<p>I need help!!! I am admitted by Stern of NYU and Columbia(Econ+Math). I really do not know which one to choose..I want to work in finance or other buisness areas. My first choice is to be a trader, but other finance/business positions are great to me too. Does not have to be IB.
In that case, which one may be better for my career path? </p>
<p>I heard about "not pursuing vocational degree for undergraduate" too. However, if I graduate from Columbia as Econ+Math, what jobs can I get except for IB? Since IB is so hard to get that only a small fraction of students in Columbia can get?</p>
<p>If I go to Stern, studying Finance and Accounting, I may work in traditional banks, hedge fund, accounting firm, etc. It may be a bigger range of choices, isn't it?</p>
<p>I do not have to work in IB, other finance institutions, or brokers, are all good for me. I am wondering whether these firms will also hire from Columbia Econ+Math, since I may not have much professional skill.</p>
<p>I’ve heard complaints from recruiters who go to top schools and ivies and interview non-business majors for business positions and, upon being asked a technical question in the interview, they say a lot of students actually try to use the fact that their university doesn’t have an undergraduate business program as an excuse for not knowing how to answer.</p>
<p>If you self-study a bit you should be fine since Columbia is such a great school, but I think it really comes down to studying what you are interested in. Sure a math major at Columbia can get a job crunching numbers for an investment bank, but are you more interested in learning about math or about financial theories, techniques and operations?</p>
<p>I also heard about “not pursuing vocational degrees for undergrad” but it’s really a load of bull from bitter students and alum more often than not. The main arguments for it are that you’re somehow sacrificing your well-rounded education and are going to repeat what you’ve already covered if you get an MBA and both claims are rooted in ignorance. The truth is that any decent university is going to require the same core classes from everyone and the business core classes will probably be more well-rounded than the engineering core classes and major-specific classes will focus on your major no matter what it happens to be. A top BBA program can open doors an average MBA program can’t and the vast majority of BBA students find that they don’t even need to go back for an MBA.</p>
<p>I would be leaning toward Stern because I bet you are more interested in finance than you are in math in general and if you’re worried about standing out, consider that employers will look at the business school students first (when there is an undergraduate program) to fill their top business jobs, so your main competition is narrowed down from the entire undergraduate body to the couple hundred kids who are also in Stern. Yeah, you’ll still need to stand out if you want the tippy top investment banks, but there actually are recruiters that value business preparation and you’ll be one of the first picks on the list of all of those other business choices, too.</p>
<p>this guy is obviously very biased ^^
my two cents are that if you know for sure you wanna do business, then go to stern. if you wanna try different things, go to columbia. either way, you can get just as good of a job in business out of undergrad as long as you make the effort. columbia has one of the best job placement departments in the country, statistically, so you’ll be fine. also, at columbia, you won;t have a problem getting that knowledge to answer the technical questions that the interviewers will ask you. Columbia has pre-business advisors and you can also get internships at top firms/banks during your undergrad years and there you will gain all the knowledge you need. </p>
<p>in the end, the choice is yours. it all depends on what kind of education you want. because in my opinion you can get similar jobs from both schools. i just told you columbia’s side b/c the other was so biased to the other way</p>
<p>Ehh, you would probably end up in the same position from both. What are some of the other factors? Money?</p>
<p>If you want to go into Finance, then choose NYU. Stern business school is one of the best in the country. I live in New York, and I would definitely go to NYU, if I had enough money. You are lucky that you have this chance, so do not screw it up.</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> business specialties: Finance - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-finance]Undergraduate”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-finance)</p>
<p>Do you really want to study business as an undergrad?
Go Stern.</p>
<p>Are you okay with not studying business as an undergrad?
Go Columbia.</p>
<p>Both will provide equal opportunities for Wall Street.</p>
<p>EXACTLY. completely agree with recharge</p>
<p>Is this a serious question? Go with Columbia, hands down. I’m guessing, since you’re talking about 2 elite schools, you’re looking at high finance positions or financial analysis at a F500 company, right? Go with Columbia then, because the name and alumni will carry you further than Stern. If you really want to study finance and can’t imagine yourself doing anything, or want to pursue accounting, then go with Stern, but otherwise, Columbia ALL THE WAY.</p>
<p>Now if Stern offered you a lot of money, that might be another thing to take into consideration…</p>