<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>Wharton’s reputation in the business world is much stronger than Columbia. But if you’re sure you want to study philosophy or something, then Columbia might be a better fit for you. Personally I’d do Wharton with a minor or dual degree in liberal arts…opens lots of doors</p>
<p>I don’t understand why you applied to Wharton with your career plan in the first place. If you had told Wharton about your true career path, they might not have given you this dilemma. Columbia college will serve your purpose better.</p>
<p>You need to consider the two cities. Philadelphia is a dump and its glory days are long ago, where you are unlikely to get a job after graduation or any interesting internships (although being at Penn will help you get jobs/internships elsewhere). NYC, on the other hand, is one of the greatest cities in the world. Your choice! Jackuk</p>
Not quite. Philly–and especially Center City and its surrounding neighborhoods, including Penn’s University City neighborhood–has been booming in the last couple of decades and continues its renaissance as a cultural mecca. More than 200 sidewalk cafes in Center City, alone; more than 50 professional theatre companies; more Impressionist art than any other city in the world except Paris, with the phenomenal Barnes Foundation about to join the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum on the Parkway; largest urban park system in the world; more outdoor art and murals than just about any other city in the world; more historic sites and neighborhoods than one could ever hope to explore; and much, much more.</p>
<p>New York is obiously a fantastic city, and it’s also just a $10, hour-and-a-half bus ride from the Penn campus. I’ve lived in both NYC and Philadelphia and, as the saying goes, NYC is a great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there (although I did for several years!). For a college student–and especially from the vantage point of the relatively large, self-contained Penn campus–Philadelphia is a much more approachable, manageable, and sane place to be. And NYC is best saved for occasional weekend breaks from the abundant cornucopia that the Penn campus and Philly have to offer. In my humble opinion. :)</p>
<p>JackUK’s point is a moot one. Wharton probably sends a higher percentage of grads on to jobs in NYC than Columbia does. Often it feels like Wharton is sending everyone to New York, whereas plenty of Columbia students leave the city for grad school or non-finance jobs.</p>
<p>Also, while Wharton undergrad may not send as many students directly to law school as it used to, that’s only because of the incredible job opportunities Wharton undergrads generally have these days. 30 or so years ago, before the major booms in IB and consulting, about a third of Wharton undergrads would go directly to law school (including yours truly ;)), many to top law schools. Wharton was–and still is–excellent preparation for law school and a legal career, especially one focused on business or corporate law. And of course, Wharton undergrads take about 40% of their courses in liberal arts, so a pre-law student doesn’t have to foresake liberal arts in Wharton Undergrad. Indeed, a significant number of Wharton undergrads pursue dual undergraduate degrees from both Wharton and Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences.</p>