Prospective UT Austin Student recently accepted CBHP and Plan 2, with question regarding the honors programs.
I recently was accepted to both CBHP and Plan 2 honors at UT Austin and am super grateful! Definitely did not expect this, but now I am deciding if it's worth doing both honors programs.
For context, I got into McCombs and want a post-college career at top BB banks in NYC for IB, such as Goldman, JP, Morgan Stanley, etc. Later, however, I do intend to pivot towards private equity and then hedge funds, potentially.
I'm quite sure CBHP would push me closer towards my goal (paired with a major in finance, which I intend to do). However, for plan 2, I'm not sure how much it would help.
I'm worried the course load and work would be too much, given I'd technically have 3 majors as plan 2 and CBHP are both considered majors (on top of finance).
I don't mind the plan 2 curriculum; in fact, I find many of the required courses quite interesting. However, my main priority is still placement for top BB banks post-college.
Given all of this information, would doing both honors programs be worth it for my career and goals (given the increased workload + time commitment with plan 2)? How much do top finance recruiters actually care about plan 2 honors? Additionally, would the increased time commitment be too much to handle to the point where it could hurt my GPA and social life? (btw, pretty social person, and I plan to rush)
Thank you!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:
CBHP's Advantage for IB Placement: The Canfield Business Honors Program (CBHP) at UT Austin is highly regarded for its strong placement into top investment banks, especially for roles in NYC at firms like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley. Pairing CBHP with a finance major is a direct and effective path toward your goal of breaking into IB, as recruiters highly value the program's rigorous curriculum and alumni network.
Plan II Honors Impact: While Plan II Honors is an excellent liberal arts program that offers a well-rounded education, it is not directly aligned with your career goals in investment banking, private equity, or hedge funds. Recruiters for top BB banks prioritize programs like CBHP and finance over Plan II. While Plan II may enhance your intellectual breadth and critical thinking skills, it is unlikely to significantly impact your IB placement prospects.
Workload and GPA Concerns: Balancing CBHP, Plan II, and a finance major would indeed be a heavy workload. Maintaining a high GPA is critical for IB recruiting, as top banks often use GPA as a screening metric. If the additional time commitment from Plan II risks lowering your GPA or detracting from networking, internships, and extracurriculars (like rushing or joining finance-related clubs), it may not be worth the trade-off.
Social Life and Networking: Being social and involved in campus life is important, especially for networking in IB. CBHP already provides ample opportunities to connect with peers and alumni in finance. Adding Plan II could stretch your time thin, potentially impacting your ability to build relationships and participate in key recruiting activities.
Recommendation:
Focus on CBHP and your finance major, as they are directly aligned with your career goals in IB, PE, and hedge funds. While Plan II is a prestigious program, it does not provide a significant advantage for finance recruiting and could detract from your ability to excel in CBHP, maintain a strong GPA, and engage in networking opportunities. Prioritize what will maximize your placement chances and allow you to maintain a balanced college experience.
Sources: Best schools for Texas IB/PE, Unofficial Guide to Texas Target Schools, Updated! Redacted College Decision Help
Personally know guys in both of these and doing double majors/double honors (eg Canfield+ECE). You should be able to get a good GPA - Canfield is inflated a ton and COLA courses are typically fairly easy. Balancing with social life is a learned skillset but won't be an issue. Pledging will take up a considerable amount of your time but I got a 4.0 when I went through it, most frats are understanding with clubs/school and encourage you to do well.
For NYC, join clubs day 1 fall of freshman year and shoot for WSFM, has a 98%+ placement on Wall Street. You're in a great spot at an awesome school so don't sweat it. Tons of threads with more details on what to do when you get here. Hook em
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