“I recently had a LinkedIn audit call with Arnau as part of my WSO Academy program, and it was one of the most practical and useful sessions I've had so far. I came in thinking my profile was in decent shape. I left with a clear picture of how recruiters and bankers actually see it, and a concrete list of changes that will make it work much harder for me.
Some background: I'm moving from corporate finance into investment banking, corporate banking, and private equity. I have an MBA in Corporate Finance, a PMP, and several years of finance and project management experience. Making that kind of move depends heavily on how you present your story, and LinkedIn is often the first place a recruiter or analyst sees it. That's why this session mattered so much to me.
From the first few minutes, Arnau was well prepared, direct, and focused on what actually moves the needle. He didn't just give generic tips like "add a professional photo." He went through my profile section by section and explained why each piece matters to someone in finance who's quickly scanning candidates. His feedback was honest without being discouraging, which I really appreciated. He pointed out where my profile was underselling my experience and where it wasn't clearly showing that I'm aiming for banking and PE.
What stood out most was how he helped me think about positioning. My background covers corporate finance, project management, hospitality, and real estate, and it can be hard to make that read as one clear story. Arnau helped me connect those experiences to the skills banks look for: financial analysis, modeling, managing budgets and capital, and working with senior stakeholders. He showed me how small changes to my headline, About section, and experience bullets can make that story obvious within seconds.
The session was also very actionable. I didn't leave with vague ideas. I left with a short list of specific edits I can make right away. That matters a lot when you're job hunting and every week counts. He also shared advice on using LinkedIn more actively, such as engaging with the right people and content, so the profile supports my networking instead of just sitting there.
I also want to recognize the overall WSO Academy experience. Between the modeling bootcamp, the company research work, the mentorship, and sessions like this one, the program has given me structure and support during a career transition that can otherwise feel isolating. This call was a good example of what makes WSO different: the people coaching you understand the industry you're trying to break into and give feedback that reflects how hiring really works.
If you're a WSO member and haven't booked a LinkedIn audit yet, I'd strongly recommend it. It's a short time commitment, and the return is significant. Your LinkedIn profile is often your first impression, and having an experienced set of eyes on it is worth it.
Thank you, Arnau, for your time, honesty, and practical guidance. I'm excited to put the changes in place and keep building toward my goal of breaking into investment banking.”
I'd say pretty realistic. Perhaps UVA and Vanderbilt would be more realistic.
I think UVA does pretty well for BB's
They all have strong placement into Charlotte/Atlanta/Houston offices. Of those four, UVA has the strongest placement into NYC.
I just found this for UVA:
(it won't let me post the link but basically search McIntire Destinations Report in Google)
2013 Internship Data: Credit Suisse: 7 JPM: 7 Barclays: 5 MS: 4 UBS: 4 Citi: 3 GS: 3 Lazard: 3 Blackstone: 2
Wow, I guess that's pretty good - I underestimated UVA.
UVA and Vandy are clearly your better options on this list. Regardless, none of these are Harvard and none are a Texas State, so hustle and you'll be fine.
I don't think there's a HUGE difference in placement for any of those schools.. so just choose the one that best fits you.
I'd say UVA is the best among them ONLY if you get in McIntire. Otherwise, all relatively equal
UVA McIntire does great across the board. The other schools are solid but recruiting there is more focused on regional MMs (not to say NY BB isn't possible with a lot of networking and effort)
More importantly... why are you basing your school decision on one possible future career exit?
Go where you want to go. If you're meant to be a successful banker, then you're gonna get it done from wherever you get your undergraduate degree (especially from any of those four great schools).
Enjoy college! Use it to explore other things besides banking and high finance. It's great to have a plan of action but it's even better to find what you're truly passionate about.
Yeah, and I guess those numbers are sort of inflated too. A few of them are probably URMs/have connections (my cousin who goes to UVA said Eric Cantor's son was in McIntire and was one of the two who went to GS). So I'd probably have to really haul ass (as I would at any school haha)
UVA UNC Vandy Emory
Honestly UVA blows the rest out of the water in terms of placement especially in NYC (I don't go there).
The rest are a pretty even mix.
UVA > UNC > Vanderbilt > Emory
Everyone has already stated UVA wins by a landslide, but UNC has excellent recruiting as well.
What do you mean none of these are targets? ... Either you are extremely entitled, or just are unaware. These are all top business schools for undergrad, UVA being top 10. With the exception of Vanderbilt, I would say every school on that list can easily get you into a BB.
i don't know much about UNC, Vandy, or Emory, but UVA does pretty well (as long as you're from McIntire). Keep in mind you have to apply after your 2nd year so its not a sure thing. but if you put forth the effort its definitely doable and I know quite a few grads that made it to BBs
One more question: as a math major from one of these schools, how hard would it be to enter trading? Are quants exclusively from MIT/Caltech/H/P/S/etc. or are there math majors from less prestigious schools that work as traders?
Two of the most important things you'll need for any job in finance:
I would throw you a banana if I had one.
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