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29 Dec 2015, 19:47
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So I was lucky enough to get accepted into both Sloan and CBS for next year full time. I will be choosing between those two.
A little about me, I'm on the younger side of applicants at 25 and will have 3 years of W/E at Matriculation. I work in Treasury at a BB. I'll be moving into Investment Banking post grad school. I'm currently leaning Columbia but I'll post more information below.
Columbia:
Pros -
Placement: Every bank (BB, EB, and everything in between) is on campus and coming to you. A lot of people do banking (80-100) but around 50% of those go to either a top BB (GS, JPM, MS) or an EB. And almost 85% are at a BB or EB.
People: Loved the people who I have met and talked too. Lots of similarly cool people who have done a lot of great things. Very smart bunch. I can see myself fitting in here very easily.
Classes: the breadth of electives are much bigger then Sloan's and being taught by high performing adjuncts is really a plus for me. I have always felt like I learn learn more from actual practitioners.
No Grade Disclosure: This is great. It breeds a less intense work environment then Sloan. You can focus on recruiting and networking and taking whatever classes you want. This is a huge plus for me.
Alumni: HUGE number of finance alumni willing to help you out.
Cons -
Cost: NYC is costly and the living conditions suck for someone on a students budget.
Familiarity: I live in NYC right now and while I plan to come back, I was hoping to leave for a bit for business school..
Facilities: they are awful, enough said.
Lack of being able to "stick out": There are so many white males coming from Finance at CBS that are going back to Finance that it makes it harder to stick out. At Sloan I would be much more unique.
Sloan:
Pros -
Facilities: The facilities are awesome. Loved it there.
City: Getting out of NYC would be cool and I like Boston/Cambridge.
Cost: Much better QOL as a student there then at Columbia.
Curriculum: Very well regarded Finance curriculum.
People: Honestly, the admitted and current students I've met are probably the most impressive I've met across all of the M7 in terms of accomplishments. And I almost feel intimidated that I don't necessarily fit in with those people.
Jobs: There are only about 20 people a year doing IB from Sloan, so being a finance guy already I expect I would have my pick of the interviews for those firms that come on campus. And basically everyone gets a BB as it is. Which leads me cons.
Cons -
Recruiting: A lot of firms aren't on campus, which means you are doing a lot of legwork. No EBs are on campus and, personally, I intend to focus on EBs over BBs during recruiting due to the regulatory landscape.
Alumni: There just aren't that many banking alumni.
People (I know I put this under pros too, but it's a different point): I haven't liked/felt like I fit in with some of the people I've met so far. I had a current student ask me "why do you talk the way you do" when I visited for my interview. Keep in mind me a native speaker with no speech impediments and never have been told I "talk weird". I also found many of the current students to be really intense.
Grade Disclosure: As far as I can tell, combined with the tough curriculum, this leads to a lot of intensity in the classmates. It's also something that, apparently, banks pay attention too. And I don't want to be stressing about the curve during recruiting.
All in all, the people aspect and "fitting in" have me heavily leaning towards Columbia. Combined with all the firm's on campus at Columbia vs Sloan and I think it makes if a relatively straight forward decision. But I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say.
Thanks in advance.
A little about me, I'm on the younger side of applicants at 25 and will have 3 years of W/E at Matriculation. I work in Treasury at a BB. I'll be moving into Investment Banking post grad school. I'm currently leaning Columbia but I'll post more information below.
Columbia:
Pros -
Placement: Every bank (BB, EB, and everything in between) is on campus and coming to you. A lot of people do banking (80-100) but around 50% of those go to either a top BB (GS, JPM, MS) or an EB. And almost 85% are at a BB or EB.
People: Loved the people who I have met and talked too. Lots of similarly cool people who have done a lot of great things. Very smart bunch. I can see myself fitting in here very easily.
Classes: the breadth of electives are much bigger then Sloan's and being taught by high performing adjuncts is really a plus for me. I have always felt like I learn learn more from actual practitioners.
No Grade Disclosure: This is great. It breeds a less intense work environment then Sloan. You can focus on recruiting and networking and taking whatever classes you want. This is a huge plus for me.
Alumni: HUGE number of finance alumni willing to help you out.
Cons -
Cost: NYC is costly and the living conditions suck for someone on a students budget.
Familiarity: I live in NYC right now and while I plan to come back, I was hoping to leave for a bit for business school..
Facilities: they are awful, enough said.
Lack of being able to "stick out": There are so many white males coming from Finance at CBS that are going back to Finance that it makes it harder to stick out. At Sloan I would be much more unique.
Sloan:
Pros -
Facilities: The facilities are awesome. Loved it there.
City: Getting out of NYC would be cool and I like Boston/Cambridge.
Cost: Much better QOL as a student there then at Columbia.
Curriculum: Very well regarded Finance curriculum.
