" from where I want to build my future (I love NYC and am pretty sure I will go there after graduation no matter what). I will have to take a more than 4-hour flight just to make an interview in NYC;</p></li>
<li><p>I am Chinese but I don't want to be drowned in a Chinese crowd in college. Considering Columbia's huge Chinese population, I might not get the American education I was expecting;</p></li>
<li><p>Stanford's overall reputation and prestige is higher (plz don't blame me for saying this) and is usually put along with HYP as a top-tier while Columbia on the next level;</p></li>
<li><p>As an international student, Stanford's sense of community might give me a warmer welcoming</p></li>
</ol>
<p>So, 1) Is the reputation of Stanford really higher than that of Columbia? 2) Would Stanford or Columbia be better for a girl who is going into I-banking/ private equity and stuff like that?</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>