Doing an MBA in The Big Apple
Are you contemplating both NYUsStern School of Business and Columbia Business School for your MBA degree in the commercial dynamo that is New York City?I recently shared my thoughts on this tough decision in an article published byFind MBA.
NYCs urban business setting is definitely an advantage for many career paths, including finance. At both Columbia and NYU, accessibility to recruiters and world-class industry experts and professors is unparalleled.
Why Columbia Business School Rocks
While Columbias academics are certainly on par with other top tier schools, its status as the only Ivy League business school based in Manhattan draws the most accolades from graduates. As the school claims, New Yorks flourishing financial community which includes Wall Street and thousands of multi-national corporations is a living laboratory for students interested in discovering the business world up close through internships and frequent visits from top CEOs.
While Columbias academic strength is its Finance department, graduates from the program tend to have well-rounded interests, international connections, and a solid network of alumni willing to help them explore all their options.
Says one graduate: Columbia Business School uniquely combines competition with cooperation many times my fellow students sent me copies of their class notes before exams, and we studied together with ease. However, we all fought to make our best possible effort and to land the best job interviews possible.
Why NYU Stern is Awesome
NYU boasts a diverse program, with full-time and part-time offerings for working professionals as well as a PhD program and even an undergraduate major. Students have the opportunity to learn from experts, studying with professors who are regularly quoted in The Wall Street Journal.
Case studies become real world experiences when students can examine an issue and then visit that business some mere blocks away. NYU Stern is committed to providing a top tier business education in the heart of the most diverse, vibrant business center of North America and its central location allows both full-time and part-time students to draw heavily from the citys resources.
NYU typically shows more flexibility in admitting candidates. The school is more willing than Columbia to accept a candidate whose employer is not well-known or whose GMAT score is not high. One potential upside of this relative flexibility by NYU is that the program tends to attract a down-to-earth, humble student class.
Any sign of competitiveness or arrogance was a turn off, says a former NYU admissions officer who works at SBC. We also were sensitive to those leaders that were pushy or always needing to lead.
Read more about NYU Stern vs. Columbia Business School, including a career outcomes comparison, on Find MBA.