<p>I just found out that I got into Cornell as a transfer to their AEM program (business). I am very undecided and need help making a decision. I have already gotten involved at UVA and have leadership positions in a few clubs. I am pretty sure I will get into the Mcintire School of Commerce as my GPA is higher than the average that gets in. I know I am having a great time so far, but my only concerns are long term: will transferring to Cornell and having that ivy league business degree help me more than a UVA commerce degree? I want to work on Wall Street after I graduate, and if Cornell would help me do that more than UVA would then I'd want to go there. I am already heavily involved in extra curriculars at UVA so I feel like I would have to start all over and it would be much harder for me to have good ECs at Cornell since I'd be entering as a second year. I am so torn and have to make my decision so soon, so I would really appreciate some feedback. I know that UVA's business school is ranked higher than Cornell, but does it have more prestige in NYC than Cornell does? Thanks! Please don't give me any answers like "you are guaranteed the business school at Cornell and you won't at UVA" because I have already taken that into account and just statistics wise it looks like I will get in.</p>
<p>I am out of state for both so it costs pretty much the same.</p>
<p>UVA mcintire is a target school for wallstreet!!! DON’T underestimate it.</p>
<p>i honestly don’t even think cornell is more prestigious (pseudo ivy,death,etc.), but w/e even if it is, losing all you’ve earned at UVA so far (ecs,etc) is not worth the marginal gain in prestige you’d get from transferring. you’d have to start ALL over… and for what really, other than a few extra spots on the USN ranking. after all, mcintire is definitely as respected on wallstreet as AEM.</p>
<p>I think you need to look at the core curriculum for each program and see what is best for you. The UVa ICE program is unique to them and Cornell has a great lineup but how is it instructed? Are there team building opportunities? Which is one of the core elements of McIntire. </p>
<p>Really look at why you chose to send in your application to Cornell in the first place.</p>
<p>As far as Wall Street, they recruit from each of these programs-so to me this is a moot point. </p>
<p>If you have the opportunity to visit Cornell now and speak with individuals in that department that may help you decide. Plus you can get the feel for the campus either for the first time or again if you already have visited previously. Please note the cold/weather HAS to be a factor too. Virginia winters versus Ithaca’s, are night and day. With that said, the Cornell campus is beautiful. Also, you need to consider the student culture. It is different than UVa. </p>
<p>Whatever you decide you are fine.By the way please keep us posted on your decision. I am always curious as to what people decide in these scenarios. </p>
<p>Best to you as you ponder this decision.</p>
<p>What is the difference in the student culture, woosah?</p>
<p>It can be hard to adapt as a transfer, because so many people have developed a group of friends in their first year or two of college. I don’t think any career gain would be worth the costs to your social life, particularly since you sound like you are happy at UVa. Ithaca can become a depressing place by February.</p>
<p>One thing to note is that I don’t care about having the best time because I know that I will find a way to have a good time at Cornell if I decide to transfer. This is going to sound bad, but I mainly care about prestige and that’s the honest truth. I know that I will have a good time and look back fondly at my college experience no matter where I go. If AEM is more prestigious than mcintire then I will want to go to Cornell. That aspect of cornell vs uva is what I am looking for in terms of input.</p>
<p>Both are prestigious. Are you? That will be the question for recruiters. Do you have a high GPA, involved in EC’s, think beyond business, will you have great internships on your resume. Where will YOU be the most successful is what you need to answer. </p>
<p>Wall Street recruits from both places. Your competition for these positions is high not only with your fellow classmates (wherever that may be) but also from other colleges and universities with strong business and liberal arts programs. </p>
<p>Recruiters for Wall Street want top notch students. So ask yourself how well will you do in AEM? McIntire?</p>
<p>So you’re saying that in the long run, where I went to school has no factor and if I had the same stats and ECs from both schools I would get the same result?</p>
<p>^^ likely, yes. The differences between UVa/McIntire and Cornell AEM are negligible. Not to be harsh, but Cornell AEM is not Harvard or Wharton, etc. (And, a couple years ago McIntire undergrad out-ranked Wharton undergrad . . .) Cornell’s prestige is not really higher than UVa’s. If your interviewer at Goldman went to Cornell and not UVa, then, MAYBE, being at Cornell would make a difference, but otherwise, no. </p>
<p>As woosah asked . . . Where will you be happier? Where are you likely to perform better academically? That is what you should be considering right now. For what it is worth, word around Grounds is that while McIntire is hard to get into, once in, good grades are not that hard to come by. What is the grading like at Cornell? That could a decision factor far more important than perceived prestige.</p>
<p>“Both are prestigious. Are you?”</p>
<p>wow you shouldve put it at the end for dramatic effect it just doesn’t work at the beginning.</p>
<p>I agree with all the comments above for McIntire vs. Cornell. But, what is your Plan B if you decide to stay at UVa but don’t get into McIntire? You seem confident, but will you then have serious regrets if you don’t get in? You mention that your GPA is higher than the average of McIntire accepted students…have you taken the course mix that is recommended?</p>
<p>My point is that “a bird in hand” might apply here.</p>
<p>Good luck with whatever course you decide to take.</p>
<p>
I think you misinterpreted woosah’s comment. </p>
<p>I believe the comment meant that that would be the question recruiters ask of you coming out of college. In other words, they will be looking for what makes “you” prestigious to them - and it’s not just graduating from a college of a certain name. It’s what you do while there, where you distinguished yourself from your peers, what sets you apart, etc. Either school provides the respected name, but it’s up to you to make the most of it and pick the one where you can accomplish the most.</p>
<p>Stay at UVA. Prettier women, better weather, better environment. You aren’t transferring to Princeton and no matter what anyone tries to tell you, Cornell is not held in as high regard as any of the other ivies. From my large public high school, the quality of student admitted to HYP and Dartmouth (yes, Dartmouth) was much much higher than Cornell, which took students who weren’t even on the honors track. UVA is viewed as an in-a-class-by-itself public institution (on the east coast anyway, UC’s not included), Cornell is the wannabe Ivy for gunners who couldn’t get in anywhere else.</p>
<p>As a transfer, from the transfer point of view, I would stay at UVa. You have great roots at UVa, a great GPA, and sound like you’re gearing up for a great entrance into a top business school. While the thought of going to an Ivy may sound exciting and would land a “dream job”, you’re already well on your way to it where you are. Transferring is tough mentally and academically, plus you have to start all over again with clubs and activities and friends.</p>
<p>You’re well on your way to success. UVa isn’t just another state school in the working world. I’d stick with it and don’t worry that you passed up an Ivy for the public Ivy :)</p>
<p>Oh, and 2 years into your career, no one in the working world cares about your undergrad school anymore, except to harass you about sports :)</p>
<p>I was going to add something but this is MAY 2013 when he asked. So he is still at UVA or now at Cornell.</p>
<p>uh…this is sort of like, “should I order the filet or the lobster tail”. Both schools are great. But I must point out that these types of post are a bit off-putting.</p>