Decisions Help!-- full ride Vanderbilt vs. Columbia?

jamescchen
Sat, 21 Apr 2012 04:15:49 +0000

As an ex-Wall Street quant (Cornell ORIE but spent freshman year at Columbia), I cannot fathom a more useless profession than working for an investment bank. No high school student and few college students even have the remotest idea of what crap goes on within the bowels of a Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley. And no, I am not a bleeding heart liberal.

Now I would also like to add that the OR degree in its purest form is quite useful, even though you have to look hard to find companies that will utilize your education to the fullest. I also happen to think that BME is a good degree, but very cutthroat because all of the premeds who have flocked to the major in recent years. Plus, the supply of BMEs as of late has exceeded the demand by employers. So think carefully before you head down that path.

If it comes down to money to attend Columbia, I would have your family spend no more than $50,000 over four years more than the cost of Vanderbilt. Any more than that, and you’re talking about serious debt. Do as Denzera says and show the FA office the CV letter and see what they can do. Best wishes to you in your college search.