Fordham versus UMD banking and overall experience

Hi! I'm a high school senior who has been accepted to University of Maryland College Park at the Smith business school and Fordham Gabelli at Rose Hill. I understand both are truly non-targets. I like the city and want to experience what that is like. I am interested in Banking but not dead-set on it because of the hours- I'd prefer to be more entrepreneurial. UMD is in-state and would cost $27k and Fordham would cost $50k.

Any difference with opportunity, and what will be a better experiences? Thanks.

I also was accepted to:

UVA: $75k

Penn State: $55k

Georgia: $45k

SMU: $50k

11 Comments
 
raki.sg

Do you mind sharing your stats

4.5 Weighted, 3.94 UW. 

IB student, school president, small state and national business awards. Business club leadership, some local government involvement. Did summer business camp where I started a small startup, also helped my mom with her business. Went test optional and stated race as asian. 

 
Most Helpful

I'd take Maryland.

Although Fordham may be ~slightly better for IB due to location, but that difference (if any) doesn't justify $100k. Maryland is a great school and the people I know who go there have loved the experience thus far. If you're focused on IB you're just gonna have to network hard. I don't think UVA is worth the cost in this case unless your parents are willing to help substantially.

And yes Fordham is in NYC, but you could get the best of both worlds- do 4 years of DC for college, then get a finance job in NYC post undergrad. 

 

Thanks, these are good points.

I've been completing quite a bit of research into UVA and am realizing its a larger target than I initially understood. I think I've put Fordham to the side for now and am between UVA and UMD now. 

I feel that I resonate with the student life/culture and student body at UVA more, and it does have quite decent recruiting prospects. However, I am trying to put the cost in perspective. My parents would be willing to help pay for it, but it does have to be worth it (I would probably arrange so I owe them 100-150k back). 

Regardless of where I go, do you think I would need to get an MBA down the line. Moreover, how many years of job climbing would it take from Maryland to reach what I would get right out of Virginia? If I could go to UVA and not need a MBA down the line, then it is a lot easier to justify. I probably won't stay in IB forever, and would want to exit to PE/a job with more reasonable balance, or start my own business. Finally, say I do attend UVA, if I were to not pursue banking, would I readily be able to pick up another role and make a decent salary. 

In total UMD would cost $109,000 and UVA $320,000. Will I make return greater than $210,000 with a UVA degree?

Finally, how would the alumni and friends I meet, make a difference, I assume I would be better connected/around more successful individuals and families at UVA.

This might be a lot but it's all the topics I've been weighing over the past couple days. Of course, let me know if I am forgetting to take something into account.

Thanks for your response.

 

$100-$150k is a LOT of money to pay back. Especially because you might not land the top finance gig, you might land the job and get laid off, etc... Plus, do you want the stress of all those loans affecting your undergrad experience?

A lot can happen. I think you're better off saving money, going to UMD, and potentially taking out loans to go to a top 15 MBA program. If you got into UVA undergrad out of state, you should be able to get into a solid MBA program. 

If you're dead set on IB, it's gonna be tough coming from UMD. But it's a huge risk, especially because you're not dead-set on IB due to the hours. If you go to UVA and take out the 100k, you basically have to do IB for a few years just to pay that off. 

 

I thought about that, or even elsewhere. But, UVA recruiting happens during Sophomore year. And while I could transfer after one year I would miss out on joining clubs and somewhat a network/presence. Not to mention I would have to get accepted. If anything I could do the opposite, if I don't end up banking I could transfer out.

 

Natus ut ut sed omnis. Explicabo quibusdam vitae provident ut fuga. Deserunt ab qui quas minus blanditiis veritatis fuga. Quaerat mollitia est modi ab. Alias porro a qui voluptas modi. Nostrum fugit sed est et.

Quasi molestias temporibus rerum. Tempora est dicta quas vero. Quia commodi harum ducimus dolorem porro esse vel. Qui et voluptatem distinctio repellendus. Voluptatem veritatis nulla minima expedita. Ea ipsa quidem sequi quia reprehenderit.

Architecto qui rerum necessitatibus et sit. Repellat aspernatur dicta doloremque sint. Repellendus ut facere quaerat repellat officia optio et. Eos et tenetur harum animi rerum nesciunt modi. Aliquid enim quod omnis a autem dolorem provident. Soluta aspernatur voluptas voluptatem voluptas voluptates et necessitatibus vel. Non aliquam maxime illo dolorem.

Exercitationem vitae eum numquam eos nobis. Dolore rem architecto exercitationem quasi voluptatem qui sapiente. Exercitationem alias quod aperiam et dolorem. Eos illo dolorem nesciunt in rerum consequuntur. Voluptas quidem facilis magni voluptatem sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”