Hello. UT Austin McCombs is considered a 'target' school in terms of #hires (top 4 according to newest peakframeworks chart).
I got into UT's Econ B.A. COLA program. Would it be considered a semi-target as of now and how hard it is to break into IB as an Econ major?
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UT Austin McCombs is indeed a top-tier target school for investment banking, especially in Texas. However, being in the Economics B.A. program under the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) rather than McCombs does make your path slightly more challenging. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:
Semi-Target Status for Econ Majors: While McCombs students have a direct pipeline to IB through on-campus recruiting (OCR) and alumni networks, Econ majors in COLA are generally considered semi-targets. This is because they don't have the same level of access to McCombs-specific resources, events, and networks.
Breaking into IB as an Econ Major:
Recruiting Challenges: As noted in WSO threads, IB recruiting is highly competitive, even for McCombs students. For Econ majors, the lack of direct access to McCombs' OCR means you'll need to rely more on networking and off-campus recruiting opportunities.
Geographic Advantage: Being in Texas is a plus, as Houston and Dallas are major IB hubs. UT Austin's reputation in the region can help you secure interviews if you demonstrate a strong interest in oil & gas or energy banking.
In summary, while breaking into IB as an Econ major from UT Austin is harder than for McCombs students, it's still very achievable with the right strategy. Focus on networking, building technical skills, and maintaining a strong GPA to maximize your chances.
Sources: Rice University vs. UT Austin McCombs Undergraduate, Best schools for Texas IB/PE, The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking, How to get into Investment Banking from complete non-target, Introducing my kids to IB (in advance)
Econ is non-target, but if you maintain close to a 4.0 your freshman year with decent extracurriculars , you have good chances of transferring to McCombs
If your goal is Houston or Dallas IB and you network hard enough, you should be okay. Can't speak for nyc
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