University of Alabama or UNC Chapel Hill (graduate late) to land BB IB Job

I have successfully completed my freshman and sophomore years at the University of Alabama with a 4.0 GPA. Subsequently, I have been accepted as a transfer student to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Assuming I transferred to UNC, I must graduate a semester late, in December of 2015, as opposed to spring of 2015. My question is: Would attending and graduating a semester late from Chapel Hill, instead of on time at the University of Alabama, improve my employability? Also, would graduating a semester late from Chapel Hill impede my employability? Thank you for your help!

 
Best Response

I hate to use the terminology, but UNC is at least a semi-target. While Bama is an awesome school for its college experience (ROLL TIDE), you won't get any attention whatsoever during recruiting season. I assume since you have a 4.0 you aren't taking advantage of the amazing Greeklife there, so go ahead and transfer. Taking a victory lap with a ninth semester is not a bad thing. Facts:

  • tuition is still relatively cheap
  • you get to hit 'reset' and enjoy one more year (or half, at minimum) of the best time of your life
  • you get an extra summer to market yourself to employers; didn't get Goldman your first 'junior' summer? Recruit again the following year. Put 5/2015 as your expected graduation date for now so you can recruit immediately in the fall, and if you get a place you'd be happy to receive a full-time offer from, just tell them of your extra semester at the end of the summer. If you don't get a place that good, don't tell them, do the summer, and re-recruit as a 2016 grad.
I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 
APAE:

I hate to use the terminology, but UNC is at least a semi-target. While Bama is an awesome school for its college experience (ROLL TIDE), you won't get any attention whatsoever during recruiting season. I assume since you have a 4.0 you aren't taking advantage of the amazing Greeklife there, so go ahead and transfer. Taking a victory lap with a ninth semester is not a bad thing. Facts:

- tuition is still relatively cheap
- you get to hit 'reset' and enjoy one more year (or half, at minimum) of the best time of your life
- you get an extra summer to market yourself to employers; didn't get Goldman your first 'junior' summer? Recruit again the following year. Put 5/2015 as your expected graduation date for now so you can recruit immediately in the fall, and if you get a place you'd be happy to receive a full-time offer from, just tell them of your extra semester at the end of the summer. If you don't get a place that good, don't tell them, do the summer, and re-recruit as a 2016 grad.

this.
 

I honestly think you should be arrested. My niece just finished her freshman year at the University of Alabama and experienced year 1 of the 4 best years of her life. The University of Alabama is an amazing place--the fact that you haven't taken advantage of that makes me ill. Your school just won ANOTHER football national championship. I can't even imagine the ridiculous experience you could have had first semester freshman year, and the last 2 years in general. I don't know anyone who is getting a 4.0 in college and enjoying life. If you're the rare exception then I take it back.

With that said, since you're already wasting your college experience and you already got into UNC then definitely go to UNC. It will improve your marketability noticeably. Maybe you'll sack up and get out to a UNC basketball game or something. Wow. I'm just...wow...

 
DCDepository:

I honestly think you should be arrested. My niece just finished her freshman year at the University of Alabama and experienced year 1 of the 4 best years of her life. The University of Alabama is an amazing place--the fact that you haven't taken advantage of that makes me ill. Your school just won ANOTHER football national championship. I can't even imagine the ridiculous experience you could have had first semester freshman year, and the last 2 years in general. I don't know anyone who is getting a 4.0 in college and enjoying life. If you're the rare exception then I take it back.

With that said, since you're already wasting your college experience and you already got into UNC then definitely go to UNC. It will improve your marketability noticeably. Maybe you'll sack up and get out to a UNC basketball game or something. Wow. I'm just...wow...

I'm torn if your ripping OP about this is a good thing or a bad thing. I also had a 4.0 from a state ugrad after my sophomore year (though didn't have the good sense to transfer). I didn't enjoy life and did miss out on the 'college experience'. I do appreciate that having a 4.0 instead of a 3.9 requires a shit-ton more work, and that time could have been used 'constructively' socially. However, I feel the 4.0 shows you are hungry, which is important if you go to a nontarget and need to make sure you stand out.

