HBS or Wharton for IB?

International student, accepted to both for my MBA. Aiming to leverage either to break into IB at a BB/EB. I’ve heard from HBS alums that it’s comparatively easier to get into IB from HBS since it’s just as prestigious (if not more) than other top B-schools, but less of the class is gunning for IB so you have a comparatively higher chance all else being equal (like your prep and networking).

Can someone else weigh in on this? How is the Wharton MBA IB scene like? What are the rough % of people that try for IB and get it?

12 Comments
 

How was your experience at Wharton in class/clubs/recruiting?

Cost: I'm not making shit at my job so HBS' need-based aid may come in clutch here over Wharton's opaque merit based aid. But I won't know how much $ I get until the year I go.

Culture: I did undergrad in the US and I feel like I get American culture pretty well, so I'm sure I'd have a fun time with my crowd grinding/partying either way.

Classes: Case method from HBS sounds more fun, but Wharton classes seem more finance-focused which I'd also benefit heavily from, so I'm split.

Location: No preference between BOS/PHL, I think either are great.

Recruitment outcomes are the remaining thing on the list of things I care about 

 

Finance classes at Wharton aren’t going to help you much as an IB associate. Some of the dumbest associates I have worked with in banking got their mbas from Wharton. MBA programs do not teach you how to do IB; IB is pretty much on-the-job training as well as an apprenticeship-type model. Wharton is not going to teach you how to adjust assumptions a million times in a model to fit whatever valuation your MD is making up, nor is Wharton going to teach you how to make PowerPoints. 

Go to the MBA program that you actually want to go to. You can get into banking from both HBS and Wharton. 

 

OP is a troll who has an offer from Wharton and is trying to inflate his ego with an HBS comparison. Next.

 

You’d be fine at both, Wharton puts more people in IB though. I would assume that’s just because not a ton of people go to HBS wanting to do banking. I would imagine Wharton has a more structured process than HBS. I have met a few Wharton people at my bank but no HBS.

Either way, I’d go to which campus and student body you enjoy the most. Your IB outcomes would likely be identical.

 

Why don’t you weigh in with your magnificent insights? I’ve spoken with current students and recent grads at both schools over the past years, who have all had a bridge to sell me in terms of their picture of their school’s IB recruiting outcomes. Would love to hear any different takes otherwise….. thanks

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