IBD / PE: UChicago (Econ) vs Wharton (Finance)

Looking to go into IBD / PE post graduation and was wondering which school to ED. 

From a pure numbers perspective, seems like Wharton sends more people to IBD / PE but also seems more competitive. 

Which one would you ED? 

11 Comments
 

if these are your top 2: ED Wharton and then ED 2 Chicago if you don't get Wharton.

 

Wharton may place *slightly* better for IBD/PE, but UChicago will give you a better education. Many of my classmates from UChicago went to top banks (GS TMT, PJT, etc.) and are now at MFs or top HFs (Viking, Farallon, Citadel, etc.), and these are just the people I know personally. A good portion of the perceived boost in placement is selection bias (UChicago kids want to do more diverse things vs. Wharton kids are more focused on finance).

If you're in high school, then you don't really know what you want to do when you graduate (you may think you do, but you really don't), and UChicago is a more well-rounded choice. Obviously, I'm biased, but I really can't recommend it enough. 

 

Didn't go to either school but neither has a reputation for being particularly enjoyable if that's a factor at all. Obv don't have to go to ASU or Ole Miss to have a good time, but UChicago's reputation is borderline masochistic while Wharton seems like preprofessional cesspool. Either school will get you in the door for any finance job in the world. 

 
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Dude, you just listed probably the two most marketable non-STEM UG degrees that you can attain in the USA - you'll be fine with a degree from either.

Where do you think you'll want to pursue a career in finance - Chicago or NYC? Actually, it probably doesn't matter - you'd be able to place in both regardless of whether you go to UofC or Wharton.

Honestly.....just go with Wharton. University of Chicago is Where Fun Goes to Die, so you'll probably have more fun (and presumably way cuter girls) for 4 years in Philly.

 

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