Hi, I have been admitted to Babson College where I’m planning on concentrating in entrepreneurship and finance, and St. Andrews for economics and management. I am looking to go into the field of business and maybe do something in finance, so where should I go for my undergrad?
Babson College pros: #1 for entrepreneurship
I will get the typical American college life
Really good alumni network
Cons
Is more expensive than St. Andrews
Given the current scenario, the possibility of getting internships and jobs in US may be tough
University of St. Andrews pros
Cheaper than Babson College
May be more well known because of the royal family alumni
Very picturesque
Cons
In a small town
I have heard that it is tough to get internships and part-time jobs in Scotland
St. Andrews is approximately 100000 dollars cheaper than Babson college. I’m not going to take student loads, but my family will be stretching themselves for this. I would want to work in the US if I get a job there. I just want to know which program will be better and open more opportunities for me.
Without more information, my suggestion is to attend St. Andrews due to lower cost & fact that St. Andrews is much better known in India.
Difficult to assess opportunities for a non-citizen.
P.S. Did you apply to any Canadian universities ? Much easier for foreign nationals to stay & work in Canada after graduating from a Canadian university than in the US.
I agree attending St. Andrews is likely the preferable decision due to cost savings and that the time most international students can stay in the US after graduating college is generally severely limited.
My opinions… St. Andrews is the better school (especially for the price). I know 3 students currently attending, and they are all very happy there.
Babson has the reputation of being entrepreneurial (as you note). Finance is a big area…consulting, insurance, banks, investment banks. Are you more focused on any particular aspect (I appreciate it’s early).
Babson is a good school, but it will have no guarantees of landing a job. You should appreciate that even if you get an internship, getting visa sponsorship for a US-based job may be quite difficult. Who knows what the US will look like in 5 years. If it matters to you, there was a lot of noise the past few days about Trump gearing up to run for President again in 2024.
Your list for St Andrews suggests that you don’t know very much about it. It is highly ranked for Economics and has a much more international alumni network than Babson. It is the closest thing to US college experience outside the US. A $100,000 saving can be used in a LOT of ways to improve your prospects more than an UG degree will (start up funds for a new business, or the first year of a Harvard MBA). The biggest ‘pro’ of all is that if you stay in the UK after graduating you can earn permanent residency. The odds on that happening in the US are tinier than tiny for a new business/econ grad.
Your list of ‘cons’ for St Andrews is a mixed bag. You are mistaken about internships- StA’s has a very good internship record. Remember that it’s not just Scotland- there’s the rest of the UK (well, at least for now!), and London firms recruit from there. On the other hand, yes, it is a very tiny town- but if you get antsy you spend a year abroad.
Babson College is tiny. There is nothing within walking distance, except another tiny college. It would be an improvement to be in a small town. You are not going to get the “typical American college experience” there. Go to St Andrews.
??? Yes, tiny Olin (a very small engineering school) is right next door, but (all-female) Wellesley is 3 miles (5km) away. Maybe not within walking distance but within biking distance and there is a shuttle running between the 3 small schools (during non-pandemic years).