Should I come to the US or stay in my home country?
I know this is a weird question, but I’d still like you guys to give me some insight since you’re much more knowledgeable about all this.
I’ve always wanted to come to the US and work in investment banking, and I’ve spent the past couple of years working my ass off trying to get into a target school. Everything seemed to be working out, I had a 1520 SAT score, 790 and 780 respectively on my Math2 and Chem subject tests, a 3.8 out of 4 GPA, and I was ranked #2 in my class in a very competitive school with the heaviest course-load.
Unfortunately though I got rejected from nearly all the colleges I applied to (17 out 19 colleges) and was only accepted at Fordham and the university of Rhode Island. To go to Fordham I’d have had to take a loan because their aid wasn’t sufficient, and I was advised against that by people on this forum. However everyone was like don’t give up its not over, you can go to URI, kill it there and then transfer. A lot of people also told me to look into Baruch and apply there, and I’ve done that.
What’s bothering me however is the risk involved. If I choose to stay here, I could go to one of the top colleges in my country for about a quarter of the cost.
My dad is a senior executive (head of distribution and sales, reports directly to CEO) in one of my country’s top commercial banks, so he could probably use his connections and get me a good job in commercial banking when I graduate. However I don’t want to stay here and I don’t want to work in commercial banking (investment banking is shit here).
Also, I may be wrong, but according to all my research online and from friends and relatives in the states who I’ve spoken to, most people get a job after finishing their undergrad, right? Then after a few years you can go back and get a graduate degree too. Over here you’re nothing without at least an MBA.
Plus then starting salaries are also a factor, (not as important but a factor nonetheless), starting salaries here are typically between $350 to $500 per month (before taxes) for commercial banking.
But the thing is transfers aren’t guaranteed. There’s a good chance my transfer applications don’t work out and I end up getting rejected all over again. I don’t think my career prospects are very good if I graduate from URI and want to work in finance. I don’t know enough about Baruch to know how far it’ll get me, but I have yet to receive an admissions decision from them.
I know this is a really long post, and in the end I’m the one who has to make this decision (as my parents keep telling me). But What do you guys think? I’m really really passionate about investment banking, I’ve done two internships in local investment banks, I’ve read books on technical and fundamental analysis, etc. I know it seems like nothing but it means a lot to me.
I’d really appreciate any advice you guys have.
Thanks.
Stay home man. You'll come to the US and work your ass off just to be treated like shit once you graduate. I've seen and known so many well connected Asians that have up everything just to come to the US and be completely abused.
Speaking just about Big 4 advisory: the foreign Asian contingent is constantly mocked, underpaid, overworked and almost never promoted. They string you along, promising a visa, exploiting you until you throw your hands up and basically give up.
I always wonder why they even bother coming here when they're so comfortable in their home country. A lot of then say "freedom." Sure, theres a lot of stuff they can do in the US that they cant do at home. Unfortunately, most of those things aren't productive (strip clubs, video games, etc.).
The situation is a bit different for Europeans and South Americans. If you make the right connection, you have an opportunity to progress. It's still a challenge, however.