Club Lacrosse for breaking into IB???

Hi I'm an incoming Freshman, Male

I've seen a lot of articles that playing college D1 Lacrosse is one of the best things to get into IB

I wonder whether its the same for playing club lacrosse

how hard is it to get into  club lacrosse?

My other alternative would be playing basketball, which I am much better at.

Open to all info/constructive criticism 

 

11 Comments
 

Playing club lacrosse at Cornell, or any sport for that matter, can be a great way to maintain your mental health and build a network, but it’s not a direct ticket to breaking into investment banking (IB). Based on the most helpful WSO content, athletic backgrounds are valued in IB recruiting because they demonstrate teamwork, discipline, and time management. However, this is more pronounced for D1 athletes due to the intense commitment and prestige associated with varsity-level sports.

For club lacrosse: 1. Recruiting Impact: While it won’t carry the same weight as D1 lacrosse, participating in club sports can still be a positive talking point during interviews. It shows you’re well-rounded and can manage extracurriculars alongside academics. 2. Getting In: If you haven’t played lacrosse before, it might be challenging to join the club team, as many participants likely have prior experience. However, reaching out to the team early and expressing your interest could help. 3. Winter Play: Given Cornell’s snowy winters, outdoor sports like lacrosse might be limited during the colder months. Indoor facilities or alternative training sessions might be available, but it’s worth checking with the club directly.

If basketball is your stronger sport, it might be a better option for you. Excelling in something you’re already good at could provide more enjoyment and stress relief, which is crucial for your mental health.

Lastly, while sports can be a great outlet, don’t overlook other ways to combat the high-pressure environment at Cornell. Joining finance-related clubs, networking with upperclassmen, and seeking mental health resources on campus can all contribute to a healthier and more balanced college experience.

Sources: Incoming Freshman - Best Clubs for Investment Banking/PE at UPenn, In Search of Wisdom, Review of Investment Banking Recruiting at Cornell Johnson, Cornell vs. USC vs. Michigan, Review of Investment Banking Recruiting at Cornell Johnson

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
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bro is trying to take the vars athlete route. there's nothing wrong with that. but dont just do it for IB. play the sport if you love it. 

Varsity sports like lacrosse and football however do show character during interviews and app processes so it could definitely help.

 

John K, you're an odd one. 

Do it if it makes you happy and along the way maybe you'll make friends that result in leads. Don't think for a second firms are gonna be slobbering over you just because you play a club sport though lol

 

The way to see if it helps or not is to check where the seniors on the club lacrosse team are going for their jobs. Just go to the instagram and see who they post / tag in their photos and then check them out on LinkedIn (incognito). I don’t think ur thought is crazy at all 

 

IMO the problems are 1) correlation does not equal causation, D1 lax players tend to bring their own connections from feeder prep school backgrounds 2) over optimizing (will this club sports team help me find a job) results in myopic robot-ism

I think it's a good idea for the resilience/fitness/social development that comes with playing a new sport with a new group of people and indirectly will help placement, as does virtually any personal development. However, OP's mindset seems out of wack

 

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