 
Amphipathic:
DCDepository:

I honestly think you should be arrested. My niece just finished her freshman year at the University of Alabama and experienced year 1 of the 4 best years of her life. The University of Alabama is an amazing place--the fact that you haven't taken advantage of that makes me ill. Your school just won ANOTHER football national championship. I can't even imagine the ridiculous experience you could have had first semester freshman year, and the last 2 years in general. I don't know anyone who is getting a 4.0 in college and enjoying life. If you're the rare exception then I take it back.
With that said, since you're already wasting your college experience and you already got into UNC then definitely go to UNC. It will improve your marketability noticeably. Maybe you'll sack up and get out to a UNC basketball game or something. Wow. I'm just...wow...

I'm torn if your ripping OP about this is a good thing or a bad thing. I also had a 4.0 from a state ugrad after my sophomore year (though didn't have the good sense to transfer). I didn't enjoy life and did miss out on the 'college experience'. I do appreciate that having a 4.0 instead of a 3.9 requires a shit-ton more work, and that time could have been used 'constructively' socially. However, I feel the 4.0 shows you are hungry, which is important if you go to a nontarget and need to make sure you stand out.

"I didn't enjoy life and did miss out on the 'college experience'". Enough said. I know people and have clients in high finance from state universities with GPAs in the 2s--they make great money and their lives are about as normal as anyone else's. I don't recommend trying the 2-something route, but to piss away one's college experience is something that most would profoundly regret one day, especially at the University of Alabama! Is there a more quintessential university for one to enjoy sports, parties, incredibly and unbelievably hot girls and the overall college life than Alabama?

Like I said, since the OP has already thrown away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the University of Alabama (more than likely--I leave open the possibility that he had the time of his life and got perfect grades), he might as well go to UNC. At least it will help him in his early career. If the OP is from Alabama, what will hold him back more than anything is his southern accent. Our business doesn't appreciate heavy accents.

 

I just finished up sophomore year at a decent state school with a 4.0 and am transferring to UNC. It involved me getting wasted on weekends, having a bunch of shallow one night stands with girls who thought I was way less insecure than I really am, smoking a ridiculous amount of weed, messing around with coke and moon rock, and having several month long flings. All those experiences did was make me realize that the main reason I love fucking girls and getting fucked up is it helps me convince myself that I'm not a loser and my life does have value. It's pathetic. I can't believe you'd say that someone wasted their time in college based on some arbitrary definition of a good experience. I don't know OP, but if he is the kind of guy who doesn't need to get fucked up to be ok with himself and have a good time, more power to him.

 
lang:

I just finished up sophomore year at a decent state school with a 4.0 and am transferring to UNC. It involved me getting wasted on weekends, having a bunch of shallow one night stands with girls who thought I was way less insecure than I really am, smoking a ridiculous amount of weed, messing around with coke and moon rock, and having several month long flings.
All those experiences did was make me realize that the main reason I love fucking girls and getting fucked up is it helps me convince myself that I'm not a loser and my life does have value. It's pathetic. I can't believe you'd say that someone wasted their time in college based on some arbitrary definition of a good experience. I don't know OP, but if he is the kind of guy who doesn't need to get fucked up to be ok with himself and have a good time, more power to him.

I didn't say I recommended getting wasted 5 nights a week, contracting STDs and breaking federal drug laws. I'm talking about taking in all that UA has to offer--great social life, beautiful women, tailgating, sports, hiking, great weather, intramurals, etc. I'm sorry your definition of experiencing college meant smoking dope and testing your blood for AIDS.

Again, I'm interested in the OP's response.

 
lang:

I just finished up sophomore year at a decent state school with a 4.0 and am transferring to UNC. It involved me getting wasted on weekends, having a bunch of shallow one night stands with girls who thought I was way less insecure than I really am, smoking a ridiculous amount of weed, messing around with coke and moon rock, and having several month long flings.
All those experiences did was make me realize that the main reason I love fucking girls and getting fucked up is it helps me convince myself that I'm not a loser and my life does have value. It's pathetic. I can't believe you'd say that someone wasted their time in college based on some arbitrary definition of a good experience. I don't know OP, but if he is the kind of guy who doesn't need to get fucked up to be ok with himself and have a good time, more power to him.

