UChicago vs. Georgetown (McDonough School of Business)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I am trying to decide between these two schools! Any thoughts?</p>

<p>Georgetown Pros:
- Georgetown is very pre-professional. Considering the cost of Georgetown and UChicago, a strong emphasis on attaining a great job is crucial.
- I would not have to work my way into the business school at Georgetown.
- The neighborhood area surrounding Georgetown is very nice.
- Georgetown seems to have the better name recognition amongst those that I have talked to. I know that well-educated people would probably recognize UChicago as the stronger national university, but it bothers me that many people do not know about UChicago's prestige.
- Georgetown has a strong basketball team, and I would be able to cheer on the Hoyas. </p>

<p>Georgetown Cons:
- It is much farther away from my home. I would only be able to come home during long breaks, and I would have to adjust to life on the East Coast.<br>
- Overall, Georgetown is probably not as strong as UChicago in most aspects. </p>

<p>UChicago Pros:
- I have heard that the business opportunities at UChicago are very strong, even though the university does not have an undergrad business school. I would have the opportunity to take classes at Booth as an undergrad.
- I like the intellectual atmosphere at UChicago. I would enjoy being around people who learn for the sake of learning.
- It much closer to my home. I would be able to stay in the Midwest and occasionally come home on weekends. </p>

<p>UChicago Cons:
- I would have to apply to the Chicago Careers in Business program after my first year. Therefore, I would have to take the risk of not getting into CCIB.
- The south side of Chicago is not the nicest area.
- I may encounter students who are too quirky for my taste.
- UChicago is unfamiliar to the average person. I would like people to recognize my school when I tell them where I go.<br>
- UChicago does not have very strong athletics. After graduating, I would not be able to root for its sports teams. </p>

<p>Overall, I believe that UChicago is the stronger national university. However, if Georgetown is stronger in my desired field of study, it would probably be more logical to go there. Your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I’d definitely have to say UChicago. Even if you don’t get into CCIB, their economics department has such a strong reputation that your job opportunities will still be great. And as far as the “name” of the school, anyone who is informed even a little bit will know that UChicago is at the top of the top tier. Of course I’m a little biased…I just committed to Chicago for next year. </p>

<p>Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk</p>

3

<p>University of Chicago. Hands down.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your responses herewegonow and alindsayd! I recognize that knowledgeable people are aware of UChicago’s prestige. Employers certainly know that it is a top tier institution. I have considered majoring in Economics at UChicago since it is a main strength of the university. Unfortunately, as of right now, I am more interested in finance and accounting than economics.</p>

5

<p>if you want to study finance and accounting because you LIKE it and have a passion for it and intend to make a meaningful career out of finance and accounting specifically, then go to whichever best school that admitted you that has undergrad business major.</p>

<p>if you think you should study finance and accounting at GT than economics at U Chicago because prospective employers would prefer that, it depends on what kind of employers.</p>

<p>Other than mom and pop small companies looking to hire book keepers who can balance the book from the day one or accounting firms which want their new hires to know the basic accounting tricks from the get go, most of so called elite, highly sought after companies are NOT looking for particular finance and accounting skills when they hire freshly minted college grads. What they are looking for are well educated, sharp minds who can learn and adapt and grow. When the economy is roaring, liberal arts graduates too do very well if they come out of top elite colleges even with majors like English and Philosophy. When the economy is bad, probably they will focus on more relevant and practical field like economics, finances, math, etc. </p>

<p>However, undergraduate business majors like finance and accounting are NOT considered such high order qualification with difficult barrier that elite companies are specifically limiting their candidate pools based on the major.</p>

<p>It’s not like STEM major. Obviously, Google won’t hire software engineers who did not major in CS (even there, there are exceptions). However, when it comes to non-engineering hires, Google couldn’t care less whether the kid majored in accounting and finance vs. economics and math. Ditto in all the highly sought after tech firms (my field). Granted, I may have a limited view in my field (high tech) but I worked with a lot of companies in different industries (like media industry, consumer electronics companies, etc), and I get a same impression: qualified minds over specific undergraduate level tricks they learned. </p>

<p>Remember, gaining business major skills is not considered such towering achievement that require license. It’s considered soft skills, not like organic chemistry, math, and computer science, and structural engineering that are hard to get a hang of on the job in a short period of time or with a few courses on the in house training program.</p>

