USC reputation in IB?
I'm a Freshman at USC Marshall looking to go into banking in New York. Heard we are considered as a Non/Semi Target, how difficult would it be for NY vs LA/SF?
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Top Target in LA and SF, barely a semi-target in NY. USC has a great reputation in CA and really hit-or-miss in NY. Not to say that you can’t do it, but most who go to NY either have high-up connections or are diversity/women (a lot more recently).
Recent placement consists of Moelis LA, CS LA, Barclays LA, GS LA, JPM SF, MS SF, etc. USC does very well on the west coast (as good or better than any school). Hope this helps.
Thats great to hear for West Coast offices, would it be possible to get a junior SA in LA/SF and transfer to NY or is this generally not doable?
It happens somewhat, would be hard to place a level of difficulty on it because it’s hard to know the denominator of how many attempt to switch to NY for FT, but a handful successfully do it
The thing is, the kids who get Moelis LA, CS LA, Barclays LA, MS SF, GS SF, JPM SF, etc (obviously leaving some out) are in much stronger offices with leaner deal teams, better deal flow, and much better exits than 95% of NYC. Most of these kids don’t want to go to NY because they have already made it to a top shop in LA or SF. Long story short: if you’re at USC/UCLA/Berkeley, I’d strongly suggest keeping an open mind for IB on the west coast, since you’re chances are way better and you can still place into fantastic groups.
Unless you're Michael Dell's son, then you'll get BX PE Analyst
Sure, but his real title is “LP”
Not at lot of USC kids in NY IB, but of those who are, most of their colleagues are jealous of their collegiate location and student body attractiveness
USC’s campus is in the ghetto.
USC’s campus is in the ghetto.
So’s Yale’s, but their average day isn’t 75* and sunny.
Wow, did you get rejected or why did you feel the need to comment this twice?
Kinda like ASU and UMiami?
Yeah but with a better academic rep.
Has a solid pipeline at CVP for SF and NY
By solid pipeline do you mean through networking with alumni currently working there?
There’s a club called TIS (Trojan Investing Society) that places really well. I hear it’s competitive but definitely go for it if you want IB.
There’s a club called TIS (Trojan Investing Society) that places really well. I hear it’s competitive but definitely go for it.
TIS and GIS both place very well, TIS is pure IB prep (Top placements even in NYC - mostly their E-Board) and GIS is more buyside though (MF placements this cycle but NYC IB offers as well - Centerview and CS NYC office reached out directly to recruit). I’ve enjoyed being in both but at the end of the day the network you build w alums will help the most. If I’m not wrong we’re ranked top for the strength of the Trojan network. It’s def not Wharton, Stern, or Mich but w Wharton’s Dean moving over to us I’m sure the NYC IBD recruiting will improve by the time you’re a junior as well.
Agree w other posters, we’re a top target on the west coast since Berkeley is our only real competition here (cal tech, stanford feed to tech more, and UCLA doesn’t have a formal business program for UG).
Great to know. I'm not OP but I'm currently a sophomore in Marshall and I haven't been involved in TIS before but I am looking to apply to the mentorship program. Does that program truly help in placements? Also looking to go to NY.
For context I have two internships in IB and will be summering at a MM firm this summer. Would love to connect and learn more.
So I know this year it wasn’t super useful since they couldn’t actually visit NYC or SF (plus covid made recruiting extra hard because of workforce reductions + virtual interviews) but generally the training is good - in a sense, it forces you to study the technicals if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself. Either way, if you already have two IBD internships + one for 2021 then you’re definitely good to go for both NYC and West coast satellites. I would say the biggest point will then be how much you network since you have the exp and the cv (seems like).
GIS isn’t that great. It’s a new group that was recently started by international students. I attended a few sessions. My understanding is that VIG is still the most highly selective club (with like 100% placement towards both buyside and IB) and TIS mentorship is the main pipeline to IB.
VIG is definitely the most selective but it also has the fewest recruiting connections from what I’ve heard from the people I know in all three clubs. Most people in VIG are also in the other two which is why they end up placing well. GIS used to be what you described but I believe it’s 3 years old now and already at like 300 members so it tends to get great looks but as a result not everyone places because its approaching TIS size without the age/connections. Atleast from what I’ve seen as an advanced member they have very strong recruiting for the J-Board but I don’t think their Intro does well at all (same with TIS, you need to be in leaders or mentorship to get the placement).
How competitive is it to get into the TIS mentorship program? Do most kids in TIS but not in the mentorship program still get IB offers?
I would say most if not all in mentorship secure something or the other. As for the whole of TIS, it’s too big (200+ members) for most to get offers (generously, I’d say 50% make there way into something related). At least you should try to get into their leader’s program if not mentorship, it’ll give you something to talk about in your interviews if you can’t get any internship exp. Again, more than any club, your internships will help show banks you’re a good potential hire.
There is a healthy pipeline to IB in Houston coming out of USC as well. Evercore targets USC directly for their groups in Houston and Menlo Park.
Can verify, went to a recruiting seminar for them.
TPH, Jefferies, and Citi have SC alumni too in Houston
USC student in banking. Join TIS absolutely - pretty much the golden ticket in terms of forcing you to learn technicals and effectively network. I am very good friends with the people I did TIS with and we all look out for one another. Generally, if you have a USC email and email a USC alum, they will get on the phone with you and try to help you so long as you are a good candidate. Strongest USC presence in NY is likely CVP. There are people in every office, though, who will be willing to help smart USC kids crack into banking. You need to be able to network smartly and effectively - speak with USC kids as well as Michigan/UVA kids who understand the USC experience better than Ivy students. Pipelines to LA/SF/Houston for sure. It is certainly not as impossible as people make it seem, I know plenty of people at great shops in NY.
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