Hi guys, I’m having trouble deciding on where to go to college next year. I would like to go into business and consulting and care a lot about career placement. I also care about diversity in a community and having a good work-life balance. Below are my options
University of Richmond
-selected as a Richmond Scholar (full ride scholarship including food and housing)
-personalized faculty mentors just for scholars
-priority housing and course registration
-solid business programs
-not diverse at all (almost 80% white)
-not sure how good recruiting at Richmond is
-have hard from multiple people that culture is cliquey
University of Virginia
-in state tuition
-AMAZING business program but have to apply later on which is stressful
-great recruiting on the East Coast
-work hard play hard culture
-concerned that it is too big and I will get lost
-culture seems a little to Greek-life heavy for me
-lack of geographic diversity
Claremont McKenna College
-very focused on career placement
-one of the best schools for top mba placements
-party culture without Greek life
-Access to the other 5cs so all the benefits of a small and big school together
-no one seems to know what it is on the east coast?
-in California so very far from home
Let me know what y’all think. I am so grateful for my options!!
Easy elimination here -Claremont McKenna - you’re not getting an MBA and you want to study business. Btw they don’t have an MBA - but they are affiliated with Drucker, which is Claremont’s MBA. The fact that they’d let you do it right from undergrad is reason to run. A good MBA comes after you’ve worked a few years. If you want to study Econ, great school. But for business - hmmmm - no.
Honestly, UR is the easy answer for me - enrichment and free. What could your parents do with that money ? Can it help you later ? Business dominates there.
UVA has cost and you got right that you may not get into business.
While UR might not tick your diversity box, you can seek out students through clubs and study groups. And as UVA feels too big for you, you avoid that.
Placement at UR is amongst the tops in the country.
Thanks for the reply! In regards to CMC, that’s true that I do want to study business and not economics. I wanted to clarify that cmc isn’t offering me an mba right after graduation. Grads from cmc often go to amazing mba programs after a few years working. According to data from College Transitions, it is the third best school in the nation for MBA placement. Most popular school for grads is Stanford business.
hmmmm - grads from every school go to amazing MBA programs after working a few years. Your undergrad is not relevant. Your work experience and GMAT are.
You have selection bias. You are obviously very talented given the three offers you just presented. So you’re very likely to do well in life and get a great job. That won’t matter if you go to Richmond or Radford - so both would get you to the same MBA.
UVA, by example, has 207 schools represented in its class. Others, like Harvard and Penn show for law, but not business - but you can be assured they come from everywhere. But yes, from top flight schools because they’re attracting top flight kids like you - and that’s who goes to top schools to begin wtih.
Stanford shows this Educational InstitutionsThe MBA Class of 2023 previously attended 78 U.S. institutions and 97 non-US institutions.
In the end, you should study what you want. No one can predict the future but to study something you don’t want makes non sense. And you didn’t give a price at Claremont McKenna…but…again, you have free and you have in state. That’s a win.
Betting on the unknown - could very well not work out well.
I think given your desire for business and for smaller - Richmond gives you everything - and you can seek out the diverse aspects. And if you decide on an MBA later, it won’t be limiting in any way.
I have family members who are a current Richmond sophomore business student and two alums. They all really enjoyed their experiences at UR and the alums got good jobs. The sophomore enjoyed the Endeavor Program freshman year. He will do a study abroad, which should bring some diverse cultural experiences. Good luck with your decision!
Parent here- current 5C kid and incoming Richmond kid.
With Claremont McKenna, while no Greek life, it doesn’t mean there isn’t Greek culture. CMC is known to be the broiest of the 5C’s. Lots of pong (and fun and parties) but in my kids opinion, can feel cliquey and athlete driven. That being said, my kid has gone to some gatherings, has a blast and the campus wide parties are themed and also great. The 5C set-up is really special and serves students well. Please note my kid is NOT at CMC and there is a mostly positive healthy dose of inter-campus rivalry among the colleges.
I will also add personal impressions that CMC-ers are often dressed in suits for class, mock interviews or meetings. IMO, I’d like kids to be kids for awhile and as long as you’re going for a small liberal arts- focus on thinking and having your mind blown with knowledge. Why the (over) focus on what’s next? Your job will
come… enjoy being a student while you can.
Richmond seems to strike a balance. Liberal arts focus but then amazing internships and increases the pre-professional feel as you get closer to graduation.
There is also a “best run colleges” rating that is worth mentioning. Richmond is #3. That says to me that the students feel like things are organized, issues get resolved and communication is top notch. I don’t know what CMC rating is, but in these times of cuts and upheavals and all the things- that matters.
I hope you enjoy the next chapter of life. You have absolutely stellar choices here and you can’t go wrong. Congratulations!
Three great options. Tough to turn down CMC as it is truly an exceptional school with respect to career placement & success. However, you need to be aware of the hard-partying bro culture that involves more than just alcohol. If you fit in and the school is affordable without any student loans or family hardship, then CMC should be given serious consideration.
If COA/monetary funds are of any concern at all, then U Richmond is the easy choice.
U Virginia places well in your desired professions..