I am an international student from Ukraine, currently attending a HS in Germany. I recently got accepted to both Gettysburg and Lafayette colleges in the US. I’ve always wanted to study in the US because of the approach to learning - it’s completely different from the European.
I plan to major in Finance/MathEcon and go to a really well-known grad school (like Harvard or UPenn) afterwards. The question is, graduating from which of these undergrad schools will give me the most chances? The third option I have is a really well-known uni in Germany (like FreieUni Berlin which is ranked #66 worldwide or LMU which is ranked #41 worldwide and #2 in Germany). I have to note that it is much cheaper to study in Europe than in it is in the US, and the undergrad program only lasts for 3 years. However, as I mentioned before, the education here is much less appealing to me than the US one (profs don’t care about you in Germany, no boarding, no tight-knit community, little to no activities, no help with internship search and no alumni network).
Does anyone know, which school will give better education in the chosen disciplines and chances of going to a good grad school? Is it worth paying around 30K a year for a US school? And what are the chances of getting employed in the US afterwards for internationals? Is it common that they return back home?
With respect to economics specifically, Lafayette places well when considered by faculty scholarship in the field:
If one is cheaper than the other, pick that one as both will offer a solid education.
If you can afford Lafayette as easily as Gettysburg, then Lafayette would be my choice because it’s well known for its quantitative courses, which will serve you well for the grad school level.
That being said, doing very well academically (+ research+community engagement) will be by far more important than your college’s name.
Did you receive an offer from the wait list at one of these schools?
You should expect no more than the OPT period (3 years for a STEM degree - which would require a decent amount of quants in your degree, otherwise 1 year) assuming you can find an employer) and plan to return home after that. You may get lucky and get an employer to sponsor you a work visa after that, but it’s not something to rely on. (And I wouldn’t be surprised at changes to work authorization legislation in the next few years that make it harder for graduated students to stay and work in the US.)
yes, I got off the Lafayette’s waitlist, but I was admitted right off to Gettysburg
To help the community understand your situation, did you enroll at Gettysburg by May 1 or get an extension? When do you have to give Lafayette your decision about the waitlist acceptance?
These are both very good schools academically and should prepare you for grad school. While both are respected in the US, I don’t expect either provides an advantage with international recognition/reputation.
Are they both affordable?
I have degrees from a US liberal arts college and a large German uni, so I know both systems well. The differences are stark and I understand your preference for the smaller US colleges. Please follow current US politics closely. If your plan is to come to the US to study and stay here to work, that is a plan that I would currently not recommend. It is too uncertain in the near future.
If your plan is to return to Germany after college, neither Lafayette nor Gettysburg will be a known entity there. FU Berlin and especially LMU however have a great reputation.
If you want a smaller German experience very well known for business/finance, look into WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management.
Do you mean grad school in the US? If so, your chances are based mostly on getting excellent grades, rather than on the name of the school you attend for undergrad. Both of these schools will give you the opportunity for an excellent education.
It really depends. It is a personal decision, and it depends on what your family can afford. Is this affordable for you family?
Also keep in mind that if you do want to attend grad school in the US, that this can be very expensive, so it is good to save some money now.
You can get a temporary visa to work after graduation, but an employer will need to sponsor you. Sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not. The thing is, however, that the political situation has changed in the US in ways that directly affect things like immigration, accessibility of visas, economic considerations for employers, etc. It is changing almost daily, so there is no way to predict what the situation will be like when you graduate in four years. For this reason, I would NOT assume that you will be able to stay and work. Maybe you will. But do not assume that you will.
I would leave aside the idea of staying or working in the US for now since mentioning it at your visa interview is automatic grounds for application dismissal (your goal is to study: focus on studying --whatever comes next… isn’t part of the student visa process.) you’ll be required to provide your social media handle(s) and that content too can be used against you.
Are both affordable?
Both will prepare you well for grad school, with a bit of a nudge for Lafayette.
You can attend either one and either enter a Master’s degree in Germany or in the US depending on what’s best for you at that point. FUBerlin will still be there in 4 years but attending Lafayette or Gettysburg is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Please do A LOT of reading about US politics right now. If you don’t go to college in Germany, can you return there? I wish you the best of luck whatever your decision. But please be careful in the US to stay away from protests and other political actions while in college.
I think Lafayette is higher rated -but both US schools should provide a good education. Getting into Harvard or Penn for grad school isn’t an easy option -so focus on the undergrad experience and what that might or might not provide.