Ross Undergrad?
Hello,
If I go to Ross Undergraduate for a BBA in Finance and maintain a decent GPA (3.5ish) with a dual-degree in CS, what are my chances for the top PE Firms (Blackstone ) and IB Firms (GS, JP, MS)? If a 3.5 isn't enough, what is?
Let's keep everything else equal, so I have good internships in 2-3 summers and have good ECs/Clubs in Michigan with a bit of leadership. Let's also say I have the personality for these firms and do well interviews.
I am currently deciding between Michigan and another elite university, so this will help my decision.
Comments (61)
"Top PE Firms (Blackstone and Lazard)"
Did I say something wrong? Please correct me if that is wrong. I just heard that Blackstone was really good.
lazard isnt a pe firm lol
You are the Yale vs Michigan guy. We told you to go Yale, but if you want to go to Michigan so much go ahead and go there just know your chances at IB will be slimmer.
Yes, I am and I didn't say Yale for a reason dude. I wanted to keep this thread unbiased for now. Like I said before on the other thread, I will most likely go to Yale, but I just want to see what the Ross options would be. Now could you please delete your comment so this thread doesn't become biased.
You really messed up the entire point of this post man. Seriously man
Why are you so mad? Stop spamming a finance forum with the same question over and over again? People have told you over and over again - both great schools that will give you opportunities across the street, but Yale will provide stronger brand and easier time recruiting. You're not going to get any new information, and frankly you're just wasting people's time at this point.
3.5 likely won't be enough for the top jobs. Even at Harvard, a 3.5 won't get you a top PE firm like Blackstone or a top bank like Lazard. 3.7+ is doable for top IBs. For Blackstone and MFs in general, know that these opportunities are typically reserved to top diversity candidates, so I wouldn't bank on going to one from undergrad, be it from Ross or Yale.
As for Ross vs Yale, I think WSO exaggerates the difference in recruiting opportunities. Both schools are targets for BBs, so if you do well, you'll be fine at either one. I'd still go to Yale if I were you because it has a stronger network and more prestige (especially internationally - Ross just isn't that well known outside the US).
Also, learn the difference between investment banks and private equity firms. You're not in college yet so you're all good for now, but the sooner you understand how a firm like Lazard differs from Blackstone, the better.
Alright thank you. I'll learn the difference between them lol
Ross student here, I don't think a 3.5 is outstanding enough to land you a top internship. Also only a couple people will go to PE directly, and I only know of like 3-4 to Blackstone in the past couple of years.
I would say most of the people I know at top IB firms have over 3.7 GPA (a lot in the 3.9s actually), but I also don't know if expectations change that much for a CS dual-degree.
Also gonna be completely honest, people in Ross who want IB are gonna grind for it, so good internships and good ECs are more required rather than standout. Obviously the better the internship/club, the more impactful it will be, but almost every Ross student applying to IB will have stuff under their belt. Also be aware that the best clubs are also super selective, like ~5-10% acceptance rates.
Alright gotcha! What clubs would you recommend I join and do you have advice on how to get into them (applications, interviews, etc.)?
I go to Ross as well and I love it here. It seems like over the last few years, we've sent 1-2 students to Blackstone every year, but also students to other top firms. I would say the top finance clubs that'll help prepare you for IB/PE recruiting are MIBC, MII, AIC, and GIC, although there are other clubs and people get into the field without doing any clubs. I think the best way to prepare and ultimately get into these clubs is to understand what they do and how they're different from each other and be able to talk about why you're interested in them and how they can help you reach your goals. They are extremely competitive to get into, but not impossible if you are genuine, intelligent, and personable you shouldn't have a problem.
with everything you said, there is a solid chance you have nothing. go to Yale
This wasn't supposed to be a Yale vs Michigan debate. I will most likely go to Yale but I want to see where Ross would take me mutually exclusive from Yale.
Probably didnt even get in to Yale or alr turned it down and wants to convince himself that Michigan is better.
Also, you should use the search function, people have asked very similar questions to yours many times before
What makes you so sure you want to do IB or PE? You admitted a few comments up that you don't know the difference between IB/PE.
My point is, if that's the case, Yale (or, as you wrote, another elite school), offers far more flexibility should you change your mind. Go to Yale, be open to other paths, and if you end up in IB/PE, then that's fantastic.
Actually I do want to to IB. PE not as much. I've heard that Lazard was a PE firm which w is where my confusion comes from. I do think I'll choose Yale now since this is almost an unanimous decision on this thread.
Thank you so much for being respectful in your comments. I really appreciate the courtesy.
Please just stop this madness and go to Yale. Ross is amazing but Yale is Yale and you sound like an anal high schooler ... try to relax a bit and not overthink simple things.
