Last minute college decisions (HC IB -> Life Sciences Buyside)
I am a high school senior who recently graduated. A death in the family caused drastic changes in my ability to pay, so I can't attend the target school I was previously planning to or other targets because they are too expensive.
I have received enrollment extensions from schools that are cheaper for me due to merit aid, and now have to choose between the University of Florida (15k/year) and the University of Pittsburgh (30k/year).
I know that UF is a semi-target, and Pitt is a non-target. However, I want to gain a lot of exposure to the biopharma industry through research and industry experience before going into finance. A biotech hub like Pittsburgh with multiple public and private biopharma companies and life Sciences VC firms, along with the fact that Pitt's ranked very highly for anything Life Sciences and dominates UF in that kind of research, makes me think it's a better choice than UF even though it's a non-target.
I just want to get y'all's 2c on this decision. If our financial situation works out next year, I'm considering transferring to a target.
Thank you!!
EDIT: A couple of things I forgot to mention:
I'm in the honors college at Pitt, but I'm not really sure what that means or if it means anything for recruiting purposes. I know there are dedicated advisors for research and your career, and it gives off the big fish, small pond vibe.
For UF, I'm in this program where, at minimum, my first year is completely online. It's a new thing UF is doing because they have no dorm space, so on-campus is a lottery. I'm very concerned that I won't be able to get good grades learning online, and if I decide to transfer to a target, and even for recruiting and PhD programs, GPA is king. Also, it's a super small thing, but UF is really cagey with switching majors, and if I wanted to change from microbiology to neuroscience or double major in Econ if I don't get into the business school, it's pretty tough.
Thank you everyone for the kind words and encouragement :)
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Thanks for the input. I dont really have much time to set up coffee chats due to the enrollment deadlines, and I doubt they'd take a kid who just graduated high school very seriously. It's not about necessarily getting hired at the VCs in the area, but I know for a fact that Pitt students work at such shops like UPMC Enterprises ($1B AUM, I think?) for the summer. I get what you're saying about connections, but I do eventually plan to get a PhD, and I was debating whether to work in finance for 2 years post-grad before getting a PhD or just doing the PhD out of college and then pivoting, so the greater industry/research experience early in my career would set me up nicely for a top PhD, from which I could find resources for the finance pivot as many schools with top PhD programs like Penn or Harvard Med support you in making the jump to finance as its done often. In the long term, I'd like to work at a fund like BXLS, Orbimed, RA Cap, or Abingworth. This is all to say that I'm unsure whether to make my college experience more biopharma-related or more finance-related. I considered recruiting for MBB/Clearview/ZS instead of IB as a life science undergrad background isn't uncommon there.
+1 on UPMC. Very legit health system.
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Thank you so much! I'm kinda leaning towards UF at this point and I can get really similar opportunities there that I can at Pitt and save money, but my biggest concern is grades. Could you read the edit I just made and let me know if your opinion changes? I've done some research and found associates, MD's, and PM's at some of the funds I mentioned who went to Pitt Med or UF for undergrad, and I'll see if I can contact them along with some students. Definitely will update soon!
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Ditto on the first sentence. OP, you have your head on way more straight than I did at 18. I wish I knew I was interested in a specific role after college instead of being still clueless at my college graduation.
Wish you all the best.
Damn you seem like a really bright guy. I hope you update us what happens in a couple of years
Will Do!
What’s up bud. Am a former HC banker at a life sciences buy side shop. Would suggest UF. You will have more name recognition when networking and better OCR. Will also have more fun! I’m guessing you’re from Pittsburgh given that I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone tell me Pittsburgh was a biotech hub before haha. I don’t think you’ll have trouble finding jobs there if you do well at UF and want to go back home.
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Wishing you the best!
You will have a much easier time achieving your goal from UF than from Pitt. Look up UF, MSF program specifically, and you can see there is a large alumni base in HC IB and more. Also note, a senior MD at EVR in the life sciences group is a UF alumni. If you got into a target school you can definitely get into the MSF program and do a great job if you start grinding your freshman year.
I did consider this, but that program I'm in where my first year is online, added to the fact that I was admitted for neuro/bio means there's lots of hoops to jump through before I can switch to Heavener for business with a biology concentration, and then get the 3 + 1 MSF track, and if I plan to transfer anyways that complicates things. You are right about alum outcomes, though. I'm not too fond of IB at a junior level tbh partly because it doesn't really involve knowing the science as well as I want to + its not very creative/exciting in the way consulting or vc is, but UF has solid placement across the board.
Being online your first year and not in Heavener will not limit you for the MSF program. If you have the requirements to apply (minimum SAT and certain classes), you will be perfectly fine. Also, I mentioned IB because that’s a common placement but you definitely can target other related industries at a junior level - and much easier at UF than Pitt.
How were your sat scores?
if you got into ivy schools then I really think you should take on debt or wait a year or two and reapply
a monster sat score should get you a full ride somewhere
I sure as shit wouldn’t pay 120k to go to pit
Agree with this advice... except Ivy's will meet full need so you don't have to take out any loans if you get in an ivy.
Probably one of the few Pitt alumni on this site and can 100% echo the other commenters that you should go with UF. Pitt is fantastic in medicine, and if your goal was research and pursuing a PhD instead of the finance angle this would be a different story, but if you want to do anything in finance you will have 0 recognition from firms. UF commands significantly more respect in industry so go with them and don’t look back.
Damn, tough luck but great attitude. My advice, go do 4 years in the military. You'll come out with your GI Bill(full tuition + very generous living stipend) and top colleges(H, Y, P, Brown, Cornell, ect) are recruiting a lot of veterans these days. Smart academically talented enlisted vets can go far and you'll have something better to talk about during interviews.
You're telling OP to enlist at a point in the 21st century where war is at its highest likelihood? Basically telling dude to just commit lmao
With risk comes opportunity. I've seen those who have paid the toll. I was taking care of 19 years olds who were double amputees back in the late 2000s. But I've also met a lot of people who have become very successful in the business/finance world thanks to their military time. It's a way of rolling the dice when you aren't satisfied or particularly inspired with your current lot in life.
You should indefinitely hold off on providing input to this forum
It's a nontraditional option for sure, but it solves OPs main two problems: 1) getting into a target school and 2) paying for it.
I was in a similar position to OP(not as smart tho since I didn't even get into the one selective college I applied to). Grew up in flyover country and was originally going to attend my state flagship school. So the question is if you think you would be more successful at your public flaship or at a target with a "4 year gap year". If he's extremely certain that he can into IB from Pitt or UF, then that has the advantage of getting him into the industry earlier with less opportunity cost. But the advantages of going to a target are immense and can be a real career accelerator.
He doesn't even have to do combat arms btw(although there's a tradition of guys going from the 75th ranger bat to wallstreet). HYPS has a bunch of former military linguists in their programs.
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