ED NYU Stern or Northwestern

Hey all, Currently a senior in high school finalizing my college list. IB/PE are career fields that I wish to pursue in the future, and from what I've seen on this forum, being in a target university is a crucial first step for landing a role at a BB/EB.  I know that HYSPW is out of reach (international student here) so I have to consider other options. Northwestern offers pretty good well-roundedness in case I end up not wanting to do finance, but from information on WSO, Stern seems to be the bigger feeder for IB/PE. Honestly any advice/input is appreciated.

22 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

  1. NYU Stern:

    • Target for IB/PE: Stern is considered a heavy target for Investment Banking and Private Equity. It has strong placement in top BB (Bulge Bracket) and EB (Elite Boutique) banks.
    • Recruiting: Stern is a core school for many top banks, making it a strong feeder for IB/PE roles.
    • Alumni Network: Stern has a robust alumni network in finance, which can be beneficial for networking and job placements.
  2. Northwestern:

    • Well-Rounded Education: Northwestern offers a well-rounded education, which can be advantageous if you decide to pivot away from finance.
    • Recruiting: Northwestern is also a strong school for finance, with students landing roles at elite boutiques and BBs. However, it may not be as finance-focused as Stern.
  3. Comparative Insights:

    • UChicago vs. Northwestern vs. Stern: UChicago is noted to be a notch above the others for IB/PE. However, between Northwestern and Stern, Stern is often highlighted as the better option for those specifically targeting IB/PE due to its strong finance focus and placement record.
    • Personal Fit: It's important to consider where you might enjoy your college experience the most. Some students at Stern have noted the intense focus on finance can come at the expense of other college experiences.

In summary, if your primary goal is to break into IB/PE, NYU Stern might be the better choice due to its strong placement and focus on finance. However, if you value a more well-rounded education and want to keep your options open, Northwestern is also a solid choice.

Sources: NYU Stern vs UChicago vs Northwestern vs UCLA, What makes NYU so good?, Cornell Dyson vs. Dartmouth for Undergrad, How To Get Into The Undergraduate Program At NYU Stern: A Quick Guide, Cornell vs Northwestern for NYC IB/PE?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Stern

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Op if you take Stern over Northwestern, especially after NW jumped to #6 in USNews, you deserve to go to Stern

 

Op if you take Stern over Northwestern, especially after NW jumped to #6 in USNews, you deserve to go to Stern

Stern is top 5 in undergraduate business programs. 

2025 Best Undergraduate Business Programs | US News Rankings

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Northwestern. You are in a sea of other hardo internationals at stern and unless your willing to fight to the best, youll get turned around and fucked. NU will give you a fighting chance to network and you can also tap into Kellog. 

 
ChimpMonkeyguy

Northwestern. You are in a sea of other hardo internationals at stern and unless your willing to fight to the best, youll get turned around and fucked. NU will give you a fighting chance to network and you can also tap into Kellog. 

Don't listen to the guy who can't even spell "Kellogg." You want to be in NYC

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Northwestern 100%. Northwestern is more prestigious than Stern. College is more than just recruiting for IB. Northwestern is a solid target school for New York and Chicago. If you go to Stern, get prepared to grind day 1. Stern, if you enjoy being in a city and want to network every day. FYI, I don't affiliate with Northwestern. 

 

Stern, if you enjoy being in a city and want to network every day.

Yeah this is the main reason I put Stern. I lived in that area for years and made some top tier lifetime connections and just love the city and restaurants and the going out scene. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Northwestern. But consider UChicago or Cornell. Both have good ED rates and are similar if not better for IB than Northwestern. 

 

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