<p>I'm currently a freshman (sophomore this coming fall) at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. I applied as a transfer this spring to NYU Stern and was accepted. Now, I don't know what to do. If I had the acceptance a few months ago, I would have gladly taken the Stern acceptance, but now I am having second thoughts.</p>
<p>Here are pros for each school:</p>
<p>UT Austin McCombs
PROS:
- I know the system very well.
- No lost credits from transferring
- Accepts more AP scores
- Much easier academic experience
- In the Business Honors Program (BHP)
- WILL GRADUATE WITHOUT DEBT
- EVERYTHING IS CHEAPER
- Austin has amazing weather for running (avid runner)
- Grading isn't as "stern" as Stern
- Will have college campus experience
- Have made many good friends
- Very involved and won't have to give up everything I've started here/leadership positions
- Wont have to leave girlfriend
- Will not have to start all over with learning everything</p>
<p>CONS:
- Not very diverse, mostly Texans
- Better known for accounting whereas I want to do finance
- Most banking/consulting/PE/finance related careers are confined to the Southwest (Houston, Dallas) although a few make it to the Northeast
- Definitely not as prestigious as Stern; no name recognition
- May feel regret if I choose to stay
- Harder to find NYC banking/consulting/PE internships
- Close to parents lacking a sense of independence</p>
<p>NYU Stern
PROS:
- NYC (enough said)
- Close to Wall Street, investment banks, big consulting firms
- Fast paced life style
- Will definitely learn a lot from the NYC lifestyle
- Eventually I want to end up in NYC doing finance anyways
- A lot more things to do in NYC
- VERY DIVERSE
- Much easier to get a banking job
- Great start for a career
- Awesome nightlife
- Better finance program
- More motivated classmates who share similar ambitions</p>
<p>CONS:
- VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE - 150,000 for my 3 remaining years (will need a loan because of no financial aid)
- Lacks a sense of community and no real campus (buildings are scattered)
- Cut throat peers
- Much more competitive to get an A at Stern because of the curve
- May still get to NYC/Wall Street with McCombs (good chance)
- Will have to start over with learning the system/bureaucracy/campus
- Many credits will not transfer/count towards degree
- May have to take more classes to compensate
- May have a lower GPA because of the Stern Curve
- Lower GPA will decrease graduate admissions chances
- Not sure if its worth the cost
- Give up friends at McCombs
- Give up girlfriend at McCombs</p>
<p>What do you guys think? Is NYU worth it? Does everyone like Stern?</p>
<p>My younger sister went to McCombs Honors Business program and she loved it. She went into finance and now works for a big consulting firm. Before graduating from UT she had about 6 or 7 different job offers ranging from 50K to 75K.</p>
<p>She was involved with the multicultural center there because we are people of color that come from white-ville and she needed to see diversity. Surprisingly, she found it without a problem.</p>
<p>That said, if I were you, I’d go to NYU because I’m an adventurer and I always seek to go somewhere and try something new.</p>
<p>My point is, basically, McCombs is a pretty good business school so let your personality do the leading in your decision making. If you’re a bit of a risk-taker and daredevil go with NYU. If you’re a little more conservative and careful go with UT. Either way, you’re going to get a good education.</p>
<p>im also trying to transfer out of mccombs this year. I too would be leaving everything i accomplished here, not to mention most of my closest friends are here in austin. for me, it is worth giving up everything to attend this university.</p>
<p>if money/debt doesn’t matter, then ask yourself if you are ready to sacrifice all the great things you have now for a future that potentially could be worse than what you have now; the grass may not be so green at stern.</p>
<p>either way you can’t go wrong with mccombs (esp. BHP) or stern. both will give you great opportunities.</p>
<p>Tough call on this one but NYU Stern in my opinion because of i-banking oppurtunites and it’s freaking Wall Street.</p>
<p>If you choose NYU Stern you have an extremely high chance in getting into i-banking becuase of Wall Street is nearby. The university also has a great study abroad program, professors are incredble, both undergraduate and graduate programs for Stern are great, and it’s in New York. I know I’ve said all this stuff in another thread but NYU Stern is a dream school.</p>
<p>If you choose UT McCombs you get a highly ranked business school like NYU, tough to get into Wall Street and also oppurtunities outside Texas, lacks international diversity, alumni recruiting is incredible, school pride is extremely up there unlike NYU, and is cheap if your a Texas resident.</p>
<p>I really want to go visit. I think if I had the opportunity to visit, everything would be much clearer to me. Unfortunately, I have a 3-month internship abroad for which I leave in a few days for. And because of it, there would be no way visiting.</p>
<p>I never imagined acceptances would bring such grief. I seriously have no idea what to do at this point. I have a little less than 3 weeks to decide my future. God. This is tough.</p>
<p>Hm, for me, I would stay. Some people may think of not going as being too scared to leave your comfort zone, but UT Austin is a very respectable school. Personally, I would not go to NYU.</p>
<p>You know you’d essentially be going to a lesser ranked business program just to be $150k or so in debt? McCombs is ranked 10th, and Stern is ranked 15th in the U.S. this year. Congratulations on being accepted into Stern, but stay at McCombs. Everything you mentioned spells regret by transferring to NYU anyway.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this year’s rankings are as accurate as it has been in the past. I wouldn’t use rankings as a determining factor as they fluctuate annually. But yeah, it kind of sucks that Stern dropped 10 spots.</p>
<p>I want to take risk and be adventurous. Live my life. Follow my career dreams. But I just don’t know if Stern is worth it. The opportunity cost of going to Stern is so high… At this point, McCombs and Stern, for me, are equal.</p>
<p>But if I stay at McCombs, it will be harder to break into Wall Street.</p>