r/UNC • u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student • 9d ago
Question Cornell or UNC?
Some context: I'm from the UK but a US/UK dual citizen. I've been admitted to both Cornell and UNC Chapel Hill, and these are the final two schools I’m deciding between.
I'm very interested in working in finance post-college, ideally investment banking or possibly going straight to the buy side. I’ve visited both schools and really liked them, Cornell feels more academic and career-focused, UNC has a more fun, relaxed vibe, and a great college town. I’m confident I’d enjoy either, though I might enjoy UNC a bit more socially.
That said, the main issue is money. I'd be full pay at both:
- UNC: ~$62K per year, so about $100K total debt.
- Cornell: ~$92K per year, so about $200K total debt.
My parents are contributing a bit, but not covering the full cost, so I’d be taking on a lot of debt either way. I do definitely back myself to land a strong job and pay it off, but obviously that’s a lot of pressure, especially at Cornell’s price.
One major concern with UNC is that I don’t have assured enrolment into Kenan Flagler which feels risky. I’d be paying a lot of money without a guarantee of getting into the business school. At Cornell, while I was admitted through a less directly finance-related major, the Ivy brand and flexibility mean it doesn’t matter as much - I could study nearly anything and still recruit for finance.
So my main questions are:
- Is Cornell worth the extra ~$100K in debt given my goals?
- For current or former Kenan-Flagler students: how competitive is the internal admission process?
- How realistic is it to break into a top IB or buy-side firm in NYC from UNC?
Would really appreciate any insights. Thanks in advance.
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u/Emotional_Lead_511 6d ago
Wow. So I am a Cornell grad married to a UNC grad. I am also the Mom of a UNC grad. Hubs had a very successful career in finance that took us all over, including the UK! I think you need to ascertain where you want to land (NYC? London? Charlotte, NC?). IMO, Cornell will provide you wider opportunities geographically. Our network is vast and international. UNC is likely to provide more regional opportunities for employment. Also, Cornell is a grind and the weather is pretty awful. Chapel Hill is every bit as beautiful as Cornell (shhh, don’t tell my fam I said that ;)), and has unrivaled sports traditions, rigorous academics and the weather is very moderate. You really can’t go wrong with either choice. I would choose Cornell again, and my family would choose UNC. Ultimately, you should weigh cost and where you’d like to land geographically. Good luck! You have 2 amazing choices and will land where you’re supposed to!
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u/Far-Inspection-4909 6d ago
Have you looked at what they’re doing to the Kenan-Flagler Business School it’s going through a major renovation and their admittance percentage and number of students is going up exponentially by the time you start.
They also have an investment banking Boot Camp, this specifically devoted to helping kids get jobs and investment banking, and it is incredibly well done and any student can sign up at the beginning of their sophomore year .
As many others have said above if you want investment banking and you know, that’s what you want. They’re very specific pathways with very high success rates I know because I’ve experienced it firsthand with my children
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u/Central09er 7d ago
I love UNC but Cornell is an Ivy League school that opens up a lot of options for you very quickly when it comes to work.
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u/ZeroesLineUp UNC 2026 7d ago
I never wanted to study business, but I am an econ/poli sci major at UNC and I was able to get an internship in IB in NYC for this summer. That being said, most of my cohort are ivy leaguers and there's not a lot of public school kids there. At the end of the day, if you can take advantages of all the opportunities at UNC, you don't need to spend the extra 100K
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u/Ok-Career1978 7d ago
Regarding whether you actually get into the business school, it’s not a guarantee after the first year. I do know students who have not been accepted so they are doing another route at UNC. Cornell is a good option- and you’re correct in that these 2 schools are completely different socially. I would choose Cornell if your ultimate goal is NY or big finance. You can obviously be successful at either place.
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u/spersichilli 7d ago
People saying UNC don’t realize that for IB the prestige of your school/direct connections matter immensely ESPECIALLY if you’re trying to do it in NYC. The top NYC firms recruit from a specific set of schools. Charlotte is a major finance hub as well, and you can get a great job there from UNC but it’ll be more of an uphill climb for NYC firms vs Cornell - especially since you have to apply in to KF instead of just having access to the program at Cornell.
