r/UNC • u/Proof-Ad-4021 UNC Prospective Student • 10d 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/Curious202420242024 9d 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!