UC Santa Barbara vs UC San Diego for Investment Banking

I am a transfer student currently waitlisted at Cornell, Vanderbilt and Boston College. If I don't get accepted into one of these schools I will attend either UCSD or UCSB and study economics. I know neither are targets or semi-targets but I am wondering, is one looked preferably upon by bulge brackets or the top boutiques? Or is one more prominent than the other? Which of the two would serve me best? I know that whichever I attend I have to hit the ground running but if there is anything that could help any advice would be great.

While I would much prefer to bank in NYC I know that with these schools it will make it very hard, at least at the beginning of my career. So could I please get your opinions and expertise with regard to both NYC banks and SF/LA banks.

As a third option there is also UI Bloomington. But I would have to spend 1 year there before I can try and transfer into Kelley, which would take a total 3 years whereas the UCs would only take 2. Is that a realistic route to take? I appreciate the input

13 Comments
 

IU is a big step up from the 2 UC schools you mentioned, plus, from what I understand, you will be getting a finance degree there versus economics degrees at the 2 UC schools. If, for whatever reason, you can't make it to IU, I don't see any difference between the 2 UC schools, so just choose whichever one you like better.

 
UFC

There are a few people from UCSD that are at banks like Guggenheim and UBS from what I remember, but I don't think I've ever seen a new analyst that came from UCSB in my research.

I know a kid who went to SB and ended up at a EB
 

UCSD is probably looked at as more favorable as it's typically viewed as more academically rigorous and tougher to get into than it is at UCSB. While recruiting is most likely better at UCSD, I'm sure you know campus/student life isn't really comparable (with UCSB being much better).

 
Best Response

I'm a UCSB alum, and if you get into the finance connection, you will be golden. Most guys end up going to BBs. Basically, if you get in the finance connection, you will gain a great network, but UCSB alum includes an MD at CS, a VP at Barclays, an MD at Carlyle, and at a handful at Marlin Equity partners. I encourage you to talk to some of the guys at finance connection, and they'll tell you about their experience.

 

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