<p>Hello, I was accepted into early action UChicago and regular decision Columbia SEAS for undeclared engineering, and I am trying to decide between the two schools. UChicago is offering me 13k more in aid than Columbia, which I'd be paying almost full tuition for. I visited UChicago and loved the campus, but it seemed like the students were perennially stressed and focused solely on academics. The two schools are similar in terms of being located in big cities, with Core curriculums, and similar rankings. Any advice? Do Columbia graduates have a greater chance of employment or grad school acceptance than UChic grads?</p>
<p>It’s interesting you’re SEAS Columbia and UChicago, as Chicago doesn’t really have an engineering school. You seem to understand the basic similarities. I’ll comment a little more on the differences. </p>
<p>I think UChicago definitely has a more academic vibe, and this translates itself to many aspects both positive and negative, such as the “where fun comes to die” impression UChi always gives off. I can’t speak much for Chicago but Columbia generally has a larger preprofessional student body which makes it a little less academically focused (and consequently a little less “hardcore”). On this point though I think as an individual both schools can be what you make of it; at least according to grade inflation sites it seems like Uchicago and Columbia have similarly curved classes, and there are definitely a lot of Columbia majors (especially in SEAS) that get pretty difficult. I think you can expect Columbia to offer an equally academically rigorous atmosphere if you choose so, and similarly I think you can have fun at Chicago and not study all day.</p>
<p>The “located in big cities” comparison is a bit off. UChicago is relatively far from Chicago (40mins by public transit I think?), while Columbia is right in Manhattan. I would definitely give Columbia the edge if you like urban environments. I also hear the neighborhood around Chicago can be a bit unsafe, although to be fair Morningside can be similarly sketchy to the east. At least from anecdotal evidence from my UChi friends, it doesn’t seem like the city is nearly as big a part of their lives as Columbia students on average.</p>
<p>Not sure about Uchicago core but I’m willing to bet Columbia’s is more extensive. I do hear they’re similar and originated in similar fashions. </p>
<p>I could give you more pointed information if you talked about what you were interested in doing with your degree/after graduation. “Greater chance of employment or grad school” is really hard to define, and I doubt they’re vastly different. It’s definitely true that some majors/careers would favor either school, and this depends on your interests of course. </p>
<p>I’m also surprised Columbia has worse aid than Chicago…</p>
<p>I have visited Chicago last month and drove around a bit. UChicago is very close to downtown in driving terms (probably 10 minutes tops).</p>
<p>If you attend SEAS you are definitely be doing something different than you might get to do in Chicago unless you are aiming for CS at both places. So what are your planned majors at these schools? </p>
<p>50k is a good chunk of money, especially if you need to borrow to attend.</p>
<p>I am still undecided, to an extent, as to what I want to study. I applied as undeclared engineering in SEAS since I enjoy science and math, and am interested in either Environmental Engineering or Financial Engineering at Columbia. Two very different subjects, I know.</p>
<p>At Chicago, I am similarly considering Chemistry/Environmental Studies or Econ. I plan to work for a few years after graduation, then go to law school. I am not interested in a technical engineering education, like MIT or Cal Tech, but I do want to study science/something that has reasonable application in the “real world.”</p>
<p>@texaspg Why would it matter how close anything in Chicago or NY would be by car? It’s hard to imagine that a college freshman would have a car at Columbia or University of Chicago, or that they would travel by cab.</p>
<p>As a ED acceptee, I never used this, but I think that the Columbia financial aid office will match financial aid packages at peer school (as long as the aid granted is based on need). Besides financial aid, I would say that your decision should be based on fit as you cannot go wrong with either school. </p>
<p>I would say if you’re interested in economics, finance, and the academic side of all that (research, grad school etc.) Columbia and Chicago are both great. Chicago is famous for their graduate level econ programs so I would give them the edge on that respect. However, you seem to be interested in working (more practical applications of econ/finance), and if that’s the case finance/econ jobs Columbia wins at recruiting hands down IMO. Not to say Chicago isn’t good, but Columbia being in NYC and having a very pre-professional vibe in certain departments (IEOR/FE/EMS) really helps students excel at recruiting, on top of a huge east coast finance alumni network.</p>
<p>I know very little about chemistry/environmental studies at either school.</p>