Help Choosing Undergraduate College (Berkeley, Duke, JHU, Brown, or Toronto (full ride))

Hey everyone, I'm currently a high school senior aspiring to be a quant once I graduate. I was wondering if you could provide some advice on what undergraduate school can best help me do so. I'm considering to pursue a CS major at either Berkeley, Duke, JHU, Brown, or Toronto (full ride), though money isn't a concern.

4 Comments
 

If you're dead set on studying CS, Cal & CMU have the 2 best programs amongst this list (although I would join that waitlist for Harvard and/or consider the Yale option heavily solely cause those are extremely desirable).

But ignoring those two, personally would take Cal over CMU. CMU has arguably the better CS program, but living in the Bay Area & getting all the fun of the state school experience while attending a top-ranked (and heavily recruited from) program sounds like a better deal. Then again, most quants I've met are pretty into the books/all about the academics & if you're that way as well, CMU might be a better fit. Good luck!

 

Sadly, Yale IMO is best option since tour resume timer starts when your college classes start. Toronto free won't hurt either and you'd graduate with automatic big ticket item in your CV

 

I'd go with either Duke or Brown here. Berkeley is equally as good but their alumni network isn't as strong. I would also follow up with Harvard, Columbia and maybe Cornell. If you end up getting into Harvard or Columbia, go there. If not, go with Duke or Brown.

 

Minima aspernatur expedita maiores veritatis et officia. Sint provident alias et aut. Delectus aut voluptatem distinctio in maxime qui illum. Et eaque iusto ipsum sit in neque mollitia.

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 (68) $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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”