Hi everyone,
I intend to study Math and Economics at undergraduate and work for a bog consulting firm after graduation ( Bain, McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group).
If I have two options: full ride at W&L or pay roughly 10k/year for Columbia in NYC, which one is more suitable for me?
Thanks!
They are VERY different atmospheres. W&L is a small LAC located in a quant rural town. Columbia is a large school is in the middle of Manhattan. Columbia will be more diverse and left-leaning. W&L more preppy, traditional and conservative. You can get a top-notch education at both.
W&L has great placement, but Columbia has NYC.
Hard to beat Columbia at just $10k/year, honestly, esp for future consulting opportunities.
OP, does the 10k include cost of living (Dorm, fees, etc). If so, that’s a VERY good deal. Being in NYC may provide better opportunities to connect and network with management consulting firms.
@WildestDream Yes, 10k include cost of living.
I don’t think you can make an incorrect decision here:
Columbia has the overall “name” advantage and its NYC location, as others have noted, is great for banking/finance opportunities.
W&L at $40k cheaper is also a nice option.
Both are very strong academically, of course.
It’s up to you to decide whether the $40k saved at W&L is worth giving up the great NYC job pipeline and name/prestige of Columbia. (like I said, I don’t think there’s a wrong decision here. you just have to decide which offers more of what you want)
Your life at a big consulting firm after graduation, if you end up in that field, is going to be arduous. Lots of late nights and not much time for yourself or your loved ones. Go to the college where you can enjoy yourself for 4 years. If living in NYC and enjoying all the big city life has to offer is your idea of 4 years that some day you will look back upon as some of the best days in your life, then go to Columbia. If you like the idea of a small, friendly campus where the weather is gorgeous and there are lots of outdoor recreational activities, then go to W&L. Congrats either way on earning 2 wonderful options.
Hard to imagine two different schools.
As I understand it, W&L is a very good school with great placement for business in general, but it is not a “target” for the consulting/investment banking niches in the same way that Columbia is.
Both will be excellent and you can’t go wrong, but Columbia will likely be stronger for consulting opportunities. The recruiting machine and placement at Columbia is really, really good.
Haven’t you posted that you are currently a student at Earlham? Without sufficient background information, your question here may be a difficult one on which to comment, @nevermind19xx.
@merc81 This is an account with multiple users
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Not allowed; it confuses the users that are trying to help. One person per account. Closing thread.