<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I’m going to be a college freshman next fall and at this point I’m torn between two schools: Columbia and Yale. I would very much (I think…) like to go into Investment Banking for two years (at least) after college just to experience it and see if I would be able to handle the pressure-cooker environment. Given that neither Columbia nor Yale has a Business program, but that Yale is slightly more “prestigious”, do Yale undergrads have an advantage, however marginal, over Columbian in the recruiting process? </p>
<p>For those that have experience in the IB world, how are these two schools viewed on Wall Street in comparison to one another. I know it’s really early to be considering some of this stuff, but more information never hurt. Thanks!!</p>
<p>I don’t work on Wall St but have friends from both schools (MBA). They both have a sizable alum base on Wall St. But the sheer size of its MBA program gives the Columbia the definitive edge. You may find Columbia’s location excellent for scoring internship opportunities which will be very helpful to secure full time positions later.</p>
<p>Yale and Columbia offer quite different undergrad experience so you should really pick the one that works best for you.</p>
<p>I’d say Columbia also, home-court advantage. Besides, I think Columbia business school has been around a lot longer than Yale’s has.</p>
<p>Does Columbia’s prestigious MBA program affect undergrad placement as well though?</p>
<p>For undergrad, go to Yale.</p>
<p>For undergrad, go to Columbia.</p>
<p>Yale proudly proclaims on their website that they’re only an hour and a half away from new york city.</p>
<p>
Generally no because MBAs and BS/BAs are entering the firms at different level. However, you should really speak to career services @ Columbia to get a better sense. For that matter, speak to Yale’s too.</p>
<p>Bottom line, both schools (and many others) will get you to an IB firm (assuming you are highly competitive compared to your peers). So, go with the environment where you can do very well, e.g. big city vs. small city etc.</p>
<p>I think you should go to Columbia, although it really doesn’t matter because both are great schools. </p>
<p>First of all, the obvious reason is for ibanking, there are a ton of recruiters who happily go to the career center and recruit from Columbia alone. i’m talking about a lot of boutique firms, and hedge funds that a relocated in NYC/NJ, or surrounding areas, who make the short trip uptown to recruit. These places only need 4-5 interns per summer, so Columbia is the ideal place to recruit.</p>
<p>In addition, I think Columbia is more “focused” on investment banking then almost any other school, except for Wharton. The reason is that a ton of people want to go into investment banking, and the school and career center both acknowledge that. There are many ibank events held, alumni career panels, student discussion groups specifically focusing on investment banking.</p>
<p>I also would argue that it’s easier to do “well” at Columbia than Yale. Columbia inflates grades, and the core classes are not too difficult. It’s not uncommon for people to have 3.8-3.9 GPAs around, and that helps during recruiting.</p>
<p>Bipolar I find it hilarious you mention hedge funds in NY and NJ while neglecting Greenwich, CT the hedge fund capital of the world.</p>
<p>Yale undergrad is probably better, but I’d head to Columbia because of its value-investing ties.</p>
<p>Well, yes, Greenwich is the hedge fund capital of the world, but there are many, many, more smaller alternative investment firms in NYC than anywhere else…</p>
<p>Undergrad is a no-brainer. Go to YALE. It will be a better environment and Yale gets just as much IB and Consulting recruitment, if not more than Columbia. Sorry to steal your thread but I have a question of my own:</p>
<p>What school is better for IB and consulting Conell Engineering or Columbia Engineering?. I am planning on majoring in Industrial engineering or operations research.</p>
<p>Haha no im not violating ED. But transfers are always possible. And I dont wanna spiel my life story on here but basically- i get tuition exemption at Columbia-- so for pragmatic reasons I applied and was thankfully accepted there. But I think my #1 love was yale so kinda hindsight/transfer later on if i really dislike COlumbia which i dont forsee happening.</p>
<p>good detective work BDM</p>
<p>truazn8948532,</p>
<p>I am surprised you didn’t say that Wharton is your 1st choice… </p>
<p>Just wondering why would you be interested in transferring to Yale? For someone with investment banking interests, NY City is a far better place. If you stay with Columbia, you could easily gain some excellent internships in one of the Wallstreet banking companies during the Summer.</p>
<p>Considering your interest in investment banking, I am inclined to think that NY City is a far better place than New Haven.</p>
<p>I heard Yalies have a strong network, giving preference to their own, at Goldman…</p>
<p>Well! I think all Ivy Grads create an excellent network.</p>
<p>I have 3 friends each with a Son who has graduated from UPenn with Bachelors degrees in Business and got in at Goldman following graduation. And I know of one who graduated from a non-Ivy, from Univ of Delware (with no benefit of Ivy network but a previous grad of IIT) and got in at Goldman also.</p>
<p>This is pretty much a no-brainer. Location really does not make a difference in terms of securing internships. If you want to break into banking, the general path is through securing a summer analyst role the summer after your junior year and getting a full time offer at the end of summer. For summer analysts, all the firms go to the very big names, namely Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and of course Wharton. </p>
<p>Location will not give you much of an advantage as on-campus recruiting occurs at most schools they really care about (they will come to you). </p>
<p>Those schools named above place very well into the financial services industry in general just because they have a certain prestige factor. Not to say Columbia is not prestigious, but I would say a school like Yale has more than just a slight edge on prestige.</p>
<p>That being said, there’s more to consider than just Investment Banking as if you’re trying to choose a college you definitely do not want to have a choice boil down to what career you think you might pursue four years from now. Furthermore, as other people have said, the choice between Columbia and Yale will not make a big difference in terms of what your chances are of breaking into the industry. They both place well. So go with the stronger overall experience and a school that will be respected in most fields- I would give the advantage to Yale again. </p>
<p>(note: I am not a Yale alumn).</p>
<p>location does matter…think about it.</p>
<p>Prestige/Alumni Network>>>Location</p>