I'm currently working in silicon valley as a software engineer. I'm interested in getting an MBA and breaking into IB. I plan on doing an MBA at either UNC, Emory, or Texas-Austin (or maybe Ross or UVA) since they're in low cost areas and have the best ROI of a top 20 MBA. I plan on working in IB for a few years for the experience. Afterwards, I could see myself switching into Corp Dev at a tech company on the coasts. How would the schools perform in IB associate recruiting?
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +182 | UBS Accused of Favoring H-1B Workers While Cutting U.S.-Born Employees | 44 | 1h |
| +77 | IB Energy Drink Tier List / Ranking | 52 | 1h |
| +70 | PJT M&A Group Selection 2026 | 13 | 5h |
| +36 | Quick Thoughts on CVC AI Sale Process | 7 | 3d |
| +33 | Feedback for internship first desk at IBD BB - personal fit, "don't be too confident" | 23 | 20h |
| +27 | Does BofA still pay its associates rat pellets? | 11 | 3h |
| +24 | ONLY THESE BANKS OR YOU STRUCK OUT | 6 | 7m |
| +19 | Updated JPM Group Rankings | 28 | 2h |
| +18 | What happened to Greenhill | 8 | 3d |
| +18 | VP Deal Origination Credit | 2 | 4h |
Career Resources
you should ask yourself: if you want to wind up corporate development, do you really need to do an MBA and then do investment banking? assuming you work at a decent firm, you can do that without the rebranding
You should also ask yourself: what is the probability weighted ROI? If you go to a school with a low cost of a living and reduce your odds of getting the career you want then is it really a better return on your investment?
To echo what was said above, I feel like it may be possible for you to get to your end goal with all the extra stress and cost of working in IB and getting an MBA.
If you are a non-American, I strongly recommend that you try for higher ranked colleges. There are hardly any non-American i-bankers from these colleges.
As someone with an MBA from a similar college, I can assure you that stats dont show what 'kind' of IB jobs do non-Americans get in these colleges - FO/BO.
Ross and Darden are better options than the 3 you listed
Do a search on linkedin. I do know at least one UNC MBA who worked as an IBD associate at a BB. Probably isn't that hard for UT-Austin either, provided you network.
Emory can get you there, JPMorgan and several other BBs make rounds. You will have to make the NYC trips to seal the deal but you should want to do that anyway. Emory's new dean appears totally pathetic though, so may want to stay away until that plays out (she has no clout in Finance at all). UT Austin does well for energy banking in HOU. If you want Energy BB its UT out of these 3. IMO Emory has more overall prestige but that doesn't mean it places you best (I don't want to hear UNC , UT ranking arguments just my IMO).
Non et iure incidunt nulla fugit. Molestiae cum ea fuga quia. Tenetur ducimus rerum excepturi et sint ipsam. Aut beatae eius aperiam enim illo nesciunt repudiandae. Dolorem a qui magni ipsa aperiam et fuga sint.
Dolores dolores itaque unde laborum rerum nihil architecto. Sit totam accusantium nihil doloribus reiciendis quis beatae. Quibusdam quas laborum iure quod. Quae velit quas ut consequuntur.
Quibusdam recusandae et ab eligendi quia repellat voluptas. Deserunt in aliquid aut occaecati sit. Voluptatibus explicabo incidunt autem ad rerum aliquid.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...