Wanted to get insight on which school may be preferable if aiming to go into either quant or investment banking potentially. Can cover cost of CMU tuition, but not sure if worth 3x payment. Furthermore, does Penn State have a lot of career opportunities for students? Have visited both schools and like the campus culture and feel of them both. However, deciding if the extra investment for CMU will be worth it, or if it’s better to save that money. Additionally, if I go to Penn State, would it be recommended for me to complete an MBA or if I go to CMU I would not have to.
Totally different schools. Which is preferred?
Career services at Penn State is strong. Have you looked into Nittany Lion Fund? Competitive to get into, but rewarding.
https://www.smeal.psu.edu/nittany-lion-fund
Two great options. I’m biased, but that is a huge delta between schools!
The only reason I would pick Tepper is if you’re guaranteed the Finance major with no secondary admission requirements.
At Penn State you will need a 3.5 GPA (that being said, you need to maintain a 3.4 for Schreyer and most students keep it).
The minor shouldn’t be a differentiator:
Information Systems Management is in Smeal and open to anyone who got a C in Statistics for Management.
Or the more technical minor in ITS
https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/information-sciences-technology/information-sciences-technology-minor/#programrequirementstext
The alumni network is legendary (ranked #1 though doing due diligence review the criteria as I’m sure several universities could claim that 
) and the Career fair for the university as a whole and the one for Smeal in particular are booked a year in advance because companies want to make sure they have a spot.
I’m not sure how you can really justify paying 3 times more for Tepper than Smeal+Schreyer while aiming at being a Finance major … but I guess the main reasons would be
- cmu is a niche school and you really fit in, whereas you really feel uncomfortable around South campus/Schreyer/PSU campus in general
- you aren’t sure you can get the 3.5 needed for Finance
- there’s nothing else your family would find a better investment than sending you to Tepper
Not sure why one would then require an MBA and the other not?
Two great options. I imagine given your goals, CMU might have an edge - it’s well known for quant type roles.
Maybe ask for career outcomes from each - but of course, you’ll make your own outcomes
People speak very highly of Schreyers.
That’s nearly a quarter of a million dollars difference. To me, that’s a lot of risk for a maybe reward, maybe not.
Only your family can decide.
No way I could stomach that difference…but that’s me, I’m not you and your family.
Good luck.
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I think you need to discuss the finances of college with your parents. Some parents are able and willing to fund the more expensive choices (
). Some families won’t shoulder higher coats even if they are able to. This is a conversation you need to have realistically with your parents.
Is the more costly school going to require parent loans? And if som how much in total?
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