Cali Target/Semi-target Schools

I would say UCLA is a semi-target since banks like Jefferies and other MM's/boutiques go there. No one goes to UCSD, UCSD/UCSB are complete non targets.

Stanford - all NY + Cali + wherever else

UCB - Very Strong Cali, a bit of NY

UCLA/USC/Claremont - Strong Cali, but mainly LA, little or none NY

UCSD/UCSB - good luck

UCSD/UCSB are not fantastic schools. Complete non-targets.

UCSD, yes complete non target, but the smartest person I know is alum of UCSD. Both very good schools, & your extremely ignorant if you think otherwise, there are other subjects out there beyond finance & economics.

for premed & engineering students, UCSD is definitely a great school, not too sure about UCSB.

2 westfald, this is forum of wanna-be-bankers, not wanna-be-engineers/doctors. One of graduate programs of school I attend has been ranked #1 for ages, even Ivy Leagues cannot beat it. It doesn't mean s**t to me because I want to get into Finance.

Very aware pussinboots, however you made a blanket statement. I would have agreed with you had you included foot notes.

then how about UCI?

Complete non-target.

Let's not forget that David Shaw, founder of the elite hedge fund DE Shaw, went to UCSD (albeit a computer science major). UCSD has the second ranked econometrics faculty in the country, so unless you're doing more quantiative stuff after college, your chances of doing "traditional" IBD is going to be unlikely. UCSD is more well known for science and engineering than finance and business.

My ranking: Stanford Berkeley USC/UCLA/Clairemont Schools UCSB UCSD ...the rest

USC and UCLA are definitely semi-targets at the very least, though it depends on the bank/firm.

EDIT: We all completely forgot about Caltech!!! That's the strongest school in the world, with arguably the smartest student body. To me it's the most prestigious as well, it's just that not many students from there care much about making money and more about doing what they love.

How does UT McCombs rank?

^ Wrong state