NYU Math transfer for IB

Ive been admitted to NYU as a transfer but to CAS for math rather than to Stern and was hoping to get some more insight on recruiting for IB for CAS, if a STEM degree makes any material difference, and on my particular situation.

For context, I am a rising sophomore at a non-target (University of Denver, Oregon, University of Arizona) that sends maybe a few kids to banks every year and primarily to middle market banks and I’m hoping to recruit for the top elite boutique banks as well as for BB.

Some of my primary concerns are club exclusivity as a transfer student who knows no one, Stern exclusive alumni network, and GPA risk studying mathematics (good at math but no prodigy). I’m not super worried about proving interest in finance and learning the topics as my resume already leans heavily towards finance with concurrent internships in growth equity and private equity and having spent a year in the business school at my current university.

A few areas I’d like to hear about especially are the following:

- Whether CAS will be materially better than a non target for banking recruiting
- How difficult it will be to join clubs as a transfer CAS student and how much it matters to be in clubs at NYU
- If it would be more prudent to try and recruit from my current university while reapplying to targets as a transfer, and assuming I don’t successfully recruit, reclassing and recruiting from a more target university.
- Whether a STEM degree is a net positive or negative for banking recruiting.

Thank you.

8 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know about your situation:

  1. CAS vs. Non-Target for Banking Recruiting:

    • NYU CAS (College of Arts and Science) is a step up from a non-target like the University of Denver, Oregon, or Arizona. While Stern has a stronger reputation and direct access to IB recruiting pipelines, CAS still benefits from NYU's overall brand and proximity to Wall Street. Breaking into IB from CAS is possible, but it often requires leveraging connections, networking aggressively, and standing out through internships or unique skills.
  2. Club Exclusivity as a Transfer Student:

    • Joining finance-related clubs at NYU can be competitive, especially as a transfer student. Stern students often dominate these clubs, and CAS students may face challenges accessing the same opportunities. However, persistence and networking can help. Focus on building relationships with club members and demonstrating your value (e.g., your finance internships and experience). Clubs are important for networking and resume-building, but they are not the sole determinant of success.
  3. Recruiting from Your Current University vs. Reapplying to Targets:

    • Recruiting from your current non-target university while reapplying to targets is a viable strategy. If you can secure a strong internship (even at a middle-market bank) from your current school, it will strengthen your profile for both future recruiting and transfer applications. If you don’t land a top offer, transferring to a target like NYU (or another strong school) and re-recruiting as a junior could improve your chances at elite boutiques (EBs) or bulge brackets (BBs).
  4. STEM Degree for Banking Recruiting:

    • A STEM degree, such as mathematics, can be a net positive for IB recruiting. It signals strong quantitative and analytical skills, which are valued in finance. However, the risk lies in maintaining a high GPA, as IB recruiting heavily emphasizes academic performance. If you’re confident in your ability to excel in math, it can differentiate you from other candidates, especially when paired with your finance internships.

Recommendations:

  • Leverage Your Internships: Highlight your growth equity and private equity experience to demonstrate your finance knowledge and interest.
  • Network Aggressively: Use LinkedIn, alumni networks, and informational interviews to connect with NYU alumni in IB, especially those from CAS.
  • Maintain a High GPA: Prioritize academics, as a strong GPA will be critical for standing out in recruiting.
  • Consider Stern Transfer: If possible, explore transferring internally to Stern after your first semester at NYU. This would give you direct access to Stern’s alumni network and recruiting resources.
  • Reapply to Other Targets: If you’re not fully confident in NYU CAS, consider reapplying to other target schools with stronger direct IB pipelines.

By combining your existing finance experience with NYU’s brand and strategic networking, you can position yourself well for IB recruiting.

Sources: I Transferred Schools for Investment Banking, The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking, The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking, ACT/SAT is more important than GPA

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
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Hey, I'm also a stem grad (Maths). 

I'd argue that having a stem degree is generally a net positive, people tend to take you more serious - especially when it comes to technicals (assuming you learn them strong). I also got given more leeway in regards to my GPA when recruiting due to the increased difficulty of my program.

Additionally, you can probably say the NYU brand name as a whole is a lot more prestigious/well viewed than your current university. 

Lastly, no one will know but you in regards to joining student clubs, just ask and find out. Clubs play a massive factor, but I know a hell lot of people in industry who originate from philosophy, history, comms majors etc. They all still manage to get into clubs & networking events, as at the end of the day it's the university brand name that matters most - less what you major in.

 

Thanks for the response! That was helpful and makes me feel better about the decision. As an aside, what was your favorite maths course in undergrad/any that you particularly recommend?

 

Hmmm... that's a tough one. I can't say I have a one select "fav", however my top 3are probably stoahastic, real analysis, and differential equations. I did a math & finance degree, so it wasn't 100% maths courses, but still 65-75% were. 

 

NYU cas kid here who successfully landed ib

1. Yes, having the NYU name is much better than non targets. I got many automatic R1s at MM bc of the NYU name and was treated same as Stern kids 

2. Difficult for prestigious clubs. The clubs that do matter take 1-2 cas kids max. As someone who got into a major stern club, didn't make any difference recruiting wise honestly. 

Honestly dont think too much about clubs. I felt getting into stern clubs are harder than ib lmao. Cas feeds kids to BB and EB every year

 

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