<p>At least that was experience. Others may chime with a different point of view.</p>

6

<p>Dear Prudentstudent:</p>

<p>You are missing something very critical here because the opportunities for finance and accounting at UChicago are not at all what you imagine them to be. First, An economics major or any other major at Chicago can take up to six(6) GRADUATE business courses as a student in the College as second-year or higher. Read here. [Chicago</a> Booth School of Business | The College](<a href=“http://college.uchicago.edu/academics-advising/course-selection-registration/graduate-and-professional-school-courses/chicago-bo]Chicago”>http://college.uchicago.edu/academics-advising/course-selection-registration/graduate-and-professional-school-courses/chicago-bo) However, only 4 will count toward the BA degree, generally as free electives. These are graduate MBA courses so they’ll cover roughly two semester’s worth of undergrad business material in one quarter. You don’t be “accepted” into anything to take these. There just needs to be space after the MBA’s have registered.</p>

<p>Most importantly, do you want to major in economics at Chicago? You have to look at what a major in economics entails instead of listening to others’ characterizations. Read here. [Economics</a> - University of Chicago Catalog](<a href=“http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/economics/]Economics”>Economics < University of Chicago Catalog) What you’ll notice is that you’ll have to take a minimum of seven (7) math, statistics and econometrics courses. You’ll have to take four(4) intermediate micro and macro economic courses plus four(4) econ topical electives. Is that YOU??? How are your math skills? Are you doing or have done AB or BC Calculus? What was your Math Level II score? Why do I ask? Because an econ major is about half way to a math, statistics, physics or possibly a CS major in terms of being technical or quantitative. If there is no way that this is for you, then we’re done here. Unless you want to change your mind to some other arts & sciences major, you should go to the best undergrad business program for you and not for someone else.</p>

<p>Secondly and equally importantly, how do you feel about Chicago common core? It’s more than as many courses as an econ major. Read here. [The</a> Curriculum - University of Chicago Catalog](<a href=“http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/thecurriculum/]The”>The Curriculum < University of Chicago Catalog) Is that for you? If you like some parts but not others, are you going to be able to get through what you don’t like about it? Do you know how deal with whatever comes at you in terms of school assignments? If the common core is a problem, then go elsewhere.</p>

<pre><code>With respect to your considering GU, Washington, DC is place that deals with government and politics. It also deals with those issues on an international level. Does that sounds like business? Further there are a lot of think tanks, ngo’s, consultants to government agencies in addition to the World Bank and the IMF. There are also defense contractors in the surrounding area. It’s not really a big place for business but more for economics and law. I know this because I was born in Washington, DC, grew up in Washington, DC and have lived the past 20 years just six(6) miles away from Georgetown University’s main campus. However, I went to grad school at the University of Chicago a number of years ago.

As far as Georgetown University, it is first and foremost Catholic. You are not going through their program without a dose of theology as a liberal arts requirement. Also GU is big in foreign affairs but their business school is not really big name. Who goes to Georgetown? It has always been the case that DC’s private universities (GU,GWU&AU) draw in students from NY and NJ year after year. What they see is that DC is a good place to live. However, I don’t think that DC is a cheap place to live relative to others. The students at Georgetown are not poor by any means. So I think your reasons for wanting to go to Georgetown are wrong. If you also think DC is a great place, then that’s a valid reason to choose Georgetown among your business undergrad programs acceptances. Basketball is not a valid reason unless you have an athletic scholarship. Forcing yourself to go the University of Chicago because it’s closer home is an even worse reason for a choice of college.
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<p>Lastly, CCIB is nothing other than a program through the career office at the U of C. It’s not part of the curriculum and potentially can be detrimental to your studies. Neither you nor anyone else should be wasting their time as sophomore with expecting to get a job anytime soon. So if you are convinced about studying finance and accounting, just do it. Take 2 or 3 courses in each of accounting and finance during your last three years at UChicago and you’ll know about what an MBA does. Then, you can start to look for a job in your final year with a BA in economics.</p>

<p>You should choose what you like and you think. Do not be concerned with what you think that people will think, because you are inexperienced and only guessing.</p>

7

<p>Thank you for your responses rhg3rd and hyeonjlee!</p>