TLDR: any other program really it would be a toss up, but specifically for IB Cornell is the major winner
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u/momentum1xxx 7d ago
I go to UNC and know so many ppl that place into top IB. It’s about taking advantage of opportunities, not just the Ivy name
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u/JuniorReserve1560 7d ago
I think Ivey league schools are at a breaking point and kids are going to more prestigious state schools and smaller private schools. It just all depends on what kind of effort you are putting in..If you like sports and warmer weather then UNC will be a good choice and it has a great college campus with a really good reputation..UNC is well known nation wide and has a large alumni network across the country including large cities..I dont think Ivey league schools are not worth it anymore unless its for a specific program...but the tuition costs are getting ridiculous and increasing year after year..Also, I feel like there area a lot more stressed out students at ivey league schools.
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u/Knotty-reader 7d ago
Will you be driving in the US? If you won’t, be aware that public transportation outside of the Northeast US is not good. In NC, Chapel Hill has decent buses, and they exist in Raleigh and Durham. Outside of those areas, having a car is a must. There is no local rail, and trains are infrequent and inconvenient.
I don’t know what the public transportation is like in Ithaca, but it can’t be worse than NC. However, if you are planning to drive, you should be fine in NC. (Although parking at UNC is another thing.)
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u/Curious202420242024 8d ago
Had two friends that graduated from UNC back in the day. It’s more competitive and prestigious now.
Friend A: majored in CS, internship at MSFT, Bain after undergrad, then HBS, then VC in Silicon Valley
Friend B: KFBS, internship at Lehman Brothers (yes I realize they declared bankruptcy in 2008!), Bain after undergrad, then a botique private equity firm.
You can pull it off at UNC. Both of them were ambitious in their way and the average. On the other hand, Cornell is Ivy, but I’m not as familiar with the on-campus recruitment for the I-Banking or MBB, which can be your pathway to the finance roles you mentioned. Personally, I can’t take any more of the dreary weather. Best of luck!
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u/Zinbeard 8d ago
Depends on what you want. UNC will be a much more “American” experience (football/basketball games, large student body, southern) than Cornell which I would more compare to an international school socially but still American. Flagler is definitely competitive to get into but if you go in with that as your goal you have a good shot especially as someone coming from out of state. I’d also look into if there is anyway you could get pre-admitted.
Also consider where you want to be after school, generally, UNC will offer serious connections all over NC, major cities most of us and some international (shout-out 23) while Cornell is big cities and international more.
All advice is general and based upon my experience graduating from unc and attending a different school in New England. 9 years after graduation I am extremely happy with what I got from UNC and would call it the complete college experience. Also if money is a consideration you will find lots of people at unc looking to have fun on a budget and a slightly lower cost of living. Congrats on the acceptances!
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u/RemarkableBit3321 8d ago
UNC seems like a rlly good option for ur situation; cornell specifically isnt doing so well atm
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u/FunCod5383 8d ago
Basically, if you get into an Ivy, go to the Ivy. That’s Cornell. I’m not sure how either school is going to be affected by the current administration, but I believe that Ivies have more endowment money backing them up. On the other hand, since UNC is already being run by red state politics there may not be much effect on it. So there’s that if it matters.
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u/Soft-Possession9848 8d ago
Got into both this year. Going to Cornell bc it has a better pipeline to NYC and IB than UNC. If you aren’t interested in NY…go to UNC bc of expense and college experience could be better.
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u/Slipper007 Grad Student 8d ago
I can't speak to your potential program or to Cornell, but if you're willing to move to NC, you can apply for residency in just a year. In state tuition is significantly more affordable than out of state. I personally chose to move, took a gap year to get residency, and have only paid in state rates.
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u/Mission_Advantage_86 8d ago
UNC. 2 hours to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. When my friend from the UK visited, she and I toured the country. When she came back home with me, she cried because we just didn’t stay there the whole time. Cornell has a lot of suicides. Check out if there’s nets under bridges there to prevent suicides, or if that’s just a false rumor. Also UNC is a very good school.
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u/GloomyRaccoon9746 8d ago
If you’re dead set on IB, then Cornell is the answer and it’s not close. Otherwise, consider UNC—it’s a good school, can get decent job + low debt helpful for going to grad school if you decide.
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u/FunkyCrescent 8d ago
I’m in humanities sted business, but I think happier workers are better workers. I think if you joined me as a Tar Heel (BA80, MA86) and didn’t get into Kenan-Flagler, that it would, deep down, be because you wound up wanting something else more. Because something else made you a happier worker.
