UCLA Investment Banking 2023
Hi, current UCLA undergrad student here! Wanted to create this thread for all current, graduated, and future prospective Bruins to use as a resource to navigate IB/finance recruiting as a UCLA undergrad. I haven't seen an updated version of this thread on here, so I thought I'd make one, as based on my own UCLA experience, we definitely could any extra resource we can get. This thread will be for any Bruin that has any questions about the IB scene at UCLA, or any alum that just wanna see how we're doing. UCLA has definitely gone up in terms of prestige in the finance world in the last few years in LA, SF, and NY, so now is a better time than ever to get into it as a Bruin! Happy to answer any questions myself on here as well - hope this helps :)
UCLA IB placement has increased drastically over the past 2 years. Clubs such as BHF/BVI/BAM/BIT have started to take on more members and each have their own respective alumni networks. Once in any four clubs, seniors from any other three are willing to help you place into investment banking. As a freshmen, I would highly recommend recruiting for these organizations if interested in IB.
The main IB recruiting pipelines that consist of mostly club members from the four above are the UBS IB Workshop and Sharpe Fellows which open applications in Winter Quarter of sophomore year. The IB Workshop is run but the Undergraduate Business Society IB Committee which is composed of BVI/BHF/BAM/BIT members (this year the 4 club presidents were on the IB Committee). Sharpe fellows is run by the Alumni center which recently had a change in program leadership. Both programs run their own mentorship, technical training, and networking/info sessions. This past year the IB Workshop has been more successful with info sessions largely due to the change in leadership running the Sharpe program and club leaders leveraging their networks.
Do not worry if you do not place into any club or program mentioned above as it's not an end all be all. You will just have to network harder and connect with junior/senior bruins (UBS runs office hours for the same people on IB Committee). Several people have placed incredibly well without IB workshop or have gotten into workshop without clubs.
To sum everything up, Freshmen year recruit for clubs and get internships. Sophomore year study technicals, network, understand the IB industry, and apply to the IB workshop and Sharpe.
UCLA has placed at GS TMT, MS NY, JPM NY, PJT, Moelis LA, Qatalyst, Houlihan Rx, Evercore Menlo, Lazard SF, etc the past 2-3 cycles just to name a few more hyped offices here on WSO. Very well represented in LA IB as well, hope this helps.
(Source - in one of the clubs mentioned above)
Go Bruins
I believe their is actually 5 top finance clubs on campus. Bruin Capital Management is the newest but has very strong placement, training, and connections. Can’t count them out, but otherwise a solid post especially for those considering UCLA in the 2027 cycle.
Congrats on BCM