Any thoughts on the "tier 2 ucs"?
Hello fellow monkeys, Canadian senior hs student interested in finance (more specifically, in the West Coast as I have family in that area). I'm currently applying to the "top 6" UC campuses and we all know that UCLA and Berk are the 2 best schools for IB and related roles. However, considering my GPA and status as an oos student, I don't think I'm good enough to land an offer from those 2. I'm curious as to whether it would be worth it to go to schools within the "tier 2" category, if not I can go to a Canadian uni like Rotman/Waterloo afm considering the fact that I have pretty good shot at getting in.
From previous research I've seen that UCSB has the finance connection club which feeds decently into LA/SF roles and UCSD is pretty decent for ER. Any inputs would help. Thks a lot :)
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about the "tier 2" UCs for finance:
UCSB: UCSB has been noted for its Finance Connection Club, which provides a solid pathway into LA and SF finance roles. While it's not a target school, the club's networking opportunities and alumni connections can help you break into investment banking or related fields. Keep in mind that you'll need to be proactive in leveraging these resources and building your network.
UCSD: UCSD is recognized as being relatively strong for equity research (ER). However, it doesn't have the same level of finance-focused resources or alumni presence in IB as UCLA or Berkeley. If you're interested in ER or tech-focused finance roles, UCSD could be a decent option, especially given its proximity to the tech-heavy San Diego area.
Comparison to Canadian Schools: Rotman and Waterloo AFM are strong programs in Canada, with Rotman being particularly well-regarded for finance. If you have a good shot at these schools, they might offer a more direct path to finance roles in Canada. However, if your goal is to work on the West Coast of the U.S., the UCs (even tier 2) might provide better networking opportunities in that region.
Key Considerations:
Ultimately, if you don't get into UCLA or Berkeley, UCSB and UCSD can still be viable options, but you'll need to work harder to stand out. If you're confident in your ability to network and hustle, they can serve as a stepping stone to your finance goals.
Sources: Don't come to Penn/Wharton to work in finance and make money, Linkedin research on Tier 2 US mbas, Comprehensive Undergraduate Target Schools Tier List 2020, Cal Poly SLO for investment banking? or SJSU/SCU?, In a bit of a predicament.
would advise against it, neither ucsb nor ucsd is better than iu kelley
Preciate the response, if that's the case I think it would be a smarter decision for me to just go to Canada then considering the fact that IU kelley's business or econ degree isn't stem certified and I'm not tryna double degree considering oppurtunity of doing so.
except nobody knows these backwater snow school outside of the backwater snow country. UC’s are much more versatile and would get someone into the U.S. which in finance has ~180k starting TC instead of ~90k like canada. they also actually produce top tier research as a hedge in pursuing any non robot career.
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