Help Me Choose - UVA or UCLA?

I am a high school senior trying to decide between UVA and UCLA.  I am focused on finance, and I want to work in IB, VC, or PE.  I know both are good schools, and it sounds like UCLA is better for the West Coast, while UVA is better for the East Coast.  Since I don't yet know where I ultimately want to live, I am looking for opinions on which is the better choice based on education and recruiting opportunities (and fun!).  I am from Seattle, so both are OOS for me, and cost is similar.  Questions:

1. How hard is it really to get into McIntire?

2. How does the BusEcon degree at UCLA compare to the BS in Commerce degree at UVA?

3. Which will provide better recruiting opportunities?

Feeling fortunate to have these two choices.  Would love to hear your opinions!

3 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, getting into McIntire at UVA is competitive but very achievable for students who are dedicated and perform well academically. The McIntire School of Commerce is highly regarded, especially for students aiming to enter fields like investment banking, venture capital, or private equity. The school's acceptance rate isn't explicitly detailed in the context, but it's known to be selective. Historically, students who engage actively in relevant extracurriculars, maintain a strong GPA, and can demonstrate their passion for finance tend to have a good shot at admission. The accelerated nature of recruiting in finance means that being part of McIntire is advantageous, although not strictly necessary, as recruiting often concludes before students start their classes at McIntire in their third year.

Sources: UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways

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

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