College to choose for Investment Banking?

Hi everyone!

I am in the process of picking the college I wish to attend for the Fall semester of 2017. I am a transfer student from Florida State University and have been accepted to some decent choices right now. I am looking to enter Investment Banking once I graduate so it would be helpful for the college I pick to have good on-campus recruiting. However, I am more than willing to take an initiative in looking for opportunities after graduating. I value internships a lot as well and would love for the college I pick to offer strong internship programs with big investment banking firms.

I think everyone should know that cost is an issue though I am more than willing to take out a student loan if it helps me further my career once I graduate. I have been accepted into Fordham's Gabelli School of Business, SMU's Cox, UNC as economics and would have to try to transfer internally into KF(transfers cannot transfer directly into the business school), TCU's Neeley, U Tampa's Business School(major safety and received 15k in merit scholarships). I am waiting on responses from Villanova(first choice), Bentley, and Indiana. I would love some input regarding this decision; I want to make the best move for my future.

Thank you in advance!

32 Comments
 

How do you guys feel about Indiana? Kelley is like UNC in that I have to wait a semester for Kelley but I have better chances at Indiana for transferring internally. UNC has about 50% transfer acceptance into KF internally. Villanova has always been my top choice but I really like SMU and Gabelli as well. If I'm going to pay tuition without any aid, I would rather attend a more expensive college if it will "open doors". I am definitely considering UNC though not knowing whether I would get into KF is stressful.

 

I have a buddy at UVA (at UVA I believe its similar to UNC in which you have to apply to the business program 2-years in). He didn't make it into the business program - its a gamble.

PM me if you want to know more about the Gabelli program.

 

UNC and Indiana are the only choices here for banking. Indiana you pretty much have to be in the IB program. UNC is strong enough that even not getting into b-school, you can make it happen through aggressive networking IMO.

 

There are plenty of current Fordham students and recent alum (within the past 1-3 years) who either have offers for or are currently working at top BB's in IB, corporate banking, and commercial banking. Saying otherwise is untrue and not fair to the kids trying to figure out which college to choose - if you don't know you should just admit you're not sure about how a college places don't assume dude.

 

I don't think Villanova is worthy of first choice for IB, but I could be simply biased. IU and UNC will give you best chances in my opinion, SMU is underrated but good. Nova may have some NYC pull, and Fordham is just a pure location play.

It may be worth transferring if you score a high first year GPA.

 

Even though I might have to graduate in Economics? Supposing I wind up an economics major, would I still have better opportunities than graduating from Gabelli, VSB or Cox?

 

Not sure if this is really the advice your looking for, but I thought I'd comment if other younger people are lurking. pick the best school that is the best fit. Dont pick a school based solely on IB, especially as a freshman and be realistic about what you can actually afford. Loading up on debt for a degree can help, but in doing so you're also assuming that the next ~4/5 years will be the same as the past 5, and that you'll graduate with some top job that give you the cash to pay down the debt AND live after cost of living. not to say it's impossible, but keep in mind that a lot has to go right for that bet to work. Chances are the best school for IB with be "the best overall school", but still, as I'm sure you're aware, there is so so much more to consider. Its the last few weeks of school, the girls at FSU are obnoxiously attractive, go enjoy it.

 

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