<p>Hi, I have been accepted into Wharton and Columbia as a transfer student. I am having the hardest time deciding which school to attend. I would appreciate any advice you guys can give me.</p>
<p>My original plan was to attend law school right after college and become a lawyer (probably a corporate lawyer- m&a, etc.) It is my understanding that a liberal arts education is key to being successful in law school (logical thinking, vast amounts of reading, papers, etc.) I feel that Columbia College is a better fit for a liberal arts education than Wharton. I am afraid that I will not be able to delve into many different areas of studies at Wharton, given its rigorous business-oriented curriculum. On the other hand, Wharton is the #1 business school, an opportunity of a lifetime. An education at Wharton will definitely set me up for success in many areas, as business is integrated in virtually any job market. But I haven't heard of many Wharton grads attending law school (don't they usually get jobs right after college at investment banking or consulting firms and perhaps go through MBA later on?)</p>
<p>My main interests are: political science, government, philosophy, but I am also not unattracted to business (Finance, economics, etc.) In the discipline of business, I am especially interested in management. </p>
<p>Please help me! Thank you!! Feel free to post any questions that I can answer.</p>
<p>I think you can’t go wrong with either. I will offer two thoughts against Columbia here, and then why you should ignore both.</p>
<p>A) If you are results oriented and transferred because you want a better job than your previous school, then I think Wharton is the more obvious play. You’ll do well there.</p>
<p>B) You will have complete all of Columbia’s core. Which for a transfer student may seem like taking a step back, it is the most obvious reason not to attend Columbia as a transfer student (I don’t buy it 100%, but just restating).</p>
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<p>I still think though Columbia/NYC is the better experience. Nothing against the technical expertise of a place like Wharton nor the better recruiting (indeed those are reasons many students in your position might choose Wharton), but Columbia is all about exploration. It is a 24/7 fest in which you can shift and negotiate between the most academic and erudite of subjects to the most gritty and realistic of scenarios. It will suit your desire for a liberal arts experience.</p>
<p>Also, as far as I am aware, Wharton itself doesn’t take that many transfers (though Penn proper does). Columbia will give you a large transfer class with which to bond, feel comfortable with and jump off and make friends. In general, I’d say, Columbia is easily on the more chill/relaxed Ivies; far less competitive in atmosphere than HYP or Wharton, and with a student culture more similar to the rest of Penn and Brown.</p>
<p>In that regard you can oscillate and create the experience you want without expectations, and with the full ability to maintain a high gpa. If you’re transferring in, I’m sure your gpa is good, Columbia’s grade inflation will keep it up and will make applying to a top tier law school easier.</p>
<p>If you are RELATIVELY SURE that you will actually attend law school right after graduation–you don’t think there’s much possibility of your mind changing–then I advise you to choose Columbia over Wharton. And I say this as someone with no horse in this race (I do not attend either school).</p>
<p>The reason: GPA and LSAT are essentially everything in law school admissions. Soft factors (extracurriculars, etc.) count somewhat, but nowhere nearly as much as in top undergrad admissions.</p>
<p>Regardless of how intelligent or hard-working you are, you are very likely to end up with a lower GPA from Wharton compared to Columbia, due to the Wharton curve. Thus handicapping you for law school admissions.</p>
<p>Just something to consider.</p>
<p>On the other hand, both schools will probably take you where you want to go in the end. So my final advice to you is to pick more on fit than anything. Which social scene appeals to you more, and of course, the obvious: would you rather study business or liberal arts? If you don’t actually have a strong interest in business, I wouldn’t recommend sacrificing your undergraduate years studying it when you have so many other options available.</p>