Villanova vs Penn State vs Fordham
I’m currently a high school senior trying to figure out which college to go to. Villanova and Penn state are two of my top choices. I’ve already gotten into Penn state Smeal and Fordham and still waiting for Villanova but I’m deciding if I should switch my Villanova ea application to ed2 which would give me a better chance for admission. I toured villanova and really liked it but I’m not completely sure if I should ed2 since I still have a few colleges to hear from (umich, st Andrew’s, northeastern, Wisconsin, umiami). In case of a scenario though where I don’t get into those schools, I’m afraid to be left with just Penn state or Fordham as my options. Penn state seems cool but it’s in the middle of nowhere and seems easy to get lost in such a big school. Also I’m not sure if Penn state or Villanova places better into ib. Any advice on this situation would help a ton. Also if there are any Fordham alumni I’d love to hear their perspective.
When deciding between Villanova, Penn State, and Fordham, especially with a focus on Investment Banking (IB) placement, here’s what you need to know based on the most helpful WSO content:
Villanova (VSB - Villanova School of Business):
Penn State (Smeal College of Business):
Fordham (Gabelli School of Business):
Key Considerations:
Final Advice:
If IB is your ultimate goal, Villanova (VSB) is likely the strongest choice among these three schools. However, if you’re unsure about committing to Villanova through ED2, consider waiting for decisions from your other schools. In the meantime, focus on researching and networking opportunities at each school to ensure you’re making the best decision for your career goals.
Sources: Vandy MSF vs. Villanova MSF for IB, Which undergrad public safety is best to attend: IU, Penn State, UFlorida, or Fordham?, UVA vs. Villanova (VSB) Investment Banking, Urgent School choice- Villanova University, Fordham University, William & Mary, Boston University
I didn't go to any of these schools but I will say Fordham seriously punches above its "prestige" weight in the NYC finance scene.
I'd say all schools are great, but I think some of them are a tiny bit better than the others. Here's some research on how each school in the US fares in North American IB. I'd actually consider other aspects of the college experience, especially tuition fees and scholarships, to drive your decision.
All solid schools, won’t knock any you mentioned.
Can say from Fordham agree with poster above that can punch above prestige weight class for nyc finance.
Go to the Fordham Gabelli school and be ambitious and you can have 2-3 super applicable internships on your resume going into junior year recruiting. Also being in NYC year around for networking in the city is huge. It’s definitely possible. Will have to be proactive though. There’s a decent chunk that get into IB roles at the name brand shops from club pipelines, etc. too (BoFA in particular if that is still accurate).
Villanova / Penn State are good schools too. Just tougher since not in nyc year around and you’re also not at a necessarily target school that sends a ton to FO IB roles.
If you are ambitious you can make it work for sure from Fordham.
Can't speak much about Fordham or Villanova, but if you're leaning towards Penn State at all, it's definitely a great choice. Aside from the obvious huge nightlife and football team spirit, the PSU-to-IB pipeline has been solid, especially recently. Placements have grown in the past few years, mostly because of the finance orgs on campus that basically serve as your ticket to WS. Nittany Lion Fund is a club there that has been around for decades and has built a huge reputation on the street. Also, know that there are other clubs with a focus other than equity, but NLF placements and the real AUM set the club apart. Sure, you have the advantage of being closer to NYC at Fordham or Villanova, but if you want a full college experience, State College might be the way to go.
Bottom line is, if you work hard enough, you can break into IB from all 3 of the schools. Figure out where you would fit in the most, and put in a lot of effort for the first two years there, you'll be fine.
^
Dude no, you’re gassing up Penn state way too hard. “They do trips to NYC” - okay bro haha Fordham you are literally in the city
Penn State by far, just check out leveraged lion capital and NLF's placements in recent years.
Go to Penn State... your social life will thank you
go to PSU... get an easy 4.0... enjoy college and the football games... and get a great job.
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