Econ UT Austin or A&M Finance

Hello,

I just finished my first year at A&M and I applied to UT Econ and was accepted (I'm at my orientation now). I wanted to apply to mccombs but I couldn't because of specific credit needed so I will attempt to internal transfer. I want to do IB in Houston, but I want the flexibility to expand if that changes. The option I have is staying at A&M and transferring into finance at mays (I am in general studies at A&M) which is easier than transferring into mccombs. Additionally, I would be able to apply externally to mccombs for my junior year. The second option is to go to UT for econ and internal transfer except if I am rejected I am stuck in econ and the school. In short, is UT econ better than being at Mays?

 

UT and A&M is probably a big difference... unless it's the statistics department at A&M, UT is just a lot stronger of a school to have many option value. I wouldn't be shortsighted about finance major, because Engineer from Rice can also get into elite boutique IB. There are tons of "social science" majors at ivy leagues going into finance too, so don't worry much over that. Kill it in UT wouldnt work against your favor.

 

While UT is stronger, if you can't make it from A&M, you probably won't make it from UT either. If you were gunning for NY, it'd be another story, but if you're qualified, you can make it into Houston IB from A&M or UT. I don't think there is a significant gap. Sure UT places more, but they have more kids trying to get Houston IB jobs. Probably a pretty similar success rate (% wise) from both schools. If you are qualified and likable, you won't have any issues getting at least one offer coming from either school.

You will get questions about why you transferred if you end up doing so. Interviewers who went to A&M may question the move, especially if you end up in Econ and not at McCombs. I would probably transfer into Mays (assuming that can be done fairly easily and starting in the fall), then evaluate whether you want to transfer directly into McCombs a year from now. McCombs is a step up from Mays (arguable whether it's worth transferring unless you could get into BHP, unless you think you'd enjoy UT more), but UT Econ vs Mays is at best a lateral move Mays certainly would have more grads in Houston IB than UT Econ), and may raise some questions in interviews that you'll have to be prepared to answer.

M&I just posted something about lateraling. It's probably worth a read. I would strongly encourage you to talk to real people, preferably a couple people who have worked in Houston IB from both schools, and not from Internet commenters, most of whom are in high school, have never worked in IB, don't know the Houston IB landscape, or some combo of the 3.

 
Best Response
whattherock:

I guess you are the only candidate to throw money sh*t, and say dumb hypothesis such as "what if you meet a A&M interviewer"...

I might as well counter with a similarly stupid argument, "if a UT graduate finds out that you didn't transfer from A&M to UT, they think about how dumb you were"

I know many people who have worked in Houston IB from both schools. Based on your first post in the thread, you do not have extensive experience with the schools, or Houston IB, and can not string together two sentences in proper English. Your point about statistics is totally irrelevant. Your last sentence is also a joke - a&m grads may question the transfer if he ends up stuck in Econ (at best a lateral move, possibly slightly worse). A UT grad doesn't think "why doesn't every a&m kid transfer to UT?" This isn't Harvard vs middle Tennessee state. It's a school ranked around 50 vs one ranked around 65. It's #2 vs #3 in the state. A transfer will not make a large difference. Relevant internship experience, being likable, having a decent GPA, and knowing technicals and the energy industry at a basic level is much more important than UT Econ/McCombs vs Mays.
 

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