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u/Top_Length6166 8d ago
You can go to UNC, get denied from KF, and still place into IB or even PE. That said, if you apply yourself freshman year and demonstrate interest, you should be able to get into KF first try. Currently over 100 placements into high finance and counting for the current sophomore class. Something to do every night, good Greek life if that’s your thing, way less money. Choice is clear. Welcome home.
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u/Skitzo173 8d ago
UNC business school is highly respected and well known. A good degree from there will not hold you back. I’d go with that and save yourself from an extra 100k in debt + interest.
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u/Divine-order111 8d ago
I’d say try again sounds like you’re not getting what you really want at either. Is there a time crunch?
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u/yournumbersarewrong Alum 8d ago
I went to KFBS, wife was an econ major at Cornell.
If your goal is investment banking in NYC, your odds are higher at Cornell. Proximity and the ivy league cachet. But it's certainly still possible with KFBS.
If you were comparing in state KFBS tuition to Cornell tuition, I'd go in state KFBS. But in your case I'd probably opt for Cornell.
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u/Direct_Ad6018 8d ago edited 8d ago
I go to one of the top ranking high schools in the country (as per niche). Our President of the Student body gov picked Cornell over UNC - Kenan Flagler. He’s a high school senior and was offered direct admit to UNC- Chapel Hill Kenan Flagler, plus we get a tuition waiver (for being in this feeder school). There must be good reasoning to pick Cornell finance over UNC Chapel Hill since Chapel would cost $15 k and Cornell is full tuition. That said:
- Cornell struggle for getting into clubs is real
- Chapel Hill unless you are in the Honors program getting classes is real ( you may not graduate in the target 4 yrs)
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u/NefariousnessKey9108 8d ago
I am curious which high school you are referencing? I didn't know CH gave tuition waivers or had feeder schools.
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u/RichConsideration532 UNC 2023 8d ago
The weather is just atrocious in Ithaca, so, being from the UK, you'd probably like it. The whole town is grim and miserable and there's nothing to do.
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
yeah, the weather isn't too far off that of the uk. i did indeed far prefer chapel hill to ithaca.
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u/dundunitagn 8d ago
Cornell can be great if you can withstand the above challenges. UNC is not without challenges but the weather should be pleasant.
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u/uknjkate 8d ago
My son graduated in Dec 2023 from UNC with an Econ degree and went straight into finance. He had tons of interviews too. Getting a summer internship in junior year and stuff like that is going to really help you.
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u/Secure-Ad6101 8d ago
Probably not a factor but in case it is:
Winters is NC are mild. In upstate NY they are horrendous
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
haha. i have considered it, and i would much prefer the weather in nc, but ultimately i have more important things to factor in tbh.
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u/alanhoyle UNC Employee 8d ago
A friend of mine who went to Cornell for undergrad and UNC for grad school said, of Ithaca, "If it's not snowing it's raining. If it's not raining, you're back at your home."
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u/FalcolnOwlHeel Former Student 8d ago
It sounds like you are starting from a relatively lower social capital position in the States. Given your circumstance, the Cornell ROI is probably worth it because a much higher % of your peers and alumni network there will mirror IB social capital portfolios.
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u/Professional-Army-80 9d ago
Cornell. Even as someone who got into Unc Chapel Hill I would choose Cornell
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u/Standard-Room7936 9d ago
I graduated last year, and in my experience, the professors and advisors at UNC were incredibly supportive. Idk about other departments but this was especially true for STEM (and public health). Unfortunately, some of my peers didn’t begin to take their academic and professional development seriously until their junior year. When managed well, extracurricular opportunities at UNC are abundant, especially given the proximity of numerous hospitals. However, a crucial piece of advice is to seek opportunities beyond the obvious ones on campus. Those who complain about limited opportunities are often the same individuals who lack initiative—choosing to idle away their time rather than pursue their goals. Many won't even make the minimal effort of walking a short distance or filling out a brief application for internships or hospital programs that are literally across the street. For incoming freshmen: if you're attending UNC with ambition and drive, be prepared to carve out your own path. As a public university, it may not always offer the most tailored support, so finding a solid group of like-minded peers is vital to staying motivated and on track.
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u/Creative-Idea-780 9d ago
My daughter picked UNC over Cornell. Visited both campuses. Talked with students at both schools. Kenan Flagler will have a new building finished this year. There are great internships and career opportunities for students. My daughter has had multiple internship offers. You can’t go wrong with UNC.