Alright lmao I'll choose Yale
Just my 2 cents here. I went to a mid-Ivy, and that opens a ton of doors for sure. That being said, there's a noticeable drop-off from HYP and the rest of the Ivies. Kind of silly because with acceptance rates so low, students today likely don't have several Ivies to choose from. Nevertheless, the difference is there and significant.
I think a lot of the older monkeys (I'm only a few years older than you) usually caution against choosing a school solely based on "IB/PE or bust" because you might change your mind and there's so much to college outside of bumping up your chances by 1% of getting a highly coveted first job. But on your first post, you made it clear that the reason you're asking this community "Ross vs. Yale" is because you want to know the difference for IB and buyside career opps. The choice is clear: choose Yale. I love my school and wouldn't trade it for Yale, but if it was solely for career opps, then yeah Yale wins hands down. No one is gonna clown you if you choose Ross because you like UMich football, the state school vibe, maybe less $$, and you just fit in better. But we will clown you if you are actively turning down Yale for Ross purely because it will help you get better jobs.
Alright, I think I'll choose Yale.
Also, why is this app based around monkeys
I don't get it
Congrats man. Hard to get into any of these schools, much less both. Hope you've properly considered non-career criteria as well.
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Hey man, I'm the guy who told you to read the Ross recruiting threat in your other post. I go to Ross and I'm in one of the top clubs mentioned somewhere above this post. Once you're in a good club, you're honestly fine at Ross. It's easy to get a 3.5+ but I would warn you that CS at Michigan is really tough. I know a couple of super smart people who are doing okay with CS + BBA but the VAST majority of kids who come in with CS and BBA plans (including myself) drop CS in the first one or two semesters. So that could be a drag on GPA but to be honest, I've seen it done with great GPAs as well, though rarely. Most of the kids at Ross who actually know anything end up at EBs or PE, and especially if you're in a solid club, you'll have the connections and education to do the same. We place at Blackstone, Ares, KKR, other PE and virtually every EB except Lazard. It won't be as easy from here as it would be from Yale, but if you're willing to put that and some prestige aside, I think you'll have a lot more fun at Michigan and probably build better relationships. Everyone is saying go to Yale (I did too on your other post) but you seem to rly like Michigan for some reason. Ultimately it's up to you. I'd probably pick Yale, but now that I've achieved some success at Ross, I can't imagine having gone to school elsewhere. Good luck
I mean I'm most likely going to Yale but I like making decisions without analyzing the outcomes so I looked at Ross. I'm also looking at possibly doing Data Science instead of Computer Science since I'll also do programming and am more interested in Data.
Would Data science + BBA be easier than CS + BBA?
Much easier
Why do you want CS regardless? Wouldn't it be better to spend that time on extracurriculars, maybe studying for the GMAT incase you want an MBA someday, or even just enjoying your life? If you want IB, I don't really get how CS helps you.
Feel free to PM me -- I graduated from Ross.
I don't think my account is old enough to do that. Could you provide me with your Reddit username (if you have one) and I'll message you there?
Or I can wait a day and then PM you once my account gets old enough.
from having been in the working world some top EBs take people from ross with 3.5, some of my friends have told me about people who just networked with 3.2-3.5 and got evercore, GS , etc. maybe not places like Moelis or rx spots but I remember during a super day I grabbed lunch and got close with another kid who told me about this
Thanks for the info!
yeah but have fun at Yale (haha). tough decision though if you genuinely like Michigan tbh. but if you're good enough to get into Yale, what's the point in applying if you were just gonna settle for umich or something. know what I mean? Michigan is amazing but the top few ivies are just special
Look dude, If you want to go to Michigan it's a great school. If you're smart and work hard you can get a good IB job. We send a lot to Citi, Barclays, Moelis, and Guggenheim. We place at other banks but those just stick out top of mind. You should have 3.7 GPA to feel comfortable. I had a 3.5 and I'm at a good MM bank (I only recruited for MM except Barclay's and made it far in the process so it wasn't my GPA that held me back). I don't think the 3.5 hurt me that much since I had strong experiences outside of GPA, but I wouldn't advise you to aim for that. CS is super hard at Michigan. You're obviously smart if you got into an elite university cough Yale cough, but I don't know anyone with over a 3.6 in CS really. Also, I don't know anyone that regretted going to Michigan because its a really great time if you're a social person and I feel like you should be if you're going into banking. But if you work hard you will get a good job dude. If you want to make your life easier for banking though, please please go to Yale, it should not be a question.
Yeah I think I'll go to Yale now lmao. Also, I might do Data science instead of CS because it involves programming and I'm more interested in Data. Also, it's apparently easier with a BBA/Econ.
Congrats on your accomplishments so far as well
I tried to help you last time but it's obvious now that you don't deserve Yale. Just go to your public school and live your own life, I'm done trying to help people like you.
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