Exchange student at Wharton

Been lurking for some time now and really appreciate the content. I am an undergrad student at a business school in a small European country and I really want to work in finance. I know it is a broad description and I intentionally keep it as broad as possible. I have really grown sick of my home country and in the long run my goal is to immigrate to the US so Visa takes precedence over job description.

Anyway, in the fall I am going on exchange to Wharton, which I consider a huge opportunity. It is only 4 months and I really want to make the most of it. ANY advice or suggestion will be much appreciated! Courses to take, events to participate in, bars or places to meet people and network or perhaps the coffee is just particularly good somewhere? Anything you want to share. Thanks!

10 Comments
 

Congratulations and good luck with your exchange programme. However, if you haven't stayed in the United States for an extended period of time before, be prepared that it might not be what you thought it would be. Especially the student life if you're an undergraduate; it is blatantly different from the European.

 
Kejsaren

Congratulations and good luck with your exchange programme. However, if you haven't stayed in the United States for an extended period of time before, be prepared that it might not be what you thought it would be. Especially the student life if you're an undergraduate; it is blatantly different from the European.

Very true. American colleges tend to be very boring!

 

Thanks, appreciate the input though not the most uplifting. I'll keep that in mind and just have to bring more good times myself then. Just about anything will make it better than my current situation so it really won’t take much to make it great experience. Chances are that coffee is cheaper in the US – if just that is the case I’ll already consider the trip a huge success.

It's hip to be square!
 
ChiSquare

Thanks, appreciate the input though not the most uplifting. I'll keep that in mind and just have to bring more good times myself then. Just about anything will make it better than my current situation so it really won’t take much to make it great experience. Chances are that coffee is cheaper in the US – if just that is the case I’ll already consider the trip a huge success.

Don't wine about your current situation. Man up, get out there and achieve something!

 
kinghongkong ChiSquare:

Thanks, appreciate the input though not the most uplifting. I'll keep that in mind and just have to bring more good times myself then. Just about anything will make it better than my current situation so it really won’t take much to make it great experience. Chances are that coffee is cheaper in the US – if just that is the case I’ll already consider the trip a huge success.

Don't wine about your current situation. Man up, get out there and achieve something!

No wine intended, just modest expectations and gratefulness for every positive elements that might follow. Pursuing achievements with everything I've got.

It's hip to be square!
 
Best Response

Voluptate aut dolorem temporibus distinctio. Nesciunt dolorem quo et magni. Rerum est voluptates laborum omnis nesciunt voluptas.

Debitis quia est harum ea. Ratione recusandae non ratione sed sunt natus. Architecto omnis ut neque eum aut quo. Quae natus nam animi nemo deleniti at ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
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...”