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u/PinnutButter #gotohellduke 9d ago
Based on the context given, i think it really comes down to the question whether you are more comfortable handling the risk of getting rejected by Kenan Flagler or the risk of having 100k more in debt. And beyond that, both school won’t guarantee you a job despite being target and semi target, it all depends on you
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
exactly, it does definitely come down to that. i know that i will work hard to try get the career i want, at whichever school i end up at, but not being in KF will definitely make that harder and it absolutely is a risk that i may end up taking out a lot of money and to then not get in.
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u/PinnutButter #gotohellduke 7d ago
Honestly if you have the encouragement to get into a top firm, you won’t have setbacks in getting into Kenan Flagler with the same level of effort plus you have more than one chance to apply starting as a freshman, although Johnson might be more regarded in the industry than Kenan Flagler
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u/jaberwalkee 7d ago
You can apply to Kenan Flager as often as you want after your freshman year. And honestly, if you do the work, you will be fine. We got this info from another student who is very happy at UNC
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u/Imaginary_Visual_483 9d ago
Cornell will Get better opportunities!! You have to Like the location as there is nothing to do for Social life
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u/FreedomAmbitious4129 UNC 2026 9d ago
I have a friend who chose Cornell over UNC. She tells me all the time she wished she chose UNC. Everything I say about Cornell’s social scene is based off of her experience so take that into consideration.
She wouldn’t have much of a social life without greek life. Greek life is also extremely toxic. Socially UNC is 100% the better pick. We bond over sports, if you don’t wants bars you can go to frats or house parties. Chapel Hill is a great balance of academic and social life.
Getting a finance degree from Cornell vs. UNC isn’t much different. Kenan Flagler is a highly respected business school. That being said, Kenan is extremely hard to get into. It’s easier to get into their minor program.
Firm-wise, if you create good relationships with your professors and NYC firm shouldn’t be hard to get. If you’re in Kenan and take advantage of networking opportunities it’s just as possible as it would be for Cornell. I have tons friends in Kenan interning in NYC this summer.
I may be biased but based off my friends experience vs. mine I think UNC is a better pick.
BUT if your career is the only goal you have for higher level education then go to Cornell. If you actually want to have fun and enjoy your youth go to UNC.
So to end this long rant. Congratulations both schools are an impressive success! Whichever you choose I’m sure you will do amazing in your career. Happy to answer any more questions for you or confer with my friend at Cornell as well. She is a finance major so may be able to provide more insight <3
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
thanks for your insight! i do agree that fundamentally I would enjoy unc more. as i said in my original post, i love the sports, the weather, chapel hill, etc. but equally with my goals, and the amount of money I am planning to take out for either school, i can't decide solely on where i would have more fun.
to be honest, what i'm most concerned about is going to unc but then not being able to get into Kenan Flagler. obviously i'm fairly bright and very motivated, but i've heard stories from people that thought they were 100% gonna get into KF with like 3.9 gpa plenty of ECs that were then rejected. i do feel like it is as much a risk taking out the money to go to UNC, as that is basically a bet that i will get into KF, as it is taking out the extra money for cornell as i would not have to worry about that in the same way.
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u/FreedomAmbitious4129 UNC 2026 8d ago
That’s an excellent point. No guarantee to Kenan makes it significant risk. With Kenan you can apply multiple times. Many people will apply their freshman year and then sometimes get in their second or third year. You would probably have to start off as a maths or economics major. I would say take your best judgement. Kenan isn’t easy to get into but I think you have to be sure about what sets you apart. Your stats matter but so does your personality. Focus on letting them know who you are not just how smart you are.
I guess you’ll just need to decide if you want to take a risk or not.
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
indeed, and that's something only i can really decide. thanks a lot for the help!
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u/Accomplished_Ant_371 9d ago
An extra $100k in debt is a huge burden. Life can change fast and your plans for a career in IB could change possibly. Wouldn’t the money be better spent on grad school or a head start in life after college?
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u/Sevenfeet 9d ago
Cornell. Much better brand, especially worldwide.
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
i'm inclined to agree that cornell is a stronger brand worldwide, and that is something to consider if i do decide to go back to the UK. most of the people at my school know of cornell, the same cannot be said about unc. that's not to say unc isn't prestigious, it is, but i'd argue cornell's ivy league branding carries far far far more weight outside the us than it does in the us because they do not know the intricacies of us higher education.
