Notre Dame Mendoza vs USC Marshall vs WashU Olin vs UC Berkeley Industrial Engineering & Operations Research

For a goal of breaking into BB/EB IB, here's a breakdown of your options based on the most helpful WSO content:

UC Berkeley IEOR

• Pros: Berkeley is a target for West Coast banks and a semi-target for East Coast banks. Alumni pull is strong, especially for tech-focused groups and West Coast offices. IEOR is a respected program, and Berkeley's overall brand carries weight.
• Cons: Not being in Haas could put you at a disadvantage compared to Haas students, who benefit from dedicated recruiting pipelines and a strong business school brand. You would likely need to hustle more, leveraging networking and alumni connections outside of Haas to compete effectively.

Notre Dame Mendoza

• Pros: Mendoza has a tight-knit alumni network and a strong finance recruiting culture. Notre Dame is known for its alumni loyalty, which can be a significant advantage during recruiting. The school has a solid track record of placing students into BB/EB roles.
• Cons: While strong, the network may not be as expansive on the West Coast compared to Berkeley or USC.

USC Marshall

• Pros: USC has a strong West Coast alumni network and places well into West Coast offices. The Trojan network is highly regarded and can be a valuable asset for networking.
• Cons: Placement into NY offices is less prominent compared to West Coast opportunities, so if NY is your primary goal, this could be a limitation.

WashU Olin

• Pros: Olin has a growing reputation and places students into finance roles, but it is not as strong a target as the other schools on your list.
• Cons: Recruiting opportunities may require more effort, as Olin is not a traditional target for BB/EB IB compared to the other schools.

Recommendation

• If your goal is NY BB/EB IB, Notre Dame Mendoza offers the strongest combination of alumni network and recruiting culture for East Coast placements.
• If you're open to West Coast IB, UC Berkeley IEOR (with significant hustle) or USC Marshall would be strong contenders.
• WashU Olin would be the least competitive option for your goals, given its lower visibility in IB recruiting.

Ultimately, your success will depend on how well you leverage alumni networks, internships, and networking opportunities at any of these schools.

Sources: UC Berkeley Undergrad for IB Recruiting, UC Berkeley Undergrad for IB Recruiting, Georgetown MSB vs Michigan Ross vs UC Berkeley