Ivy League Question

I am currently a MSc student at a European target and have the opportunity to go to either Harvard or Wharton next year for an exchange semester. It would be in the fall so I can theoretically participate in OCR.

Which one of the two would be the better choice to secure a IB FT offer in the US? It might be important to note that I would be doing courses at HBS and MIT Sloan if I were to chose Harvard.

Thanks guys

22 Comments
 
seedy underbellyHarvard.

But you won't at all be considered as a Harvard student for OCR. I know a few exchange students at my Ivy as well. Be prepared to be left out of 99.99% of all OCR.

Can you elaborate please? Why is that? Does networking help at all?

 

networking at Harvard for the rich kids with connects, and MIT for the smart kids - for future endeavors.

there is no question.

 
LubyankaAt Wharton, some firms recruit for their European offices for which you can participate as an exchange student

Cool, do you know more about how it works and who´s recruiting?

 

Why wouldn't he be eligible for OCR recruiting? All of the exchange students I know (and I literally know all of them at my school...) were given university email addresses, which is all that is required to access resume drops for OCR... Am I missing something? And I attend a target.

 
ensaladaWhy wouldn't he be eligible for OCR recruiting? All of the exchange students I know (and I literally know all of them at my school...) were given university email addresses, which is all that is required to access resume drops for OCR... Am I missing something? And I attend a target.

Thats what I thought...

 

Companies don't evaluate an email address they evaluate a resume and expect certain school names to be at the top. Recruiters don't go to Harvard looking for exchange students they go to Harvard looking for Harvard students.

 

If he is attending Harvard, even on exchange, the school will be on the top of his resume...plus if he is really doing classes at hbs and sloan, he can list that as his relevant courses or write that he is taking mba courses or whatever. I know another guy who also went to harvard for his exchange and harvard apperently considers exchange students as real alumni (hes a member of the harvard club in ny for example). plus while he is at harvard he will certainly have access to the alumni database. I don't know how effective networking is at harvard given that OCR is already pretty big, but he would be like a regular student for the time being.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 
MatrickIf he is attending Harvard, even on exchange, the school will be on the top of his resume...plus if he is really doing classes at hbs and sloan, he can list that as his relevant courses or write that he is taking mba courses or whatever. I know another guy who also went to harvard for his exchange and harvard apperently considers exchange students as real alumni (hes a member of the harvard club in ny for example). plus while he is at harvard he will certainly have access to the alumni database. I don't know how effective networking is at harvard given that OCR is already pretty big, but he would be like a regular student for the time being.

The Harvard Club in NY is not only open to alumni. Being part of the club does not give you alum status. Plus, graduating institution goes at the top of the resume not other programs attended.

 
MatrickIf he is attending Harvard, even on exchange, the school will be on the top of his resume...plus if he is really doing classes at hbs and sloan, he can list that as his relevant courses or write that he is taking mba courses or whatever. I know another guy who also went to harvard for his exchange and harvard apperently considers exchange students as real alumni (hes a member of the harvard club in ny for example). plus while he is at harvard he will certainly have access to the alumni database. I don't know how effective networking is at harvard given that OCR is already pretty big, but he would be like a regular student for the time being.

Real people read resumes, not robots. Unlike robots, real people don't care that "the school will be on top of his resume". It doesn't help.

 

Cupiditate hic beatae fuga omnis sunt. Nihil dolorem assumenda expedita nisi dolorum ipsum. Quasi consequatur adipisci consectetur ea mollitia fugiat. Architecto dolorem neque consequuntur illo.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

Rem numquam aperiam quod neque. Ratione eius et temporibus dolores deserunt. Dignissimos facilis voluptas impedit laudantium nihil voluptatem sed. Vitae quae fugit velit et molestiae asperiores nobis deleniti. Consequuntur est est cumque consequatur voluptates labore. Omnis itaque ipsum consequuntur eligendi.

Quos exercitationem delectus laborum. Quae eaque rem consequatur non consequatur officiis magni. Laboriosam quo rerum eaque corporis.

Hic ex maiores quo quod. Dicta similique sed id. Expedita assumenda incidunt accusamus labore eos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”