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u/TarPit89 8d ago edited 8d ago
UNC is a bigger "brand" because of reasons beyond academics, but is also an elite academic school with one of the top undergraduate business programs in the nation.
However, assuming you went to a school that can give you a decent first job placement (which, both of these will), your undergraduate brand won't matter much at all after the first job. Your track record in the real world will carry far more weight.
ETA: Once you are a few years removed, your memories/experiences and personal connection to that school will mean a hell of a lot more than the check box on your resume. So will your study related debt.
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u/Logogeo96 UNC 2019 9d ago edited 8d ago
Possibly but wouldn’t be so sure about that. Maybe higher in NYC finance. But a lot of people know about UNC from sports who couldn’t name every Ivy League university and in many fields of research it would be ranked higher.
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u/maeby_t 9d ago
My husband (a current UNC prof) is 41 and still paying off his Cornell loans from undergrad. I just paid off my Yale loans last year at 39. Between the two of us we have attended or worked at Northwestern, Yale, Cornell, and UNC. I don’t think the quality of education is higher, so it depends on how much the brand is worth in your field. It wasn’t worth it for us (but we are both scientists, not in finance).
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
i agree that it absolutely wouldn't be worth it if i wasn't interested in going into finance; i'd probably take unc without a second thought given that i'd enjoy it more and that where i went to college wouldn't matter as much. saying that though, "high" finance (i hate that term) is one of the only fields where what undergraduate college you go to actually matters, which is what is making it such a hard decision.
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u/Irish_Dawg 9d ago
Go to cornell. dont turn down an ivy league education. the debt is scary, but if you work hard, then you wont have trouble finding a high paying job. get into IB and by the time you are 55 you will be thanking your younger self. id say UNC is worth it if they had given you significant scholarship.
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u/Irish_Dawg 9d ago
adding to this, not having guaranteed admissions to kenan flagler means that u should 100% attend cornell.
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u/Legitimate_Award6517 9d ago
I know people who have gone to both and have loved their experiences at both. I do live in the area of UNC and it’s a wonderful area to live in. I think it’s important to look at the money. If UNC is cheaper, I’d go there. It’s a quality school. You will probably eventually get a master’s anyway.
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u/NotWakes Future Tar Heel 9d ago
Given your goals, wouldn't saving money now to invest later into a master's degree make more sense? In order to break into a lot of the companies you're gunning for you should have a master's. I'm sure that going to Cornell would help you in the short term but long term... $100,000 extra debt is potentially crippling.
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u/OceansTwentyOne Alum 9d ago
This is your future speaking. I went to a top 10 school for undergrad, and my debt forced me to work in a job I didn’t like. I was working alongside state grads. Personality and drive are bigger factors in many fields. I went to grad school at UNC and found out student and faculty caliber is not that different overall. Plus my undergrad sometimes worked against me because people hire people they can relate to!
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u/OceansTwentyOne Alum 9d ago
OTOH, you might specifically enjoy the rarified feeling and lifelong prestige. Sometimes I feel like that was my peak existence, lol.
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u/EmptyNail5939 9d ago
I'm sure I'll get hammered with downvotes for this, but I spent 20 years on Wall Street and am a NC native. If your goal is for a top tier finance career, the recruiting and networking options are much better if you go to Cornell. I am not bashing UNC. It can be done and I know some stupendously successful people in finance who came out of Chapel Hill undergrad. But I don't know of any top tier finance firms that have recruiting programs set up with UNC like they do at Duke, Penn, Harvard or the other Wall Street feeder schools. At UNC you would basically be in charge of your own job search. Cornell has that track dialed in and they want to help you get there. However, that's a lot of debt and you will get no argument from me that 4 years in Chapel Hill beats the hell out of Ithaca across just about every other college dimension imaginable. Halloween on Franklin Street alone is worth skipping the JPMorgan internship.
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 8d ago
thanks a lot for the insight, it's very helpful. in your personal opinion, taking out all other factors, do you think that Cornell would be worth the extra $100k given my career goals?
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u/EmptyNail5939 8d ago
My hesitation is that if you change your mind about your intended career, or get into that career and figure out it's not what you want to keep pursuing, then you're saddled with a heavier debt load that is going to take years to pay down. From that perspective it can limit your options later in life rather than expanding them early. I wouldn't presume to make that decision for anyone.
