Question about breaking in

Hi everyone,

I have been following this forum for a while now, almost two years, but this is the first time I have decided to post.

I am a freshman at a non-target Liberal arts college which offered me money, had a choice of picking Dartmouth, but no way of paying for it, so I had to go with this. I really want to work in IB, specifically M&A. Without going into specific details, as you don't care about them, had my share of working 100 hour weeks (not in finance), am willing to do whatever it takes, sacrifice everything (just like everyone and their mother).

Columbia has a 3-2 program (3 years at my school, 2 years at Columbia for 2 Bachelor's) in Financial Engineering. Although it would probably be useless to me in getting into IBD, I want to have the Columbia pedigree and access to Columbia's network. Should I do it? It's five years, but Columbia is Columbia, and it's an additional Junior year (internships)

What do you guys think? Some advice from people in the industry would really be useful.

I appreciate your time.

Thank you kindly in advance.

3 Comments
 

All other things being equal (grades, internships, networking), Columbia >>>>>>>>> local school

You can pay off your somewhat higher student loans with the better job

Case closed, thanks for playing, good luck

Get busy living
 

breaking in from a non-target ABSOLUTELY can be done. The things you have going for you:

-Obviously if you have been reading WSO and thinking about it for a while you have some drive -you have tons of time since you are a freshman -hopefully you have been working/etc

I come from a non-target and broke in by taking the time to Network, Network, Network

PM me for specific q's, happy to help

XX
 

Inventore et qui placeat facere voluptate fugit. Inventore occaecati labore deserunt magni. Consequuntur quibusdam molestiae iure expedita explicabo. Quasi qui numquam iure et dicta et nemo. Quidem ut cum ullam eos mollitia molestiae. Dolor qui fugiat accusantium sint tenetur soluta sapiente.

Nostrum ducimus maiores explicabo praesentium quisquam. Fugiat consectetur reiciendis numquam doloribus.

Get busy living

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”