How is ICADE (E-3) perceived for London IB (Bulge Bracket/Elite Boutiques)?
Hi everyone,
I’m a 17-year-old student currently at a French school in Madrid (top grades, 9.3/10 GPA). My goal is clear, Investment Banking (M&A) in London, aiming for Bulge Brackets (GS/JPM/MS) or Elite Boutiques (Rothschild/Lazard/Evercore).
I am planning to study at ICADE in Madrid, specifically the E-3 program (5-year Double Degree in Law + Business Administration). I am trilingual (Native Spanish, C1 English, C1 French).
I have a couple of specific questions for those currently working in the City:
1. Language Edge: Does being trilingual (Spanish/French/English) coupled with an ICADE pedigree help in pivoting away from "Regional Coverage" into more industry-focused groups or global teams?
I’d appreciate any insights from anyone who has gone through the process or sees ICADE interns/analysts in their floors.
Thanks!
some representation at JPMorgan I believe, because JP loves their Europeans. Basically no one anywhere else. Essaye d’intégrer Bocconi plutôt
Thanks for your answer. I think I will go to ICADE E-3 because Bocconi is too expensive for me. Thanks for the advice! But is ICADE a good uni for JPM? Is it a target for them? I heard that ICADE last summer sent 4 people to SA, same as Oxford and more than a lot of “target” unis
I wouldn’t get too excited. ICADE is absolutely a non-target in London, I’ve never seen any such placements except those 4 at JPM. That’s FOUR people. You will not be top 4 people unless you are a prodigy as even the top 5-10 people at non-targets tend to be incredibly talented and able.
For your own purposes, and I know this will sting, so please don’t take it badly, but you are headed to a non-target. JPM takes 4 people and that’s it on the entire street as far as I can see.
You can still, however, land a placement. You will just have to work like a non-target student would.
if you want to work in London, Oxbridge/LSE > Bocconi > Icade
easier than this, just go with the best uni possible and work hard + always factor that a local university also allows for a plan B of recruiting locally if London fails
also, pre-emptive to think about regional coverage vs. industry coverage for now, just get into a uni and see what calls u get when u start recruiting. Then you just go with ur best option
Thanks for your answer man. Knowing that it’s not the best uni, how is ICADE considered for London recruiters? And how strong is the ICADE network there?
you're asking the wrong questions, the university will not do the work for you, it's all on how the student leverages its education
if you open LinkedIn and see people from ICADE at JPM/GS/MS, etc. that's all you need to stay assured that no one will hold you back from joining those firms if you're from ICADE assuming you do everything in your power to be an attractive candidate to recruit for those firms
+1 on Oxbridge/LSE as being your top targets. They'd give you the best chance of breaking into IB out of undergrad.
However, if you're willing to do the E-3 programs, I'd consider looking at a BSc + MSc because that's the standard for most elite European institutions. At Bocconi, I'd say 80-90% of alumni at BBs/EBs did an MiF or something similar lmao. Have heard the same about most of the other targets for masters.
Look into the details but, off the top of my head, these are your targets for a master's degree: LSE, LBS, HEC, Bocconi, ESSEC, ESCP, HSG and Imperial. Warwick and ESADE too I suppose but not as good as the rest.
It makes you a much stronger candidate overall and gives you better chances to recruit - and again, if you get a SA offer in your undergrad then no need to an MSc. I don't really see the point to locking yourself into a 5 year program for no real benefit.
I can't testify to their representation in actual offices, but didn't hear much about ICADE when I was deciding where to go. If you are very keen on ICADE I see no major harm in going (for 3 years), given you're willing to do an MSc.
For alternatives for a BSc in Europe, look into Bocconi, ESSEC, ESADE, ESCP for unis that might fit your profile. UK (Imperial, UCL, Warwick, Durham) is also an option, but much more expensive. Not really worth it IMO if you're an international and/or plan to do a MSc at some point.
HEC & Bocconi also do a joint program (HEC's only BSc, and relatively new) in data science or something like that if it interests you.
And I'm not entirely sure on how the French system works so maybe ask some friends/seniors but I think the grand ecole is looked at very positively within France. Followed by the prepa or an MSc.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer.
I know that the European basis is to do a masters after the degree and it’s not a problem for me, although I will try to get a SA asap.
I know ICADE is not the best target, but it’s the best for me because the other unis are too expensive for me, so, as I live in Madrid, ICADE is the most “target” option.
I’ve read your last few posts now and it sounds to me like you’ve already decided on ICADE but that really you just want to be reassured it’s good enough.
The other commenters across both posts have now clearly stated which universities would be ideal, which would be ok, commented on BSc/MSc, etc.
It’s not worth wasting time on posting more about this if finances mean ICADE is the only option, and that’s fine by the way (though if you can stretch to a semi- or target thus have better lifetime earnings for a small sum now, I’d think about it).
Really, sounds like the question you should be asking (unless you make it to a target) is just: I’m going to ICADE, how do I maximise my opportunities? Don’t just ask here but research LinkedIn/other.
And, if the answer is that very few people have made it to IB there previously, then think about what you need to do to be one of the first - that’s all you can do
I get where you're coming from
ESADE might be a better option - it's better regarded than ICADE, has a campus in Madrid and provides some sort of financial aid. I think I was offered some sort of aid without even applying for it specifically haha.
Bocconi also 100% does offer financial aid - look into their ISU scholarship and see if you're eligible for it. You get major discounts on tuition, accommodation and the uni's cafeteria meals. Anyone under a certain income level is automatically eligible for this IIRC. I think there are some other scholarship programs (Bocconi for access or something of the sort) that help with funding as well.
Would suggest looking into that if you're not dead set on ICADE. I'm willing to bet a lot of the other unis I listed would help in some way.
Anyways, best of luck for your career!
Bachelors helps to some extent but not that much. Between bocconi and icade, ofc bocconi is better. But to get into top masters after there's not that much difference.
Be the best at icade, aim for a top master at the likes of hec Escp or bocconi or one of the UK target schools if money allows.
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