Worth it transferring to UVA?
Currently a first yr economics major at a west coast semi-target. I just got into UVA as a sophomore, so I will be applying to McIntire sophomore spring. I know McIntire without doubt is a better choice for east coast banking, but I'm really struggling to make a decision. I'm actively involved in the finance club at my school and have been developing a lot of connections with juniors, seniors and alumni. But I realize the connections will be gone if I choose to go to UVA. UVA would mean a complete new start for me. Considering how accelerated the recruiting timeline is, I simply don't know how much McIntire could benefit me. (assume I get in) I know it would also be harder to find off-cycle internship in Charlottesville than in LA. From a personal perspective, I am from the East Coast and I honestly don't like West Coast. If anyone could chime in and make a few comments, I would really really appreciate it. This is a big decision.
TLDR: dont really like current school but have developed connections. Wondering worth it transferring to UVA
Hey, I'm the WSO Monkey Bot and I am sad to say, but this thread is lonely, so thought I'd post in here to try and help out. Some potential topics that might help:
You're welcome.
bump
PM me
If you're a rising 2nd year at UVA you should be applying to the Careers in Finance series during your first semester (this fall) and will know if you got in by the end of November. That's the "insider" pipeline at UVA for undergrads. A black book is submitted with kids' resumes that are selected to go on the trek to all of the BB's, some top MM's, some EB's, and a couple HF/PE's for essentially guaranteed accelerated 1st rounds during your spring of 2nd year leading into summer.
https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/career-services/careers-finance
Here is the program. About 100-120 kids will attend the 2-day conference on grounds (you just sign up and go, attendance is tracked), of those 100-120, 30/35 are chosen to attend the Trek (which is what gets you placed in the black book). To get selected you apply with a short statement and must have attended on both days.
It might seem selective but I don't think all ~100 apply for the trek after attending the conference, and it seemed to me like everyone that truly was gunning for IB/S&T/PE got into the Trek.
All that being said, getting into this program isn't necessary. You'd be fine even if you didn't get into it. It just streamlines and makes the recruiting process 10X easier. UVA sends about ~100-120 kids onto the street every summer so there's still plenty to go around after the Trek.
Another thing: You should also note that because recruiting is pushed up so much, being in McIntire is not as important anymore.. Banks come to recruit students at UVA, not McIntire. You won't have any problems getting interviews. It's by no means too late and I would definitely transfer if you could make it work financially.
McIntire is what made/makes UVA a target school for sure, but with the way timelines are now it doesn't matter nor is it necessary. Recruiting begins before students get their McIntire decisions and none are ever contingent on your major. Only saying this so you don't sweat too much about getting into Comm school. A very big chunk of people that go into FO roles from UVA have STEM or Liberal Arts backgrounds.
bump
FO roles in NYC, not just IB. That'd be pretty crazy
Here's what I found on LinkedIn just for this current SA class for example:
GS: 2 (IB) MS: 4 (IB, S&T, & ECM) JPM: 9 (Across IB, S&T, and AM) Citi: 8 (Across IB, S&T, CB, and CapMarkets) BAML: 7 (IB, CB) Barclays: 4 (IB) CS: 8 (IBGCM, CB) UBS: 3 DB: 2 WF: 9 (IB and S&T)
That's just the BB's. There's also a huge presence at the EB's and top MM's as UVA is a core school for a few of them.
EVR: 2 Moelis: 1 Lazard: 3 Guggenheim: 7 PJT: 1 PWP: 1 Rothschild: 4 Greenhill: 2 Houlihan Lokey: 6 Jefferies: 5
You get my drift by now right.. already over 70-80+ SA's from that list right now. Once you account for other spots like RBC, HSBC, Mizuho, Stifel, PJ, BLK, etc. you can VERY easily pass 100 UVA kids working in FO every summer. UVA always sends a couple kids to buyside SA as well, there's always 1-2 kids at P72 for example
USC would have similar numbers. Given the size of the schools, it isn't really surprising. Still fierce competition for relatively few spaces.
A higher level question from an older dude.
Are you looking at college solely as a springboard to your career? Very generally speaking, I hope not.
