Harvard vs. Wharton for undergrad

Have a cousin who starts his senior year on Monday and has football offers from Harvard and Penn. This is very weird but he wants to start his own construction industrial contractor company (Think like Bechtel and Kiewit). Graduate from College, get some corporate experience, save enough money to start it.

Which school would be better for him? Harvard has the brand and better connections but at Wharton you can take the best business classes in the country while you can't take any business classes at Harvard.

13 Comments
 

My Dad played football at Penn for 4 years. I think Wharton is the way to go.

"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
 
NewIndustryHorizon

Harvard because that name generally carries more weight in any industry.

OP is talking about gaining valuable business skills. Wharton is #1 for undergrad business schools, Harvard isn’t even close.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-overall

"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
 

Harvard will be respected in every industry (including finance) - Wharton is a bit above in finance but what 18y.o can give a definitive answer as to what they’ll be doing in 5 years. I’d take Harvard for the optionality

 

Laborum a expedita eos maxime ullam nam. Consequatur occaecati accusantium aliquid perspiciatis eum ut qui. In nemo in et ex. Deleniti totam qui fugit ea consequatur a. Inventore maxime nesciunt aut vitae nobis corrupti commodi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”