Duke vs Georgetown
Hey everyone,
Trying to decide which school to apply early to (Duke (Econ) or Georgetown (Econ)) as an undergrad with the goal of breaking into investment banking in NYC.
I know both place decently well, but curious to hear how they stack up head-to-head in terms of:
- OCR strength / firm coverage
- Alumni network in NYC
- Placement into top firms (GS, MS, JPM, EVR, CVP, etc.)
- Prestige perception within IB
- Culture / recruiting support
Would love to hear any insights from people who’ve recruited from either school or worked with analysts from both.
Thanks!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's how Duke and Georgetown compare for your investment banking goals:
OCR Strength / Firm Coverage:
Duke has a stronger on-campus recruiting (OCR) presence for investment banking. It is one of the few schools where all bulge bracket banks (e.g., Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan) recruit, as highlighted in the WSO University Recruiting Report. Georgetown, while solid, does not have the same level of firm coverage as Duke.
Alumni Network in NYC:
Duke boasts a robust alumni network in NYC, particularly in investment banking. PJT Partners, for instance, strongly favors Duke with 13.5% of its hires coming from there. Georgetown also has a presence, but Duke's alumni network is generally perceived as more extensive and influential in the finance world.
Placement into Top Firms:
Duke consistently places well into top firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan. Additionally, firms like UBS AG and Wells Fargo show a preference for Duke graduates (3.9% and 3.6%, respectively). Georgetown places decently but does not match Duke's level of representation at these elite firms.
Prestige Perception within IB:
Duke is generally considered more prestigious than Georgetown for investment banking. It is one of the top 10 schools that receive recruitment focus from all bulge bracket banks, alongside schools like Harvard and NYU. Georgetown, while respected, is not in the same tier.
Culture / Recruiting Support:
Duke offers a strong support system for students aiming for finance careers, with a well-established pipeline into Wall Street. The campus culture, combined with its OCR strength, makes it a more favorable environment for aspiring investment bankers. Georgetown has a supportive culture as well, but it lacks the same level of resources and firm connections.
Recommendation:
If your primary goal is breaking into investment banking in NYC, Duke (Econ) is the stronger choice. Its OCR strength, alumni network, and prestige within the industry give it a clear edge over Georgetown. Plus, you'll enjoy the added benefits of Duke's campus life, weather, and overall experience.
Sources: Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways, Duke/Georgetown MSB/NYU Stern College choices, Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways, Georgetown Econ (College) vs Georgetown Finance (MSB), Undergrad choice: Columbia, Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell
You should probably change your username from your full legal name.
Ok. Also which one do you think you would prefer out of these?
Wharton
IU Kelley School of Business; #1 finance school in the world. I've personally never heard of this Duke or Georgetown and they seem like lousy names.
Anyways with your social aptitude, you'll have fun at Northwestern mutual.
OP is the most deranged person I've ever met on this site. Months upon months of asking the same questions, changing his username, doing this nonsense on Reddit too.
Is this like some underground campaign by a georgetown student to increase its “prestige” or something? I don’t know how anyone could have the patience to keep this bit up
I don't even know anymore. I've shamefully followed this saga longer than I should have. Last, per Reddit, OP "got into Dartmouth off the waitlist." And yet they are here still going. Maybe you're right. Maybe this is a Gtown student doing all this.
I still think they're a junior in HS (well rising senior now...this shit started in April lmao), who knows they aren't going to get into HYP or Wharton, so they're doing this super weird triangulating to feel justified about ending up at a "prestigious non Ivy" or a "lower Ivy."
But man, what I see instead is a student who isn't going to get into any of these schools. The prestigious non Ivies, the lower Ivies. He's headed for a mental breakdown, will course correct at whatever decent school he's able to get into based on his grades and SAT scores (I'm sure his extra curriculars are crap - look at how lack of social skills), and then have a massive chip on his shoulder as he strikes out of BB recruiting (again - look at his lack of social awareness and how that'll play in an interview) and probably ends up at Baird.
Im 90% sure this is the same person doing it on tiktok too. Theres this girl profile who also changes her name occasionally that will be on literally every finance/college related tiktok asking the same question to rank like 10 semi/full target schools. Fucken weird asf.
Im not even kidding when i say ive seen said person comment this “can u plz rank uc berkeley, cornell, uva, northwestern, ucla, umich, and georgetown for me for ib prestige?” Like 300 times
Its so god damn weird
Duke is a way better school for finance with an amazing alumni network. I think Georgetown is better if you want to have connections in politics (e.g., corporate lobbyist roles) or want to be a lawyer.
I think "way better" is an exaggeration as Georgetown is definitely extremely strong for NYC recruiting. But yes I do agree that Duke is better and Georgetown is better for pre law.
Poster is legitimately unwell. I can promise that you won’t land ANY job in finance or even a job period unless you deal with this obvious mental issue. The job market is too shitty right now for someone so clearly mentally unwell to sneak through. People get cut from processes just for being awkward.
This level of obsession, straight up making posts this frequently for months across multiple platforms is psychotic. Seek help - this likely seeps through to daily life as well.
Buddy, this is all jokes bro I am a very normal girl in real life. Please have some respect and some dignity. Mind your own business too.
I spent several years in financial services and corp dev before moving to college admissions consulting full-time. I went to a T20 school as well, so happy to provide some insight here. I prefer Duke a bit as a school overall - better collegiate atmosphere and a better social scene. Both schools are excellent for IB - if you're more interested in NYC, the commute is obviously easier from DC, but lots of banks recruit at Duke. I think you need to approach this to what school you think you have a better chance to get into, while they are both highly competitve, Georgetown's acceptance rate is about double that of Duke's. It's also hard for me to gauge your chances without knowing your stats and ECs. I've worked with several students who have gotten into each school (sometimes both) - feel free to DM me if you'd like to discuss further.
Sent you a DM. Thanks!
They're about the same in terms of IB recruitment, but Georgetown is easier to get into (although both competitive).
Ok, thanks. Also do you currently work in IB and are familiar with IB recruiting, or is this more of what you have observed?
I worked in IB, consulting, and corp dev (F100 TMT) before starting my own business as a college admissions consultant and career advisor. Every day is better than the last!
both are great options, and my friends at both schools had phenomenal undergraduate experiences, but if you are gonna do gtown, then why not apply to the business school?
Sent you a DM. Thanks!
Ngl, as a HYP student I thought Georgetown was an elite gem in DC with insane political and professional prestige. Seems like a pure hardo place now.
Ok. I guess I'll ED Duke then.
We don’t want you
Also a HYP student, with a sibling at Georgetown.
The grass is definitely greener at HYP for sure, but when I visited my sibling at Georgetown, Bill Clinton was on campus visiting his alma mater, and even shook my hand.
There’s hardos there for sure, but I think it’s a bit exaggerated how many there are.
But yeah, the hardos are annoying to deal with and the bad news is that they’re almost everywhere, especially when you join the workforce out of college.
How would you compare Northwestern and Berkeley to Georgetown in your opinion for NYC IB and MBB?
Oh that's so fire. Yeah might just be the outspoken ones giving a bad rep for the school. Hardos aren't always a bad thing ngl since they just care so much, but the ones that are irritating and outspoken like OP are such a pain.
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