Caltech Reputation for IB
I am currently a high school student with an offer to play a varsity sport at caltech. I currently have the primary desire to break into Wall Street as an investment banker post undergrad, and was wondering about NYC IB opportunities I would get majoring in math/econ at a STEM university such as caltech. Realistically, this is one of my only top options as this is one of the only schools where I was able to use my sport as leverage.
Given that caltech can be considered a non target for IB especially in NYC, I am wondering about how students from there would be perceived if they were to show a strong interest in finance/ib and have a strong GPA.
isn't caltech like one of the best schools in america? I doubt there's a pipeline tbh but I imagine it'd be easy for you to network/get looks. go for it brother
If you have this plan now as a high schooler and stick to it, especially at a top school like CalTech, you’ll be just fine. Just make sure you focus on finance clubs when u get there and I’m sure you’ll get interviews
Caltech student here - we don't have many people who want to go into IB in the first place so that's why you won't see very many alumni there. I've personally never had any issues getting interviews at BBs albeit for quant/securities roles, and I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to do IB since some of the BB banks do show up on campus. I'd suggest reaching out to alumni in IB - there's definitely a couple you can find through a quick LinkedIn search.
Caltech is A1 bro
You will be fine in that Caltech is extremely prestigious and if you network/have a good GPA, you will absolutely get looks. However, I would be hesitant to go given how it’s arguably the hardest undergrad program. There is grade deflation, the classes make MIT look easy and and when there’s only 250 students, there are few “mediocre” students to help the curve. Why suffer through all this for IB to never do math again? Plus no alumni network. If you have any other target/T20, I’d go there instead
Thanks for the insight.
How do you think a lower gpa student from Caltech I.e 3.5 would be perceived by top recruiters. Would it close a lot of doors?
I think a 3.5 from Caltech would be tough just because most people in finance don't know how hard/grade deflationary it is and there aren't really alumni around to advocate for you. At least your first two quarters are PF, but I'd be extremely careful in class selection to boost my GPA before recruiting if I were you. Assuming you study BEMs, you may be at an advantage bc that's a major people typically fail into at Caltech so starting there and wanting to do it will help. I studied ORFE at an Ivy and had some friends at Caltech - it's notably harder and I had some engineering friends turn down Caltech because of how brutal it is. And ORFE at an Ivy was already HARD - coming from your typical prep-school valedictorian, 1580, 5s on 12 APs kind of kid. If you want to do a PhD in STEM - Caltech is the single best undergraduate in the world with an insane research emphasis. But if not, you're living in the world of kids who love and breathe STEM and you won’t be able to compete. You said your stats Ivy quality but you don't have a "hook" - something like Ross/Stern etc. would be much better if you can pull it off.
I don’t mean this to be rude either, but if you’re a recruited athlete without any other top school offers, there’s a good chance you’ll be one of those people there to “help the curve”
Perhaps, but I genuinely don’t think I am too far off, if at all from some of the regular admits. The only reason I believe I am not guaranteed another t20 college admission is because of affirmative action practices/heavy weight on extracurriculars at these top schools. My pure high school stats are the same if not better than peers who are getting accepted to lower ivies/HYPSM, I just don’t think I have top extracurriculars which are often revered for admission.
Nope recruiting doesn't work that way at Caltech/MIT.
Why buy a Prius if you can buy a Bugatti? With that major and Caltech name you should aim for Quant HF instead of IB.
Honestly, I feel as though I would prefer IB work over quant work which requires heavy programming.
I have also heard on this forum that you must be insanely intelligent to become a successful quant, where as you more so have to win office politics and grind it out to become a top banker. Looking at my attributes, I think IB is much more suited for me. Am I misconceived?
What are your mathematical abilities like?
If you're inside Caltech that's enough intelligence.
Well respected place, you'll do well if you have a strong GPA and show interest
If you go to MIT/CalTech you don’t even need your gpa on a resume. everyone already knows you’re probably closer to being a genius than not.
100%
Please don't waste your talents going for IB if you are CalTech caliber, you can get paid more in other roles like Quant or be a well paid SWE/AI eng or even go direct buyside/VC
Why is it wasted? Sure, maybe if OP's plan was to be a career banker, but IB/Consulting lends itself to further opportunities in the business world later down the line that definitely arent 'wasted'. Not everyone enjoys Quant/SWE/ML work, even if they're 'smart enough' for it.
This person is likely a .1% mind in the world, do we really think they will be fulfilled by the BS of IB, even consulting is better for intellectuals and obviously direct to buyside is the best if there is interest in business/finance. IB is mind numbing, hope no one else who is smart has to go through this dumbass credentialing process.
I'm a Caltech student recruiting for IB, just PM'd you. It's also interesting that this is the 2nd thread in the past few weeks of a Caltech student showing interest in IB.
While it's definitely doable, if IB is your primary goal, I'd recommend trying to get into an Ivy or MIT. However, if your goal is the tech/biotech/energy etc buyside eventually, the Caltech brand holds weight, especially in those sectors where the name is highly respected.
It really just depends on what you wanna do in life, and if the Caltech experience is worth it.
Late to this but Caltech-to-biotech VC/equity research would be such a flex.
You’ll be fine. I go to a shitty non target and networked my way. You’ll get an offer if you network early and often.
why though lol. you can easily leverage that straight to a hedge fund or VC
That’s the more intelligent job field to take
How were you able to use a sport as leverage at Caltech?… they're D3 with some of the worst athletics programs in the US, their basketball team was famous for losing like 100+ games. And by and large they don’t put any weight on athletics during admissions. I think you're bullshitting.Anyways, I had the choice of there or MIT and went MIT, and looking back non-quant finance would have been a lot harder from Caltech versus a more "normal" school. Studying so much will impact your social skills and bankers will likely think you're too weird for a job where social skills and decorum are materially important.
You're set, my smart pickle of a man.
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