Cornell CALS Global Development vs. UVA McIntire
I was admitted to both programs as a transfer from a T25, and even though Cornell is obviously the "Ivy" and overall ever so slightly better than McIntire, would this major be laughed at by banks? I can not internal transfer into Dyson and transferring into econ will be an unnecessarily long/not guaranteed process, so I just hope I'm not gonna be clowned for my major vs if I went to McIntire since it's already in the agriculture/life sci school.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's the breakdown:
Cornell CALS Global Development: While Cornell has a strong brand name and is known for being transfer-friendly, the CALS Global Development major might not be as directly aligned with investment banking recruiting. Being in the agriculture/life sciences school could make it harder to stand out compared to Dyson or AEM students, who are more targeted by banks. Internal transfers to Dyson are notoriously difficult, and pursuing an econ transfer could be a long and uncertain process. That said, Cornell's overall reputation and alumni network can still provide opportunities, but you'll need to work harder to network and position yourself for finance roles.
UVA McIntire: McIntire is highly regarded for its business program and has strong placement into investment banking. Even though recruiting has become more accelerated (as noted in WSO threads), McIntire's reputation and alumni network in finance remain robust. Being in McIntire would likely give you a more direct path to banking compared to a less traditional major like Global Development at Cornell.
Recommendation: If your primary goal is investment banking, UVA McIntire is the safer and more direct choice. It offers a clear path with strong on-campus recruiting and a well-established pipeline to top banks. While Cornell's Ivy League prestige is appealing, the specific major and school (CALS) could make it more challenging to break into banking without significant extra effort.
Sources: The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking, Transfer from UVA (Pre-commerce + Echols) to GTown, Vandy, ND (Econ), Brown, WashU (Olin), Cornell (Econ), Chicago or stay?, The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking, UVA or Cornell?, UVA or Cornell?
Ok, tracking convo
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