For me and many others, college is a time to explore many different things academically, recreationally, socially etc. Especially given that you are in the US, the opportunities to do so are nearly limitless.
That said, I do not know your personal situation. If you only care about that finance gig or internship in the Big Apple, then it almost sounds like a no brainer. If you are unhappy in general at your current college/university, you may want to reflect and ask yourself why you are unhappy. If you think UVA can change that then it’s probably a no brainer. If it’s more personal, then you may be unhappy anywhere you go.
A word of caution on FO jobs in finance. Most people don’t last (and this is by no means a commentary on their abilities or intelligence). People burn out, get cut/laid off, grow disenchanted, find love, etc etc etc. For many, it’s a pretty short career. For many who do stay, it’s not necessarily a happy existence and is often one that requires significant personal sacrifices and adaptation. Even fewer people (like in any industry or practice) make it to the top and luck is an enormous factor.
The other thing is that the skills of a great analyst/associate don’t usually translate too well into that of a great MD. The jobs are just fundamentally different. Very simply speaking, the former sits behind a desk and follows orders. The latter pretty much has to be a social animal to run around like a headless chicken to pitch clients, win business and play the politics game internally.
Knowing this, I hope you give things a thought. The last thing you want is to move across the country, leave friends, work hard, get the gig, leave and then find yourself lost in your mid 20s and thinking “I spent my college years slaving away for this?!”
Once again, you may have your own reasons. A (bizarre) dream of making it in banking. Or personal financial/family issues etc.
Good Luck
Thank you.
IF AND ONLY IF you are unhappy and feel like you aren't having the same amount of opportunities at your current school. Then yes you should transfer. You can keep the connections, you don't have to completely disconnect from them. I still have connections from college and I am in this industry for a while.
UVA is a strong target school, you can easily make connections there and it can help you with getting an MBA from MBA business schools">m7 in the future. Honestly if you have a strong chance of getting in as a transfer I would visit the school and talk to a counselor about your plans or email someone.
I thought only the ivies and schools like Northwestern and Duke are strong targets. Would you mind elaborating why you think UVA is a strong target?
One of our intern last year was from UVA and he got in through the career fair on campus. He said a few banks does recruiting through campus and as far as I know a FEW banks going to a school is considered a target school.
DM me
Let me say it this way. USC and UCLA definitely will get you into IB if you work for it. That being said, UVA is still a bunch easier. UVA will be especially better if you want to guarantee a job on the east coast. If you look at Marshalls graduate report only 14% work outside of California upon graduation, so you can imagine how little go to NYC (and that's not due to a lack of interest). Also, I can guarantee you that being a sophomore transfer gives you enough time. Myself and many of my friends didn't transfer to a 4-Year until beginning of Junior year and still all landed the internships we wanted. Also, this might be more personal but my networking didn't help me at all in finding an internship.
Bottom line, if I was you I would go to UVA. I want to add however that McIntire is insanely difficult to get into as an out-of-state student.
Nope, admission to Mcintire has nothing to do if you're an out-state student. The path to Mcintire for a transfer is either Transfer to Arts and Sciences and then apply after your first semester (assuming a sophomore transfer) (~50% acceptance rate) or Transfer directly into the Mcintire as a junior from an outside college which is very difficult (~10% acceptance rate I believe) and may be what you were referring to.
Qui doloremque aspernatur ipsum cumque. Est assumenda et cumque et quam sed. Laudantium et distinctio ducimus. Voluptas sapiente nostrum eius nostrum.
Cum fugiat quis ipsa dolores sint. Suscipit inventore delectus libero tempora tenetur eius sunt. Magni vero assumenda voluptatibus.
Ratione odit nobis eum nesciunt nesciunt. Dolores ut iusto iusto odit eaque rerum quasi. Molestias expedita consequatur voluptatem sint vitae ratione omnis.
Sapiente qui blanditiis natus neque voluptatum odio expedita. Ipsa nulla ullam ipsa quo cupiditate et aut molestias. Sapiente rerum hic voluptas voluptatem ullam. Reprehenderit iste ad maiores non laboriosam distinctio sed voluptatum. Explicabo aliquam reiciendis ullam delectus sed fugit dolore.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...