SMU vs Washington and Lee for Finance
Which of these schools would be better for landing an IB or PE job. (Dallas and NY). Does BBA Scholar at SMU change anything?
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SMU alum here -- can't add much value on the W&L side, but hopefully I can add some insight on SMU.
Over the last few years, SMU has become a force to be reckoned with in IB. Through the Alternative Asset Management program they've effectively created a banking pipeline. Every year they place ~40-50 kids in internships/FT analyst positions at top BB/EB/MM firms. The school's reputation is extremely strong in Houston and Dallas, but is expanding to NY too.
You can google "SMU alternative asset management" to check out a list of some of the internship and FT placements for classes.
BBA scholar just means direct admission to the undergrad b-school and an extra scholarship. Nice but not necessary. It does allow you to start taking business classes early which will be key as internship recruitment continues to get earlier.
Concur w/ SMU_banker. The Alternative Asset Program is essentially a quasi-target. I'll probably catch shit for saying that, but the placement data is what it is. They place disproportionately into Houston O&G, but I know several Alternative Asset kids who wound up at BBs & EBs in NYC and a few who wound up in CA and Chicago.
SMU does NOT place 40-50 students into IB. The Alts program does. Which is fiercely competitive. Coming in as a BBA scholar helps your chances since the program looks for those who have already completed a couple of finance classes (and Aced them) before their junior year. If you don't get into the Alts program and have no family connections, you're practically consider a non-target (even if you're in Cox). Alts only lets about 50 kids in per year too. Just saying. Don't know much about W&L but i'd assume they're considered a non-target on most scales. Go to SMU and grind your ass off - hopefully you get into Alts.
I agree with the points made by both southern_beta and BBA18. The Alternative Assets (Alts) program is effectively a quasi-target (I would argue full target for Houston/Dallas banks), but there is an important distinction to be made between SMU as a whole and those in the Alts program.
If you're willing to work hard and understand the merits of delayed gratification, go to SMU and work towards Alts.
Happy to answer any other questions via PM.
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