<p>If you want to do anything in Finance / End up on the Street then Stern. I cannot give you an unbiased answer, but I’ll highlight some points and to get more info you can read some of my other posts: </p>
<p>Job Opps/Internships/Networking
There are awesome opportunities to get into finance from Columbia (i.e. Most of the BBs will also recruit at Columbia like they do at Stern). However, Stern gets tons and tons of smaller firms that won’t go to Columbia (boutiques & MMs). Also b/c Stern is known for its finance program there are many areas within finance you can end up in: AM, ER, S&T, Capital Markets, & of course IB. Alternatively people also end up on the buyside but that is much harder to do and only a handful of top students usually get these offers (Hedge Funds more so than PE). But b/c you are in NYC and provided that you can land a great sell-side internship your junior or sophomore year it is very possible to leverage that into buy-side offer if you would like. </p>
<p>Academics
While business school itself is not regarded as a very tough, the Stern Curve does however make things difficult. The curve allows for 35% (A, A-) and while you may think that shouldn’t be too hard to achieve you have to keep in mind that the students that come to Stern are some of the smartest, most brilliant people you will ever meet. About half of the students here have 2300+ stats and the demographic breakdown is 60-70% (Asian & Indian). With that said, a major misconception is that b/c of the competition Stern is a cutthroat environment but that is not the case. All of your classmates will just set the bar higher, and that is something you have to live up to. You will be an environment that will stretch your capacity and force you demand the best from yourself.</p>
<p>Also if you are passionate about other subjects Stern allows you to easily double major either within Stern or one of the many schools outside of Stern. </p>
<p>Travel
NYU and Stern (67% of students go abroad at least once) will offer you the best programs out of any college to travel abroad. NYU has the undisputed best study abroad program out of any college as evidenced by the numerous students outside of NYU who apply to NYU’s programs over their own school’s programs. By my senior year I will have gone abroad for courses with travel components, semester abroad, etc. 4-5 times. The fact that Stern not only allows and encourages you to do it but provides you with an all expense paid trip abroad your junior year to one of 3 locations(Asia, Europe, or South America) is unreal and amazing. NYU is devoted to making sure that you can truly experience a global education. </p>
<p>If you are set on finance - believe me this is probably one of the best schools you can choose to attend, and it is unreal the caliber of students you will meet here. If you have any additional questions feel free to ask/PM me.</p>