Could someone please explain how a non-target has placed multiple Evercore, Barclays, and Goldman when three years ago they couldn't get a single placement? Is it more of a diversity thing, or is it just getting better as a school? Am thinking about going there in the fall for university
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, McMaster University has seen a significant improvement in placements at top firms like Evercore, Barclays, and Goldman Sachs over recent years. While the exact timeline of when this shift began isn't explicitly detailed, it's clear that the school has made strides in placing students at prestigious firms, which was not the case three years ago.
This improvement could be attributed to several factors:
Diversity Initiatives: Many top firms have been expanding their diversity recruiting efforts, targeting a broader range of schools, including non-targets like McMaster. Programs aimed at underrepresented groups (URM, female, LGBTQ, etc.) have likely played a role in opening doors for students from schools that previously had limited representation.
School and Student Efforts: McMaster may have improved its career services, networking opportunities, or partnerships with firms. Additionally, students might be leveraging resources like WSO, networking guides, and other tools to better position themselves for these roles.
Changing Recruitment Strategies: Firms like Blackstone and others have been shifting their recruitment strategies to include a wider range of schools, as seen in their efforts to recruit directly from campuses, including historically underrepresented institutions.
If you're considering McMaster, this trend is promising, but keep in mind that breaking into top firms from a non-target school often requires extra effort in networking, internships, and preparation.
Sources: Does Preftige Matter Anymore?: Blackstone to Bypass Scramble for Investment-Bank Talent in Bid to Diversify Hiring, UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, Canadian Target Schools Ranked By Detailed Global Placement Data, Goldman vs Evercore (Analyst), Ohio State MSF vs Villanova MSF
Congrats on McMaster
Top students will find their way to place no matter what school they go to
Kids from Concordia have landed Blackstone before
If you have a better offer (i.e. Laurier BBA, Waterloo AFM, Schulich, etc) would probably take that over McMaster all day though.
Kids from Concordia who went to an expensive private school in the US that has a deep blackstone alumni network will land that out of school.
Respectfully, that's cope. The Concordia kids I know who landed BX didn't go through expensive US prep schools. One was an immigrant from Africa, came to Canada as a teenager, still has a thick accent, and landed a BX SA role off pure horsepower. Dude is a straight killer.
Top US prep pedigree helps, obviously. But the idea that you need it to place into top roles is just wrong. Real killers find a way in regardless of where they start.
Would you still recommend taking Laurier bba over Mac but at Mac I can almost automatically get into the DFIC club. Is Laurier still the better choice and how much better is it? If I’m a top student at both does it even matter?
Definitely go to Laurier even with auto DFIC
Theres just so many more elite buyside pipelines + big 5
McMaster is an objectively good school and they have smart kids, that’s all it is.
There are smart kids at every school.
I wouldn't classify McMaster as an objectively good school, for finance, at least. Health sciences, though, is a different story, probably the most prestigious undergraduate program in all of Canada.
smart + dei students override having no pipeline
Before you judge merits always remember, both Canadian and US banks consider following DEI:
Women (all colors), black / Hispanic / indigenous (Canada only) men, LGBTQ.
Example don’t count if they belong to one or more of these categories. They had a leg up from the onset and benefit from a quota both in hiring and later promotions
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