Best Major at Penn

Rising Sophomore at Penn currently on pre-med track but did a investment banking boutique internship this summer and in the top investment clubs at Penn. I decided that I want to recruit for IB (both RX and M&A roles) but would like to keep my biology degree (if possible). Would double majoring in Biology and Mathematics vs. the traditional Econ be looked down upon by recruiters? 

edit: my goal is to maximize my chance of recruiting to a top firm. While I want to keep my bio degree, I can drop it if it is necessary. I have another experience in pharmaceutical consulting working with big Pharma companies so I thought I could link that experience with my business one.

Thanks

10 Comments
 
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Your major doesn't matter nearly as much as your GPA so have that in mind. and No it will not be looked upon. I just don't know why you are doing math lol cuz the math department here is shit. If you have a good story/reason for "Why Math+Bio" then do it. Alternatively, if you wanna do HC IB, LSM is the way to go and you will land the best offers if ur in it. It looks like you are doing well so just focus on GPA + Activities + Technical/Behaviourals and you will do well. Also think about the option of going straight to PE/HF/GE too if you are interested in it. Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I'm not in the LSM program. I currently have a 4.0 with bio and would like to do math because that's the subject I'm best at. Long term, I would like to go into life sciences PE and I have a real interest for biology.

Initially, I was considering bio + econ because it allows me to intersect my bio experience with business (sort of). But, I don't really want to take more econ courses so I would rather do math. Either way, I don't think I can take any advanced Econ courses until next year, but I can start taking advanced math classes throughout my sophomore year.

 

Major is most likely irrelevent if you have a good GPA coming out of Penn.

If you are interested in Healthcare, I think having a Bio major makes you very enticing for said groups.

 

If you’re interested in Biopharma, you’ll be a top candidate. If not, still great shot

 

healthcare M&A is a pretty big interest of mine. That said, I heard IB recruiting out of undergrad is more generalist so I'll see how it runs 

 

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