College for IB


UK: UCL Economics
US: UMich Ross & Northwestern Weinberg
Canada: Western Ivey AEO & UofT Rotman Commerce
Italy: Bocconi BIEF 

No financial aid at any of these, and am full-pay. 

6 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of your options for pursuing Investment Banking (IB) with the schools you've listed:

UK: UCL Economics

  • Pros: UCL is a strong target school for IB in the UK and Europe. Its Economics program is highly regarded, and the proximity to London provides excellent networking opportunities with major banks.
  • Cons: The competition for IB roles in the UK is intense, and you'll need to stand out through internships and networking.

US: UMich Ross & Northwestern Weinberg

  • UMich Ross: A top-tier business school with strong on-campus recruiting (OCR) for IB. Ross has a well-established pipeline to Wall Street and other financial hubs.
  • Northwestern Weinberg: While Northwestern is prestigious, Weinberg (liberal arts) may require more effort to break into IB compared to Ross. Networking and leveraging alumni connections will be crucial.

Canada: Western Ivey AEO & UofT Rotman Commerce

  • Western Ivey AEO: Ivey is the top choice for IB in Canada. Its case-based learning and strong alumni network make it a direct feeder to Canadian IB roles, with some opportunities in the US.
  • UofT Rotman Commerce: A solid program, but it doesn't have the same IB placement strength as Ivey. You may need to work harder to secure top-tier IB roles.

Italy: Bocconi BIEF

  • Bocconi is a powerhouse for IB in Europe, especially for roles in London. Its reputation, rigorous curriculum, and strong alumni network make it a standout choice for European IB.

Key Considerations

  1. Geographic Preference: If you aim to work in the US, UMich Ross is the strongest option. For Europe, UCL and Bocconi are excellent choices. In Canada, Western Ivey is the clear leader.
  2. Cost: Since you're full-pay, consider the return on investment (ROI) based on your target region for work.
  3. Networking: Schools like Ross, Ivey, and Bocconi have strong alumni networks in their respective regions, which can significantly ease the IB recruiting process.

Recommendation

  • For the US: UMich Ross is the best choice for IB placement.
  • For Europe: Bocconi BIEF edges out UCL due to its IB focus and strong European network.
  • For Canada: Western Ivey AEO is the top pick.

If you're flexible about location, prioritize the school with the strongest IB placement in your desired region.

Sources: Undergrad School OPTIONS (please help), Target schools outside of the US?, Comprehensive Undergraduate Target Schools Tier List 2020, Had a Pair of Aces and I Folded - Now What?

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

Small question about Northwestern. One thing I'm definitely worried is about my prospects if I don't get into NUIBC, their top club. I'm quite good with financial technicals and while I don't want to admit it, my parents have also lined up some solid internships up for me (One VC online internship I got through a friend's dad and a PE/Investment Analysis internship I got through my dad), so how would my odds look for Northwestern IB specifically especially considering I'm international and my chances of breaking in are significantly lower. (note that my dad can't help me with an IB job due to the limited amount of junior professionals working in Dubai and low wages/wage discrimination against my race) 

 

Small question about Northwestern. One thing I'm definitely worried is about my prospects if I don't get into NUIBC, their top club. I'm quite good with financial technicals and while I don't want to admit it, my parents have also lined up some solid internships up for me (One VC online internship I got through a friend's dad and a PE/Investment Analysis internship I got through my dad), so how would my odds look for Northwestern IBspecifically especially considering I'm international and my chances of breaking in are significantly lower. (note that my dad can't help me with an IB job due to the limited amount of junior professionals working in Dubai and low wages/wage discrimination against my race) 

Also isn't Ross the school that has been around longer and has a greater alumni network? That's what my parents were worried about. 

 

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