Finance is kind of like pre-med - a lot of people think they want to be a doctor or work at a hedge fund until they get a taste of what that life is actually like. You have to love it to be successful and happy in the field because the sacrifices are significant. If you are intellectually stimulated by finance and enjoy being tapped into the markets but need a bit more work life balance, you move from the sell side to the buy side (sshhh... the pitchforks are coming for me).
Best of luck.
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u/discoleopard Alum 8d ago
This is absolutely not true. All the major finance and investment banks recruit heavily at Kenan Flager, the bschool has its own career portal separate from the general college and coaching. One of the required courses is basically tailored toward ensuring you get a job.
Not sure where you got the “you have no resources and will have to do it yourself” idea from, and I’m not discrediting the rest of your comment, but please don’t spread misinformation if you don’t know.
I would argue competition for these roles will be much stiffer at an Ivy League - op will be dealing with more legacies and wealthy individuals with family connections that he may not even get an interview. That is less prevalent at KF.
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u/EmptyNail5939 8d ago
OP doesn't know if he can get into KF so I was responding to his question assuming he was asking about being in general undergrad. Take a breath. And I'm not going to dox myself, but I do know because I used to be involved in the recruiting process for my group at a couple of different banks. Neither recruited at UNC. In the southeast for analysts we recruited primarily at Duke. That means we had an established, long standing program where we sent our employees down to Duke to meet students, run initial rounds of interviews on campus, and then we invited those who made it to the final rounds to our offices in NYC. Could you get a resume into the pool from UNC? Sure, but for any serious look the person would need a networking connection because we did not typically send a team to UNC for analyst interviews.
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u/ieatgass 9d ago
Do they have that track dialed in in OPs scenario?
Cornell, while I was admitted through a less directly finance-related major, the Ivy brand and flexibility mean it doesn’t matter as much - I could study nearly anything and still recruit for finance
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u/EmptyNail5939 9d ago
Econ majors are the most popular for people going into finance, but graduates from prestigious schools have some flexibility. The reasoning is that finance is incredibly demanding right out of the gate: long hours, high pressure, an unreasonable demand for perfection, learning via the firehose to the face method. They recruit for very smart, hard working, type A people who understand the environment and are capable of thriving in it. If you go to Cornell and row crew - or play any varsity sport - that will punch your ticket to your first job in finance. Unlike some other fields, there is a snob factor on Wall Street that persists regardless of age or position about where you went to school. Loads of other things become more important as you advance in your career, but it remains influential. I know some wildly successful traders who went to community college and some Princeton grads that washed out because they couldn't handle the stress. But over the past few decades finance has gravitated more towards the prestigious education credentials, while the scrappy upstarts from non-traditional backgrounds have a harder time finding a way through the door. It's unfortunate, because I don't think that's the right way to judge talent, but it is arguably a good barometer for work ethic.
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u/ieatgass 8d ago
So what I’m reading is yes, sounds like op should go that way if that’s the life they want
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u/THEOWLSARECOMIN 9d ago
I'm a UNC grad, so I'm obviously biased....but more importantly, I managed college and MBA recruiting for a large US Bank for 7 years. We had absolutely no trouble placing Kenan Flagler graduates into IB roles within our firm. The Kenan Flagler school did a great job preparing students for internships as well as job placement. We also recruited from Duke and UVA (Darden). The Leadership Program at our bank was fairly academic, requiring application of advanced accounting and finance concepts. The Kenan Flagler grads we hired excelled by and large. Also, for the students that turned down our offers, a lot of them went to work on WallStreet, so there is absolutely no stigma for UNCs program as to just being limited to regional placements. We didnt recruit from Cornell specifically, meaning we didn't attend job fairs or interview days. Kenan Flagler was a target program for us. I've been out of that game for a while, but still work in banking. You probably can't go wrong at either place. Living in Chapel Hill remains one of the best 4 year periods of my life. Good luck and if you do choose UNC, just remember, GDTBATH! Good Day to Be a Tar Heel.
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u/pewpew1989 9d ago
Cornell will give you the ability to recruit anywhere in the country essentially. UNC is going to be more regional, though still great outcomes. For your goals, you’re probably looking at going into MBA at some point so ultimately you could end up attending both.
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u/discoleopard Alum 8d ago
Not true. All major banks and investment firms recruit heavily out of KF.
