UGA or Indiana?

Hello everyone, second semester senior in high school here. Post-grad, I would ideally like to land a BB investment banking role, but realistically I would be thrilled to land a MM role. Which school should I enroll to? I know Indiana is better for finance but that is only if I get into IBW, and I heard if I don't get into IBW I'm pretty much screwed when it comes to even basic finance roles like big 4 accounting. UGA has a smaller corsair society, however it is only around 20 people per class, while IBW is 70-80. Please give me some advice!

Where?

Indiana University
72% (60 votes)
University of Georgia
28% (23 votes)
Total votes: 83
12 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, Indiana University's Kelley School of Business is the stronger choice for investment banking placement, especially if you can secure a spot in the Investment Banking Workshop (IBW). The IBW is highly regarded for its structured recruiting process, strong alumni network, and consistent placement into both BB and MM roles. However, as you mentioned, gaining admission to the IBW is competitive, and not being part of it can significantly limit your opportunities in high finance.

On the other hand, UGA's Corsair Society is smaller, with around 20 members per class, but it also has a focused pipeline for IB roles. While it may not have the same scale or reputation as IU's IBW, the smaller size could mean more personalized attention and opportunities if you are a standout candidate.

Key Considerations:

  1. Indiana University (IU):

    • Pros: Stronger overall reputation for finance, especially with the IBW. Consistent placement into BB and MM roles.
    • Cons: High reliance on getting into the IBW. Without it, opportunities in finance diminish significantly.
  2. University of Georgia (UGA):

    • Pros: Smaller Corsair Society could offer more tailored support. UGA has been improving its IB placement in recent years.
    • Cons: Smaller scale and less established reputation compared to IU's IBW.

Recommendation:

If you are confident in your ability to secure a spot in IU's IBW, it is the better choice for maximizing your chances at BB or MM roles. However, if you prefer a smaller, more intimate program and are concerned about the competitiveness of the IBW, UGA's Corsair Society could be a viable alternative. Ultimately, your success will depend on your ability to network, maintain a strong GPA, and secure relevant internships.

Sources: IU Kelley Investment Banking Workshop admission questions, Don't go to IU Kelley*, Southern Investment Banking pay vs NYC pay, Investment Banking Workshop Indiana University, Comprehensive Undergraduate Target Schools Tier List 2020

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

I go to IU. Big 4 loves IU lmao they’re here like every week for recruiting. I feel like I have to say this every time I see a post about IU. Tons of people land IB that aren’t in workshops. I was rejected from IBW and IBS and have been recruiting great. The best part about the IBW/IBS process is the class youre required to take: F210. This class is rlly rlly good and preps you for even the hardest interviews. It’s made recruiting 100 times easier to just look at my notes, a slide from class or the various models they make you do as part of the class (DCFs, merger models, LBOs) It was taught be a student going to PJT RX and with another professor who heads the finance masters program or something like that. In conclusion: u don’t need IBS/IBW, u just need F210 and a recruiting strategy. That being said, maybe UGA is better I truly have no idea how other schools compare because it doesn’t impact me

 

Sure but I don’t have much to say besides what I sent lol. Not much to recruiting besides just doing it yk

 

Prospect in IB-M&A:

I go to IU. Big 4 loves IU lmao they’re here like every week for recruiting. I feel like I have to say this every time I see a post about IU. Tons of people land IB that aren’t in workshops. I was rejected from IBW and IBS and have been recruiting great. The best part about the IBW/IBS process is the class youre required to take: F210. This class is rlly rlly good and preps you for even the hardest interviews. It’s made recruiting 100 times easier to just look at my notes, a slide from class or the various models they make you do as part of the class (DCFs, merger models, LBOs) It was taught be a student going to PJT RX and with another professor who heads the finance masters program or something like that. In conclusion: u don’t need IBS/IBW, u just need F210 and a recruiting strategy. That being said, maybe UGA is better I truly have no idea how other schools compare because it doesn’t impact me


Also don’t make college decisions based off of banking

 

Was actually in the same boat wit these being one of the last 2 colleges I was considering between, whilst knowing I wanted to do IB. Felt like the network and larger influx of kids grinding IB at IU would position me better, and ended up finishing up recruiting and securing a role I wanted. Def don’t need IBW or IBS to place well, they just make your life easier. To echo what the person above said, F210 and the clubs give you everything you need to succeed in recruiting. Everything else is on you

 

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