Brown VS Gtown MSB Vs NYU Stern

Sophomore transfer student (Fall 2025) deciding between NYU Stern, Georgetown McDonough, and Brown for fall 2025. Want to break into top PE/HF/IB after graduation.

Don't know what to choose. Would like info about all three schools and any advice on which to pick.

Anyone have experience recruiting from these schools or work with people who did?

Which one should I go to?

Brown
45% (18 votes)
Gtown MSB
20% (8 votes)
NYU Stern
35% (14 votes)
Total votes: 40
2 Comments
 

When deciding between NYU Stern, Georgetown McDonough (MSB), and Brown as a sophomore transfer student aiming for top PE/HF/IB roles, here’s what you need to know based on the most helpful WSO content:

NYU Stern

  • Strengths: Stern is a powerhouse for finance, especially for IB and PE recruiting. Its location in New York City provides unparalleled access to networking opportunities, internships, and on-campus recruitment with top firms. The proximity to Wall Street is a significant advantage.
  • Culture: While Stern is known for its strong finance focus, some describe the environment as competitive or "cutthroat." However, this is often overstated and depends on individual experiences.
  • Placement: Stern consistently places a large number of students into top-tier investment banks and private equity firms. The alumni network in finance is extensive and highly active.

Georgetown McDonough (MSB)

  • Strengths: Georgetown MSB is a strong target school for IB, particularly in the D.C. and Northeast regions. It has a solid reputation for finance and consulting placements.
  • Culture: The environment is collaborative, and the school offers a well-rounded business education. While not as finance-focused as Stern, it still provides excellent opportunities for IB and consulting.
  • Placement: Georgetown has a strong alumni network, and its graduates are well-represented in top banks and consulting firms. However, it may not have the same level of direct access to Wall Street as Stern.

Brown

  • Strengths: Brown offers a prestigious Ivy League education with a flexible curriculum, allowing you to tailor your studies to your interests. While not a traditional business school, its name carries significant weight in finance.
  • Culture: Known for its collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, Brown provides a unique college experience. However, it lacks the structured finance focus of Stern or MSB.
  • Placement: Brown alumni do break into IB, PE, and HF, but the path may require more self-driven networking and effort compared to Stern or MSB. The alumni network is strong but not as concentrated in finance.

Advice

  1. If you prioritize direct access to Wall Street and structured recruiting pipelines, NYU Stern is the best choice. Its location and finance focus make it ideal for breaking into IB, PE, or HF.
  2. If you value a collaborative environment with strong finance and consulting opportunities, Georgetown MSB is a great option. It offers a balance between academics and career preparation.
  3. If you want a broader Ivy League experience with flexibility and prestige, Brown is the way to go. However, you’ll need to be proactive in networking and securing internships.

Ultimately, your success will depend on how you leverage the resources at your chosen school. Stern offers the most direct path to top finance roles, but Georgetown and Brown can also lead to success with the right effort and strategy.

Sources: Duke/Georgetown MSB/NYU Stern College choices, Georgetown MSB vs NYU Stern?, Georgetown MSB vs Michigan Ross vs UC Berkeley, Berkeley vs Brown vs Stern, Stanford vs Wharton vs Booth vs Columbia for PE

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Dolores non voluptas dolor commodi totam sint quibusdam. Hic aut sequi ad iusto cumque assumenda. Ut sapiente quia dicta dolore ex alias quo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”