Columbia vs MIT Sloan

Question

Assuming you get accepted into both, which one would you choose? Just curious, for my own personal reasons. 

Thanks

riverripper · Answer

Personally I would say MIT. I want to go into something where the brand name would be a lot stronger. I like the location a lot more (Boston vs NY) for a lot of reasons: cost of living, family and friends, Red Sox, Cambridge vs Harlem. I think if I wanted finance and to work in NY post grad I would go with Columbia. But since I want GM in a field where engineers dominate a lot of the ranks MIT just has a much better sound to people like that. 

Sloan is a pretty small school and if you told people you got an MBA from Sloan few people outside of areas where MBAs are common would have a clue. Tell people you went to MIT and everyone will ask what kind of engineering degree you got. Tell people you went to Columbia Business School and that immediately has a draw to it.

If you want something in IB or MC they are pretty much on Par though...hope one gives you money and makes the decision for you.

sangoman · Answer

MIT for me - again this is a personal choice. For my interests (high technology meeting venture capital) the only school that trumps MIT is Stanford (an maybe just maybe HBS cause of its ultra strong VC links).

Besides Boston is so much nicer than NY

bsd_lover · Answer

Columbia all the way. New York as a location is sensational for a business degree (even more so if your aims are finance). Also Columbia is ivy league (for whatever that's worth)

Rubashov1 · Answer

MIT, hands down.

I don't want to do finance (really seems like Columbia's strong point), I work in biotech (MIT obviously connected in this field) and want to continue living in Cambridge.

mediamindy · Answer

Columbia for the Alumni connections... so you can get a job after school

collegesenior · Answer

MIT, any day.

darren1010 · Answer

can I take each year in each school?

Hjort · Answer

As usual, this depends on your goals and what type of environment you prefer. MIT offers a more intimate experience in a smaller city but there is also the risk of being typecast as a "tech" (much might be a good thing, depending on your field).

djdan · Answer

The schools in my opinion are widely different. One's true focus does not really overlap the other's. I guess for me, I want to have a "great time" in school along with my studies, and I guess that tips it toward Columbia. I can't find any faults with studying and living in NYC for at least two years, before I'm 30 nonetheless. I like MIT's brand however, and when I visited the school, it was quite charming. I'm really torn here.

bschooled · Answer

Columbia all the way... I've met various MIT Sloan grads, and have never been impressed with them beyond their Number Crunching ability. 

Columbia grads have shown a mix of intellectual vitality, creativity, and strong leadership/personality.... Perhaps living in New York for two years injects personality into everyone? :)

redhead · Answer

Count me in for MIT

I love the close-knit community and Sloanies seems to be more down-to-earth and supportive -- compared to their peers from other M7.

msday · Answer

I think it depends - for me, as someone who has spent his whole life so far as an engineer/math guy, I think Columbia holds some sort of mystique for me. I'd like to think, in my youthful inexperience, that people who see a guy with an undergrad engineering degree and an MBA from a more liberal-arts school like Columbia would think of me as more well-rounded. Perhaps this is wishful thinking on my part :roll:

kryzak · Answer

the simple answer is:

MIT - if you want to do tech related business or entrepreneurship. The brand name of MIT is a bit higher in the MBA circles compared to Columbia (which has been slipping recently)

Columbia - if you want to do finance or international stuff (Europe). Brand name a bit weaker in the MBA circle, but more well known to non-MBAs.

The complicated answer will take eons to debate and come to a conclusion

dox · Answer

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this. As others have stated, I really think it comes down to what your goals/aspirations are. For me, i'm interested in biotech/entrepreneurship, making MIT a no-brainer over Columbia.

casbroker · Answer

Columbia!

Disclaimer: I applied to Columbia and didn't even consider MIT.

JohnLewis1980 · Answer

I fully agree with you!

However, I think if your desires after a MBA program is to manage projects (i.e. industrial projects), MIT school could be better.

Nevertheless, I'd wish to have to choose between these 2 schools jejeje

Columbia vs MIT Sloan

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