LSE or UVA for IB/PE recruiting??
International student living in the US; should have a green card in around 2-3 years, hoping to land a US role out of college but okay working in London for a few years, as long as I get a top notch role. Super nuanced circumstances, pls help me out here!!!
Benefits of LSE: Allowed to do internships, admission to finance program, "better prestige" (idk tbh, but its a clear target), 3 years instead of 4, will cost me around 150K USD less, just more locked into British culture
Disadvantages of LSE: Social life is crap, heard London recruiting process is random and a pain in the ass, no idea how US recruiting and perception is, just more grind culture overall
Benefits of UVA: Admitted to honors program (can take any prereqs I want, no gen-ed requirements, can do interdiscplinary major if I don't get into business school), better network, more fun (idrc but my best friend is going here)
Disadvantages of UVA: I have to apply to the business school in first year, not sure how much of a target it is, BIGGEST THING IS I CANNOT DO AN INTERNSHIP till I get my green card (which could be as late as my 3rd or 4th year of uni)
I know traditional wisdom is to study where you want to live, but I feel like if I have a green card its not too hard to come to the US from the UK. Also as much as I want to chill in college if I hve to work I'm capable of it. pls weigh in
Go to UVA if nyc finance is of interest to you. Yes you will have to get good grades to get into the business school, but you’ll need to get good grades regardless if you want to get an IB analyst job at a reputable bank so it doesn’t change anything.
Said more bluntly, if you go to UVA and can’t get into finance then that’s your own execution failure and not a failure of the school.
Actually it's called Comm School and Im a UVA student so I'll chime in here. It aint how it was when you were in college, gramps, nowadays Econ students, Stats students, and kids doing Global Development or whatever are breaking into NYC roles. You literally JUST have to get accepted into UVA and from there it's all on you to do what you wanna do.
Okay so that just strengthens my point then, he shouldn’t weigh that risk heavily and should just assume that there is a realistic path to nyc finance regardless of what program he ends up in.
Hey man, I’m going to UVA on the precomm track in the fall. Any tips on getting in besides high gpa?
Noted; I think my biggest point was about not being able to do an internship at UVA (not sure how long). Also LSE is cheaper (150k) and I hear it might be to way into "elite" roles as opposed to just a role. Do you know how LSE is perceived in the US??
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's how your options stack up for IB/PE recruiting given your unique circumstances:
LSE
Advantages: 1. Prestige and Target Status: LSE is a clear target school for London IB/PE recruiting, and its finance program is highly regarded globally. This could open doors to top-tier firms in London. 2. Internship Opportunities: You can legally intern in the UK during your studies, which is a significant advantage for building experience and networking early. 3. Cost and Time Efficiency: The 3-year program saves you both time and approximately $150K, which is a substantial financial benefit. 4. Global Mobility: LSE's brand is recognized in the US, and with a green card in a few years, transitioning to the US market post-graduation is feasible.
Disadvantages: 1. London Recruiting Challenges: The process can be more unpredictable and competitive, with a heavy emphasis on networking and timing. 2. Cultural Adjustment: Adapting to British culture and the grind-heavy environment might be tough, especially if you're used to a more balanced lifestyle. 3. US Perception: While LSE is respected, it may not carry the same weight as a top US school for US-based roles, especially if you lack US internships.
UVA
Advantages: 1. Honors Program Flexibility: Being in the honors program allows you to bypass gen-ed requirements and explore interdisciplinary majors, which can be a unique selling point. 2. US Network: UVA has a strong alumni network in the US, particularly on the East Coast, which is invaluable for IB/PE recruiting. 3. Social Life and College Experience: UVA offers a more traditional and enjoyable college experience, which could be a factor if you value balance. 4. Green Card Timeline Alignment: If you secure your green card by your 3rd or 4th year, you’ll be well-positioned to recruit for US roles.
Disadvantages: 1. Internship Restrictions: The inability to intern until you get your green card is a significant drawback, as internships are critical for IB/PE recruiting. 2. Business School Admission: You’ll need to apply to UVA’s business school in your first year, which adds an element of uncertainty. 3. Target Status: While UVA is a semi-target for IB, it doesn’t have the same global prestige as LSE, which could limit international opportunities.
Key Considerations:
Recommendation:
If your primary goal is to maximize your chances of landing a top IB/PE role and you’re okay with starting in London, LSE is the better choice. The ability to intern during your studies and the global prestige of the school outweigh the disadvantages, especially given the cost savings.
However, if you’re set on a US-based career and value the traditional college experience, UVA could still work, but you’ll need to be strategic about networking and leveraging your green card timeline to make up for the lack of early internships.
You can do an internship, maybe not a paid internship.
Na i can't do an internship unless its for a "non-government non-profit" or I get credit for it, which the guys at UVA said is unlikely
Particulars of your case make LSE the much, much better choice. Specifically due to that green card issue. I'm actually surprised UVA is beating LSE on in the votes by 11-to-4 by the time I posted this.
Let's say you choose UVA. You'll be applying for rising senior summer internships that convert to FT offers during your sophomore year of undergrad/early junior year at the latest. Applying to those roles, in the late 2020s, with how competitive recruiting has gotten and will continue to get, without a single finance related internship on your resume? You're setting yourself up for failure. Sure, you could get internships back in the UK to prepare you for that rising senior summer internship application process but that's going to be harder from UVA.
After the green card issue having LSE > UVA, there's cost. USD 150k is a significant amount of money.
LSE is very prestigious, right behind Oxford & Cambridge in the UK "prestige rankings."
I mean worse case if you can't land US IBD out of LSE, I'd think a transfer to the US after 1-2 years on the job would be doable. I'm sure LSE has a robust alumni presence here in NYC.
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