People: Honestly, the admitted and current students I've met are probably the most impressive I've met across all of the M7 in terms of accomplishments. And I almost feel intimidated that I don't necessarily fit in with those people.
Jobs: There are only about 20 people a year doing IB from Sloan, so being a finance guy already I expect I would have my pick of the interviews for those firms that come on campus. And basically everyone gets a BB as it is. Which leads me cons.
Cons -
Recruiting: A lot of firms aren't on campus, which means you are doing a lot of legwork. No EBs are on campus and, personally, I intend to focus on EBs over BBs during recruiting due to the regulatory landscape.
Alumni: There just aren't that many banking alumni.
People (I know I put this under pros too, but it's a different point): I haven't liked/felt like I fit in with some of the people I've met so far. I had a current student ask me "why do you talk the way you do" when I visited for my interview. Keep in mind me a native speaker with no speech impediments and never have been told I "talk weird". I also found many of the current students to be really intense.
Grade Disclosure: As far as I can tell, combined with the tough curriculum, this leads to a lot of intensity in the classmates. It's also something that, apparently, banks pay attention too. And I don't want to be stressing about the curve during recruiting.
All in all, the people aspect and "fitting in" have me heavily leaning towards Columbia. Combined with all the firm's on campus at Columbia vs Sloan and I think it makes if a relatively straight forward decision. But I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say.
Thanks in advance.
30 Dec 2015, 11:29
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Congratulations on scoring 2 great admits.
You seem to know a lot of the details and stats for the schools. But consider this - maybe New York was meant to be... even if you are trying to get away from it
I understand getting a change is a good thing (not keeping all of your eggs in one basket) but in some sense, I see that as a weakness. If you are diversified, you can't stand out or leverage a strength since you are mediocre in everything. Instead these days folks trying to specialize and leverage that specialty/aspect/advantage. In your case it may be an existing network in New York, not having to move, and building up on what you have done already. Compare that to a person moving ton New York from San Francisco. Sure they will be excited to find a new tiny apartment, figure out the subway map, and see the big place, but they wont' have much to leverage. The first 6 months they will be a tourist and you can work your way to an internship while they tour the Empire state building... just saying.
P.S. Instead quit your job 3 months early and go on a backpacking trip around SE Asia or perhaps somewhere it is not as hot in July - South America, Australia, etc. there are lots of cheap-ish around the world tickets. That will be much more rewarding and "changing" than going to School in Boston, which is what, a 3 hour drive from New York?
You seem to know a lot of the details and stats for the schools. But consider this - maybe New York was meant to be... even if you are trying to get away from it
I understand getting a change is a good thing (not keeping all of your eggs in one basket) but in some sense, I see that as a weakness. If you are diversified, you can't stand out or leverage a strength since you are mediocre in everything. Instead these days folks trying to specialize and leverage that specialty/aspect/advantage. In your case it may be an existing network in New York, not having to move, and building up on what you have done already. Compare that to a person moving ton New York from San Francisco. Sure they will be excited to find a new tiny apartment, figure out the subway map, and see the big place, but they wont' have much to leverage. The first 6 months they will be a tourist and you can work your way to an internship while they tour the Empire state building... just saying.
P.S. Instead quit your job 3 months early and go on a backpacking trip around SE Asia or perhaps somewhere it is not as hot in July - South America, Australia, etc. there are lots of cheap-ish around the world tickets. That will be much more rewarding and "changing" than going to School in Boston, which is what, a 3 hour drive from New York?
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30 Dec 2015, 15:26
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Congrats 
When I read you first part of your post, I was 70% sure that you leaning towards CBS. After finishing, I was confident that you 'fit' in CBS more than in Sloan. Although you want to spend your MBA outside New York, staying in NY will outweigh your desire leaving it. Your career path will be challenged with the fact that recruiters in Finance is heading to CBS. As you know the competition in IB is fierce. So Why don't you want to benefit from being in NY and develop your network? CBS will clearly help you through its famous coffee chatting and other resources.
I felt from your words about people in Sloan (either your profile compared to other or awful criticism of your way of talking), that you do not feel comfortable. So, I think you found your fit in CBS. It is clear your destination.
When I read you first part of your post, I was 70% sure that you leaning towards CBS. After finishing, I was confident that you 'fit' in CBS more than in Sloan. Although you want to spend your MBA outside New York, staying in NY will outweigh your desire leaving it. Your career path will be challenged with the fact that recruiters in Finance is heading to CBS. As you know the competition in IB is fierce. So Why don't you want to benefit from being in NY and develop your network? CBS will clearly help you through its famous coffee chatting and other resources.
I felt from your words about people in Sloan (either your profile compared to other or awful criticism of your way of talking), that you do not feel comfortable. So, I think you found your fit in CBS. It is clear your destination.