What is your major, if you don't mind sharing?

 
surferbarney:

A 4.0 does not require a "shit ton" of more work than a 3.9.

Yes it does, at least for STEM majors, have no idea about other majors. Among other reasons, you need to have a very strong handle on a chunk of stuff that is unlikely to be tested and that most everyone else would just skim.

 
Amphipathic:
surferbarney:

A 4.0 does not require a "shit ton" of more work than a 3.9.

Yes it does, at least for STEM majors, have no idea about other majors. Among other reasons, you need to have a very strong handle on a chunk of stuff that is unlikely to be tested and that most everyone else would just skim.

I agree with this and would think it would apply to most classes. To get a 4.0 means you were prepared for any and all curveballs that could possibly have been thrown your way in every single class. What's a classic college student complaint? "What the heck?? This stuff was never covered! How can we be tested on this??" The reality is that it probably was covered at least in passing--it's what sets the 4.0 students apart from the 3.8s. 3.8 students are smart and well prepared. 4.0 students are smart and prepared for nearly anything that could be presented. The marginal difference in studying could mean hours each week. That's why I would submit that the majority of people with 4.0 GPAs sacrificed something that a 3.5+ student didn't. Admirable in a way, especially at a top school. Surprising at a fun place like Alabama. Not sure I'd have had the will power.

 

I have a 4.0 GPA (only finished first year) and to be honest, it really depends on what school you go to. My school is a bit better than U of Alabama, but I honestly put minimal work into school and still got easy 4.0s. One of the perks of going to a not very good school is that the average guy is terrible at school and the curving system will work in your favor. To give an example, I got a B+ in Accounting, but due to the huge ass curve because everyone else sucks, I got bumped to an A. And yes, I still had my fun (joined a fraternity) and everything. That said, it will honestly depend on your major, if I was to do engineering or math, the amount of work I put in would most likely make my average GPA at 3.0.

 

I'm disappointed I wasn't able to get in on this conversation earlier. I am a current student at the University of Alabama and feel like I can give you some solid advice. Alabama offers plenty of opportunities for you to succeed as a student and in the real world. It is also a better school than it gets credit for because, honestly, a lot of students here can't cut it in the real world. If I were you (considering I'm doing this), assuming this is offered for your major, do the University Scholars program. You can finish your masters degree by the end of your fourth year and would be way ahead of your UNC self graduating a semester late with only a Bachelors. Alabama does not have as big of a presence on Wall Street as UNC (I'd assume) but it definitely is not impossible if you play your cards right. I am also in the Greek system and am a big supporter of it. It's something for people to get involved in and it really helps some students. However, I also understand people that are against it. Going along with what is being said though, I know Greek students from Bama, as well as non-Greek students, that have gotten offers to GS, BCG, Bain, etc.

 
bamabull2098:

I'm disappointed I wasn't able to get in on this conversation earlier. I am a current student at the University of Alabama and feel like I can give you some solid advice. Alabama offers plenty of opportunities for you to succeed as a student and in the real world. It is also a better school than it gets credit for because, honestly, a lot of students here can't cut it in the real world. If I were you (considering I'm doing this), assuming this is offered for your major, do the University Scholars program. You can finish your masters degree by the end of your fourth year and would be way ahead of your UNC self graduating a semester late with only a Bachelors. Alabama does not have as big of a presence on Wall Street as UNC (I'd assume) but it definitely is not impossible if you play your cards right.
I am also in the Greek system and am a big supporter of it. It's something for people to get involved in and it really helps some students. However, I also understand people that are against it. Going along with what is being said though, I know Greek students from Bama, as well as non-Greek students, that have gotten offers to GS, BCG, Bain, etc.

Sorry man, but UNC shits on Alabama when it comes to BB IB or MBB. This thread is unnecessarily long. Alabama doesn't have OCR for any BBs and minimal presence in the city of NYC.

In fact, I'm not sure I've ever come across a Bama grad in MM IB or PE. Far more from Emory, UGA, G. Tech, Vandy. That doesn't mean there aren't any from Bama, but it isn't even Top 5 in the SE.

 

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