<p>i am an international student (asian) and i need some advice before making final decision. I would appreicate any advice!</p>
<p>i want to get into i-banking or related finance field after college. so i think i'll major in math/computer science and minor in econ or poli sci (in case i might head to law school to become finance/banking related lawyer), although i got into b-school. (i'd prefer curriculum with some easiness to study across several fields)</p>
<p>I love art: graphic design, fashion design, fine art, etc.</p>
<p>I enjoy talking to random ppl and getting to know them. At least once a week, i need some heavy drinking+fun party with some fancy clothes on. But I also need some intimacy with close friends in everyday life. </p>
<p>I am liberal +tolerant with almost anything.</p>
<p>I'm a city gal. Having spent the last 3 yrs of high school in the middle of nowhere, i hate rural environment. (It was a tiny, tiny school. I loved the intimacy but sometimes it felt too small and i dont want to repeat that again. i wasnt allowed to have a car on campus so it was even worse. it was a boarding school with all that strict/harsh rules.)</p>
<p>So it seems like Wash U is a great place except for the prestige--it is not as known as CMU on the east coast where most of the i-banking is going on. What I'm worried about washu is career + internship opportunity. I feel i'll have better college experience at washu than at cmu though.</p>
<p>OP - in case fallenchemist isn’t currently on line, check out his/her many well-thought out posts in these X v. Y discussions. See also the WashU Olin v. NYU Stern post.</p>
<p>palmalk - You are too kind. I will defer to the posts in the other X vs. Y as you state, but only to add:</p>
<p>Basketcircle - in this case that I disagree that Wash U is not so well known as CMU, unless you are talking about high level applied mathematics, especially DOD related stuff (super secret, lots of fun). For business and i-finance, Wash U is known by the people that matter. Anyway, I lived in Pittsburgh 10 years so I know Oakland (where Pitt and CMU are, just east of downtown Pittsburgh) and the surrounding areas well. Pretty urban stuff, mostly. Wash U campus and amenities are MUCH nicer. And if you want the arts too, Wash U all the way. It is a much more balanced school, and as I say on those other posts, you might completely change your mind about your major. That might especially apply to you (and that is a compliment, btw), because you indicate you have wide ranging interests. In my experience, people that say they are interested in areas as diverse as i-finance and fashion design are curious types that love to soak up knowledge in a variety of areas, and Wash U gives you far more flexibility in this regard.</p>
<p>Usually I don’t actually go so far as to say one way or the other about school choices, preferring to just lay out the parameters as I see them. But in this case from what you have said, assuming money is not a factor between the two (either you can afford them both or will go into similar terrible debt at both, LOL), then Wash U sounds more appropriate for you.</p>
<p>While I concur, for the most part, with fallenchemist that WashU is more flexible and well-balanced, I do want to point out that Carnegie Mellon is VERY strong in the arts as well as in math/science/compsci. I want to point out the existence of these interdisciplinary programs in the arts/sciences:
[BHA</a>, BSA, & BCSA Interdisciplinary Degree Programs — Carnegie Mellon University](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/interdisciplinary/index.html]BHA”>BXA Intercollege Degree Programs - BXA Intercollege Degree Programs - Carnegie Mellon University)
That way, if you think that fallenchemist might be right about you wanting to branch out, Carnegie Mellon has the resources.
Also, I think for something like Compsci and math, plus the possibility of doing arts as well, Carnegie Mellon might be the choice for you. I’ve always known Carnegie Mellon to be a great fit for the math/computer people who dabble in the arts (I really don’t know another place that supports both so strongly). Plus, it is much more urban.
Just so you know, this comes from a WashU '13 student, so I’m not biased against WashU, haha.</p>
<p>luked - I was unaware of CMU’s BHA program, thanks very much for pointing that out. Pretty interesting stuff, does make it a bit tougher to decide possibly. I would just caution basketcircle to check out how easy (or hard) it is to do both i-Finance and arts classes, since they appear to be in different schools within the university, and I know at some universities this can be a barrier, especially if they want to double major. If that checks out OK, then I guess basketcircle has two great choices for the 2 things she likes most. Maybe it does just come down to which campus she likes better. I would still say that probably the Wash U students will represent a bit more diversity of interests and that the school probably has stronger departments across a broader range of disciplines, but they are both great academically. As you confirm, Wash U makes it easy to change majors, etc. while I have heard that can be tougher at CMU. I do know the dorms and food are way better at Wash U.</p>
<p>Sorry basketcircle, I am afraid I cannot add anything else. If you have a specific question ask it, and either I, luked or someone else will be able to answer, I am sure.</p>
<p>Hey I am in similar situation as you both international and have been accepted by both schools. I am going to choose WashU. For me it also seems like WashU will provide a better college experience (which to me is really what its all about) and I love the flexibility of the curriculum. I would also be lying if I said I don’t care about prestige or ranking but seriously WashU is like 12 in America…</p>
<p>ysbera - Yeah, that whole prestige/ranking thing is very seductive, but it still sounds like you made your choice for all the right reasons. Congrats!</p>
<p>Thanks, I am sure I made the right decision.
Also I would like to add WashU is a “rising star” so in a couple of years I am sure it will have better resources and a higher reputation. </p>
<p>But I also have a few questions:
How is grad school, especially Ivy league placement? Does WashU prepare you really well (what I have read) and make it quite easy to get in?
Are the alumni spread all over the world, especially in China, HK? Are there a lot of them there if anyone knows. </p>
<h1>1: Excellent!! Truly one of the best in this regard. Of course it mostly depends on you! But I would stack Wash U up against anyone in this regard.</h1>