Undergrad UW Madison vs Penn State Uni for IB
Sup peeps.
So I got into PSU and UW Madison and don't know who to go with. My main focus is on who will give me the best chance at landing a FT FO M&A IB position, and both have pretty strong programs that have helped other students do so.
For the unaware:
PSU Nittany Lion Fund placement- http://wallst.smeal.psu.edu/nittany-lion-fund/penn-state-investment-ass…
UWisc IBC - http://www.wiscibc.com/members/
UWisc's IBC is weak compared to PSU's NLF's BB placement in NYC. But from what I've heard on here, getting into the nittany lion fund is a bit of a moonshot in itself - which is a serious concern.
Secondly is social life. Unfortunately I didn't get a spot in the University Park campus at PSU, I got into Altoona, which I hear is pretty tiny and possibly lacking in cool frats (not that it makes a difference on your diploma). Granted, Altoona is only 45 mins away form UP, so I might be able to make that work, Idk. But this makes UWisc a bit more attractive to me.
Diversity is shit at both, but I hear they're both relatively accepting.
Tuition is about the same.
I was afraid that I would lose my spot at PSU so I already paid for admission ($300), but I can still change my mind.
So you can go to a tiny non-flagship campus of PSU or Wisconsin, which is one of the top 50 schools in the country and has a great undergraduate student body. No brainer.
Also, is anyone else concerned that high schoolers are basing their college decisions off of WSO?
FYI the campus at PSU that you go to doesn't show up on your diploma, it just says PSU.
What should I base my college decisions off of exactly?
UW-Madison
Go to UW-Madison. You're only an undergrad once and there's a reason Madison keeps showing up in "top 10 college towns" lists year after year...
It doesn't matter what shows up on the diploma, what matters is the quality of classroom instruction, networking opportunities (read: partying), and clubs, etc. that you can join. Wisconsin will have them beat in every category.
You should be basing your college decisions off of that fuzzy feeling you get when you walk on campus, and the glossy brochures, and the opportunity to embrace diversity, and the stupid joke the tour guide tells that you laugh at anyway. Above all, you should use WSO to help yourself determine what the best school to break into IBD is going to be.
UW-Madison is very solid and places fine in midwest MMs and other banks in the region. Great finance choices and networking opportunities there.
I know a handful of people who have been through both schools (NLF and IB club at UW) and I would like to reiterate UW-Madison. Namely, I don't think it's possible to be in the Nittany Lion Fund if you aren't at University Park. If you can get into the investment banking club at UW-Madison, placement into a MM/BB/EB is almost guaranteed.
http://www.wiscibc.com/
I'm honestly a bit shocked that everyone is going UW Madison on this one but I guess it's the right choice.
Do you think my chances are good for NYC though/
I believe they have sent some people to NYC in the past but they would place better regional (Chicago, Milwaukee) and usually MMs. Your chances for NYC will depend on grades, clubs, and networking but you can build those.
There's no denying that it'll be a bit tough, but I believe your chances at a satellite campus for PSU would make it even tougher. UW is an awesome school with a great combination of academics and social life.
Can't say for sure as I didn't attend those schools but from empirical evidence you should have a good chance for New York. You can try a linkedin search to confirm but I know a couple at BB and EB in New York. I imagine a decent number make it every year.
As you are not at UP at Penn State UW-Madison is without question the better selection for IB in general and New York in particular. You would be fighting an uphill battle without the NLF at Penn State.
This has to be a troll. I am not going to bite.
Why would this be a troll? Do you know what a troll is?
dude. be a badger. this isn't even a choice.
As a Penn State Alum, I'm not going to take sides on the debate here (Penn State and University of Wisconsin are both great schools regardless of the campus you are it). I am going to point out that 1) the Nittany Lion Fund isn't limited to joining in your Freshman and Sophomore year and 2) Two years in Altoona isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I have friends who started in Altoona and finished at Main and it hasn't been a hindrance at all. You have to remember, you declare for your major during your Sophomore year (I want to say it's during the winter break between your 3rd and 4th semester, but I could be wrong) at Penn State. Once you know what your major is going to be, you can transfer to State College for your final two years. If you think you will be stuck at a branch campus for all 4 years, potentially as an out-of-state student which it sounds like you are, you are sorely mistaken.
The reality is that if all you are looking for is job placement, you need to consider what the school offers in its entirety. That includes it's alumni network, strength of its faculty, brand recognition, regional recognition and how well you do academically. If that's all you want, then I suppose the WSO board could bash you for not getting into HYPS. The fact of the matter is that you have to be happy where you are going and make a decision on where you can see yourself (UW-Madison or going for a 2+2 at Penn State) spending the next four years of your life.
SevenSevens, yeah, there's something wrong with that. What ever happened to kids deciding where they wanted to go because they liked the school.
I was always aware that I could transfer over university park, that was the plan. Do you think that after transferring to university park that, " alumni network, strength of its faculty, brand recognition, regional recognition" will be stronger than UW Madison's?
I also hear that the NLF is ridiculously competitive, so that's a thing.
You have zero shot at a front office IBD job from a PSU branch campus. The only route is through the NLF, which requires one to start at the main campus
If you do 2 years at Altoona and don't totally screw up you can easily transfer to main campus. I say go to PSU, but I am biased.
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