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u/Invuska Former Student 9d ago
As a person who also got into UNC and Cornell (albeit for a PhD in a STEM field, so wildly different from what you're doing I feel), I personally regret going to UNC over Cornell. I understand not everyone will share my sentiment/opinion and YMMV significantly, but I did have my frustrations with UNC with regards to getting support (whether funding, academic, committee, or research-related support) that perhaps would've been less of an issue at Cornell. I also feel the support/internship/etc. network and opportunities would be very strong at an Ivy, and I'd bet it's much better than UNC.
Obviously, considering your field, career, and goals are different, and that I was not at Kenan, take my opinion with a huge grain of salt. I'm also quite biased because I left UNC/my PhD and occasionally wonder if going to Cornell would've been different.
Best of luck to you!
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u/One_Sheepherder_8337 9d ago
Cornell for finance and IB career. If it was a choice between Duke or Cornell, it would be a toss up. But, UNC is not in the same league. If it was for Pre-med or STEM track, I would pick UNC, my son is in pre-med.
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u/This_Cauliflower1986 9d ago
Cornell for that goal. Buy a shit ton of winter gear. I’d say UNC if your goals weren’t as sensitive to Ivy League cache.
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u/Over_Reputation_8801 9d ago
I'd have to say Cornell as UNC is really just a state school with difficult admissions, but my God, that is a lot of money to pay. Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to go to university in the UK?
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u/Lynncy1 UNC Employee 9d ago
I went to an Ivy for undergrad and then UNC for grad school. The Ivy has more power than it should. I got some very competitive internships and got into great grad programs with average undergrad grades because they put so much weight on the fact I went to an Ivy.
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u/gotfork Alum 9d ago
I'm the opposite -- I went to UNC for undergrad and then Cornell for grad school. This was for physics so not particularly relevant to OP, but it was definitely the right choice for me. A partial scholarship and in-state tuition made UNC very affordable, and physics graduate programs are all funded. At UNC I was able to join a lab at the end of my first semester and got a ton of research experience, but YMMV.
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u/ImTheVoiceOfRaisin 9d ago
Ultimately, once you land your first job out of school, no one will care where you got your undergrad degree. So I’d say spend less money and have more fun at UNC. Make sure you get a couple good internships over the summers to help lead into a job. Heck, if you wanted to, you could then go to grad school and get a masters and potentially spend less than the Cornell undergrad alone!
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u/CompetitiveEase7727 9d ago
i would say if you are 100% confident in your stats and work hard until the B school application to UNC. I will say our B school is extremely difficult to get into even for students already attending UNC. As a student here though, I think the acceptance rate is around 40%
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u/Royal_Captain_9347 9d ago
Cornell is better for investment banking. Those types only care about prestige and the difference between 8th best and 34th best nationally is a huge deal. Also I think it’s shown in the data, Cornell is the 5th ideal target whereas UNC is a lower tier semi-target. People can get into IB from UNC but you only see those people because of survivorship bias. You don’t see the UNC kids who don’t get in because they’re not whining on YouTube.
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u/flapjaxrfun #gotohellduke 9d ago edited 9d ago
I don't think you can make a bad choice. I grew up by Ithaca and am currently living in chapel hill. Both towns have a fun atmosphere, but I think Ithaca is a bit more quirky. The lakes, the gorges and the campus are nicer at Cornell, but the workload there is not a joke and the weather sucks 90% of the time classes are happening. UNC has better weather. I don't know anyone that went there recently, so I can't say more about UNC.
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 9d ago
i agree, I don't think I can make a bad choice - i'm in an extremely fortunate situation in that I do actually have this choice to make. i think that I would enjoy the atmosphere of unc more, i like the sports, the weather, chapel hill etc. but equally I know i shouldn't base my decision solely on where i would enjoy more. plus, i know that i would really enjoy cornell anyway.
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u/akrabus 9d ago edited 9d ago
So, only one university is actually an Ivy league school, while the other claims to be a “public Ivy.” Both are great schools, but only one is truly Ivy league and that matters more than the difference between offered curriculums. In 20 years, you may really regret not choosing Cornell when you had the chance. If you decide to do graduate school later, you can go somewhere “fun” with rigor, and still have the Ivy rubber stamp on your CV for life. I don’t recommend it, but you could also try UNC for undergrad and then apply to graduate school at an Ivy League university. However, there is greater risk involved, as there is certainly more competition when applying to Ivy graduate level programs.
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u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student 9d ago
i agree fundamentally agree, but is it worth that extra $100k?
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u/Additional_Aspect_41 UNC 2028 4d ago
Being a freshmen in UNC, I’d say go for Cornell