Anyone major in International Relations?

Hey guys, I wanted to hear your thoughts on double majoring in Finance and IR for a future job in banking.
I want to do a double major anyways, and my school is known for its business school (Finance, Accounting). But I have a genuine interest in IR, and want to double major in it with a focus on international economics. I know Tim Geithner did Government at Dartmouth and then went to Johns Hopkins SAIS, which is a prominent IR master's program. Although he never had a banking career in the private sector, he ran the Fed and is the Secretary of Treasury so that might speak for the relevance of his studies to financial work.. I've also met a couple analysts at BB that single majored in IR.

Do you think studying International Relations will be of better value than, say, Accounting as a second major to go into banking? Are there entry positions within banks that require knowledge of international politics and economics? I'm a native Korean speaker to give you perspective.

 
Connor:
Let me guess. Those analysts you met who majored in IR went to HYPS, Duke, uChi, Wharton, or Ross.

BC and Gtown

Ugh the FBI still quotes the Dow... -Matt Levine
 
buybuybuy:
If IR is really what interests you, then you will probably hate banking.

Why would you say so?

Ugh the FBI still quotes the Dow... -Matt Levine
 

Because banking is at best tangentially related to anything that would lead you to be interested in international relations. Banking is a good way to learn about companies and about the transaction process for companies. Not much else.

There are plenty of other areas in finance, namely buyside and sellside research that might be more relevant to your interests.

 

Vitae dolores sapiente omnis expedita qui est eius. Et non modi minus explicabo eos rerum. Impedit aliquid aliquid aut nam optio. Iure in cum debitis sit natus porro quasi. Dolore sunt iure est.

Illum blanditiis quia quia nulla occaecati. Aut et sint incidunt accusamus vitae modi quod maxime.

Ugh the FBI still quotes the Dow... -Matt Levine

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.9%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.9%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 04 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (147) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”