Southern US MBA Progams

Hey y’all,

I am starting my second year in banking at a boutique in Canada, and quite frankly, my American friends, your country is far better than ours (in every possible way, including HC). As a result, I want to move down to the US, but given that the lateral market for Canadians is trash ATM, so the easiest way is to go through a MBA.

The biggest hurdle with the MBA route is grades my undergrad GPA was sup-bar (3.2-3.5) however, I was able to grind my way into some very impressive internships for my situation (I did 6 internships in PE, sell-side M&A, and corp dev) and I was able to land a decent M&A role here in Canada. In addition to having some very strong extracurriculars and winning some impressive case competitions.

I plan on taking the GMAT and studying hard for it to achieve a top 10 percentile grade. But given my grades, the T7 is out of the question for me. Additionally, I want to move to the southern US (ideally Texas or Florida, and potentially go back to O&G banking). So from your experience/observations what are the best MBA programs in the south, and what do career opportunities look like.

Cheers, Your fellow snow monkey

3 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know about MBA programs in the Southern US, especially for someone with your goals:

  1. Top MBA Programs in the South:

    • UT Austin (McCombs): A powerhouse for energy and O&G banking, McCombs is highly regarded in Texas and the broader South. It’s a top 20 school overall and offers strong placement in energy-related roles.
    • Rice University (Jones): Located in Houston, Rice has excellent connections to the energy sector, making it a great fit for someone targeting O&G banking.
    • Emory University (Goizueta): While based in Atlanta, Emory is a top regional school with strong representation in the South. It’s well-regarded for finance and consulting placements.
    • University of Florida (Warrington): A solid program for someone targeting Florida. While not as prestigious as McCombs or Rice, it offers good regional opportunities.
    • Vanderbilt University (Owen): Based in Nashville, Vanderbilt is another strong regional program with good finance placements.
  2. Career Opportunities:

    • Energy and O&G Banking: UT Austin and Rice are your best bets for breaking into energy-focused roles. Both schools have strong alumni networks in Houston and the broader energy sector.
    • Finance and Consulting: Emory and Vanderbilt provide solid opportunities in finance and consulting across the South.
    • Regional Strength: Schools like UT Austin and Rice dominate in Texas, while Emory and Vanderbilt have broader reach across the South.
  3. Your Profile:

    • GPA: While your GPA is on the lower side for top programs, your strong internships, extracurriculars, and case competition wins will help offset this. A top 10% GMAT score will be crucial to strengthen your application.
    • Target Schools: Given your goals and profile, UT Austin, Rice, and Emory should be your primary targets. Vanderbilt and Florida can serve as strong backup options.
  4. Additional Tips:

    • Networking: Start connecting with alumni from these programs, especially those in O&G banking or energy roles. This will help you understand the culture and improve your chances during admissions and recruiting.
    • Essays and Recommendations: Highlight your unique story of breaking into M&A from a non-traditional background, your strong work ethic, and your passion for the energy sector.

With a strong GMAT score and a compelling application, you’ll have a solid shot at these programs and a pathway to your goals in the Southern US. Good luck, snow monkey! 🐒

Sources: MSF Class of 2018, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/university-of-miami-fl-mba-the-rundown?customgpt=1, Ask mbaMission about Business School Admissions, Worldwide MBA Programs divided into tiers, The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

For Texas O&G, the best would be UT and Rice.

Generally in south other good programs (in order) would be UVA, Duke, Emory, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, UNC 

But I think Houston O&G recruits heavily from Texas schools so I would focus on UT and Rice. Possible from the others but will be a lot of networking on your end and travel to TX 

 

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