High school senior here. My three best college choices are Lehigh’s Computer Science and Business major, Colgate (Econ), and IU Kelley (finance/accounting with Hutton honors). Trying to get into IB, what’s my best option? Waitlisted at Ross and Stern but can’t bank on those.
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:
Lehigh CSB (Computer Science and Business):
Lehigh's CSB program is unique and well-regarded, offering a blend of technical and business skills. While it’s not a traditional target school for investment banking, the dual focus on computer science and business could make you stand out, especially as technology becomes increasingly important in finance. However, the alumni network and direct IB recruiting opportunities may not be as strong as other options.
Colgate (Economics):
Colgate has a strong alumni network in finance, particularly in New York. While it’s not a core target school, it is considered a semi-target, meaning you’ll need to network aggressively to land IB opportunities. The liberal arts background combined with an economics degree can be appealing to banks, but the lack of a structured business program might require extra effort on your part.
Indiana University Kelley (Finance/Accounting with Hutton Honors):
IU Kelley is a strong semi-target for investment banking, especially with the Hutton Honors program. Kelley has a well-established reputation for placing students into IB roles, particularly through its Investment Banking Workshop, which is highly regarded. The structured finance/accounting curriculum and dedicated IB resources give it an edge over the other two options for breaking into banking.
Recommendation:
If your primary goal is to break into investment banking, IU Kelley with Hutton Honors is your best bet. The combination of a strong finance program, dedicated IB resources, and a semi-target status makes it the most practical choice. However, if you have a strong interest in tech or want a unique skill set, Lehigh CSB could be a differentiator, though it may require more networking. Colgate is a solid option but would likely require the most effort in terms of networking and standing out.
Sources: Comprehensive List of Target Schools for Investment Banking, Best SEC school for Investment Banking, Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways, Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways, Comparison of College Athletes to Investment Banking
Resident Lehigh alumnus checking in. CSB (and IBE) are great programs. There’s also a much broader initiative among students/alumni to get kids into good seats these days. More clubs and pipelines than when I was there. You’re also close enough to the city for easy day trips for networking, interviews, etc. Plenty of club/alumni events in the city too. And the social life is a blast. Highly recommend Greek life if you go this route.
That being said, Kelley + the workshop thing they have is a certified hardo factory that will almost certainly get you in somewhere and is probably the “optimal” choice here.
Hey Bohan
Current undergrad in the honors program at Lehigh. Recently, the number of IB offers given to students has increased compared to the past couple of years. Lehigh has a solid alumni network, if you network hard enough and keep those connections tight early on, you will be fine when it comes to your recruiting timeline. I will say, each school has its own pipeline into select banks for specific teams, which is worth looking into. I can tell you Lehigh has a solid pipeline into BofA and Citi, recruiting students every year, but there are also occasional placements into Goldman, JPM, and Morgan Stanley. While it is not "Ivy League" branded, you can still break in if you grind on your technicals and network well.
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