LA BB IB or financial analyst

is it possible for a finance major from a non target( u of arizona) to get a job offer from a BB in LA? im deciding between majoring in finance or accounting. i always hear how u need to be an ivy league graduate to become an IB or any good finance job. that is why im unsure about what to major in. i dont wanna bust my butt for the next couple of years and find out i cant get a good finance job in LA

17 Comments
 

It's going to come from networking. Plenty of students from non-targets get in each year, but they don't have the benefit of on campus recruiting or banks 'wanting' them and going after them. Networking is key, and likely the only way in.

 

Honestly, you have no chance, you will not get a job from any reputable IB. Recruiting doesn't go much further than Berkeley or Stanford on the West Coast. Most banks won't even look at USC.

 
gocaliforniaHonestly, you have no chance, you will not get a job from any reputable IB. Recruiting doesn't go much further than Berkeley or Stanford on the West Coast. Most banks won't even look at USC.

Do you know students at USC? Almost all the BB banks recruit there (for the western offices of course), and a few boutiques. I also personally know quite a few analysts and a couple of associates who went to SC. Not to say it isn't hard to get in, but saying "most banks won't even look at USC" is just stupid.

 

I would say USC has a bit of a chance, but not university of arizona. You also want to stay away from JP Chase and WF Financial and Citibank if you want to do IBD. Commercial banking is a whole different ball game. I think your best chance is to do a boutique, and even then your chances are very low (say 5%)?

 

Honestly, major in what you're interested in and want to pursue as a career. I majored in Computer Science and ended up in banking, and no one really cared about my major. What they care about is that you excel in the areas that you pursued. So don't try to grind out a finance major just to look more prepared for banking jobs. Trust me, if you don't like the courses, it will be that much harder to produce a good G.P.A. and really learn the material.

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