15 Comments
 
Best Response

Stanford is the only "super target" , a good performer at Haas could probably work at any banks regional offices (ie SV, SF, LA) & probably get to New York with enough internships. Although USC & UCLA aren't really targets, they're good enough schools to if you network a little bit you should be good for a second look by a recruiter, & the alum networks are very powerful at both as well esp USC. Claremont McKenna has a very respect Econ program counting Henry Kravis as notable alum. Caltech & UCSD/UCSB are all fantastic schools but I cant remember the last time I've meet someone in industry who went to one of those schools, but I'm sure their case is the same as USC & UCLA, it would just take some networking.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Stanford - all NY + Cali + wherever else

UCB - Very Strong Cali, a bit of NY

UCLA/USC/Claremont - Strong Cali, but mainly LA, little or none NY

UCSD/UCSB - good luck

 

UCSD, yes complete non target, but the smartest person I know is alum of UCSD. Both very good schools, & your extremely ignorant if you think otherwise, there are other subjects out there beyond finance & economics.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Very aware pussinboots, however you made a blanket statement. I would have agreed with you had you included foot notes.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Let's not forget that David Shaw, founder of the elite hedge fund DE Shaw, went to UCSD (albeit a computer science major). UCSD has the second ranked econometrics faculty in the country, so unless you're doing more quantiative stuff after college, your chances of doing "traditional" IBD is going to be unlikely. UCSD is more well known for science and engineering than finance and business.

My ranking: Stanford Berkeley USC/UCLA/Clairemont Schools UCSB UCSD ...the rest

 

USC and UCLA are definitely semi-targets at the very least, though it depends on the bank/firm.

EDIT: We all completely forgot about Caltech!!! That's the strongest school in the world, with arguably the smartest student body. To me it's the most prestigious as well, it's just that not many students from there care much about making money and more about doing what they love.

 

Accusamus inventore aut dignissimos voluptatum est molestias expedita exercitationem. Iste nam expedita numquam sit.

Aspernatur id sit enim facilis placeat. Architecto consequatur labore ut et quia.

Amet eius molestiae non ipsam quisquam. Unde et nihil rerum. Molestiae dolorum aut doloribus sed id sequi. In impedit et cum aut.

Iusto libero temporibus aut quidem odio fugit quod. Asperiores ut et aut atque dolorum voluptate. Totam nulla sunt voluptatibus voluptatibus maiores. Architecto consequuntur consequuntur molestiae voluptates neque. Dicta odit aut voluptatem dolores quod molestiae perspiciatis. Laudantium exercitationem quibusdam dolorem error nesciunt fugiat velit voluptatum. Fugiat quod et atque.

"Come at me, bro"- José de Palafox y Melci

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”