Breaking into BB ibank from high Semi-Target Advice

Hi. I'm going to be a freshman at Northwestern next year, which is a prestigious school but probably punches a bit below its weight when it comes to NYC IB, so I should start planning out my path to IB as soon as possible. My first question is, is breaking into BB ibanking form Northwestern easier than placement numbers suggest? Also, for those who know what the MMSS program at Northwestern is, is it worth applying to?

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Really good that you’re thinking about this stuff right now. With how early recruitment has gotten, it’s honestly smart to start early. Unfortunately, as you clearly understand, Northwestern is a low semi at the absolute best. It’s going to be hard to get the same looks you would elsewhere. If you’re serious about breaking into IB, my advice is to immediately pursue transferring to a supertarget like Kelly School of Business (that’s technically part of Indiana University for the uninitiated heathens). I transferred there from Stanford after striking out on recruiting. I had to change my major from comp sci to finance which was a huge pain but it was so worth it. I practically had Centerview, FT Partners ($140k An1), and GS TMT in a cage match to sign me— GS wanted me so bad they laid someone off specifically so they could hire me.

 

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