With how accelerated IB SA recruitment timelines are, is transfering to Ivey HBA still worth it?

I am an incoming freshman at a canadian semi target (think schulich/laurier/waterloo), and want to break into ib or pe in the states. Obviously, from a canadian semi target standpoint, its very rare to place in bbs or ebs in the US, with majority of hires going to the Big 5, regional boutiques, or ebs with canadian offices.

Originally my goal was to transfer to Ivey HBA third year and recruit under the Ivey name, but then I realized that if I managed to transfer to Ivey, ib sa recruitment would be finished before i even set foot on the western campus. Because of this, I was hoping to delay graduation by a semester in order to re-recruit under the Ivey name, but then I read somewhere by another user on wso that Ivey doesnt let you delay your graduation (idk if this is true or not), so thats another issue. I was wondering if any Ivey transfers or people knowledgable in this field can shed light on this situation and how ppl transferring to Ivey 3rd year end up recruiting for ib sa positions?

Another option I have would be aim to transfer to Queens Commerce second year so that I can recruit under them (obviously not as strong of a reputation as ivey, but still considered a target). Another issue with transferring to qcomm is that i heard queens only leaves ~5 spots for external transfers, making it significantly much significantly more difficult to transfer into than ivey. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

7 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights regarding your situation:

Recruitment Timelines and Transfer Considerations

  1. Recruitment Timelines:

    • Ivey HBA: Nearly every bank is done with recruiting by the time McIntire students have started a single class in the Fall of their 3rd year. This implies that if you transfer to Ivey HBA, you might miss the crucial IB SA recruitment window.
    • Delaying Graduation: There is a concern that Ivey might not allow you to delay your graduation to re-recruit under their name. This could be a significant hurdle if true.
  2. Alternative Options:

    • Queens Commerce: While Queens Commerce is considered a target, it may not have as strong a reputation as Ivey. Additionally, transferring to Queens Commerce is highly competitive with only about 5 spots for external transfers, making it a challenging option.

Strategic Steps

  • Sophomore Year:

    • Settle in and build your GPA.
    • Join clubs and take on leadership positions.
    • Network extensively.
    • Recruit for sophomore boutique and junior MM/BB internships.
  • Sophomore Summer:

    • Aim for a boutique IB internship or a brand name position.
  • Junior Year:

    • Focus on full-time recruiting and networking.
  • Junior Summer:

    • Target BB/MM SA positions.

Additional Considerations

  • Networking: Regardless of the school, networking is crucial. Building strong relationships and leveraging alumni networks can significantly enhance your chances.
  • Clubs and Leadership: Being active in relevant clubs and taking on leadership roles can provide a competitive edge.

Conclusion

Transferring to Ivey HBA has its challenges due to the accelerated recruitment timelines. If you can navigate these timelines effectively, it could still be worth it. However, considering the competitive nature of transferring to Queens Commerce and the potential restrictions at Ivey, you might need to weigh your options carefully and have a solid backup plan.

For more detailed advice, you might want to explore specific threads on WSO or connect with current students and alumni from these programs.

Sources: How much do you learn as a 3rd year IB Analyst vs 3rd year PE Associate? (How common is a 3rd year in PE?), How to Approach 2020 SA Recruiting as a Junior Transfer to a Target, Recruitment for Transfers?, SA 2019 Recruitment timeline for Canadian undergrads to US, UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

The gpa + ec's you'd need to transfer to Queens or even Ivey makes me pretty sure it'd be easier to recruit from a semi-target, especially if it's Waterloo.

 

Congrats on Schulich!

Jokes aside ppl have combatted the earlier recruiting by taking a gap year between their second year and Ivey HBA1 to do 3-4 internships. If you can make transfer you prob already got good ECs and incoming HBA can only help you.

 

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