[High School Senior] Torn Between Erasmus University Rotterdam and UT Dallas for Finance Career (PE/IB Goal) – Need Guidance

I’m a high school senior trying to decide between Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands) and University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) for undergrad. I would really appreciate any insight, especially from people in finance, banking, or international students who’ve been through similar decisions.

Background:

• Current Residence: United States (been here since I was 5)
• Citizenship Status: Not a U.S. citizen, no green card
• Career Goal: Work in Investment Banking or Private Equity (ideally in the U.S.)
• Money: Not an issue—cost is not a deciding factor
• Language/Cultural Fit: Grew up in the U.S., fluent in English, some international exposure
• Length of Programs:
  • Erasmus: 3-year BSc + 1-year Master’s in Finance/Econ
  • UTD: 4-year undergrad in Finance or similar

Why I’m Conflicted:

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is one of the top economics and finance schools in Europe, especially known for its international exposure, career-oriented courses, and accelerated structure. The opportunity to study in Europe and finish my master’s by age 22 is appealing. It also offers a global perspective and strong academic rigor.

BUT—I'm concerned about how this choice would impact my goal of working in Private Equity or Investment Banking in the United States. I'm not sure how portable a European undergrad/master's is to the U.S. finance job market, especially without citizenship or a green card. I know breaking into U.S. IB is hard even for domestic students, so coming from Europe might complicate the process further.

UT Dallas, on the other hand, is solid but not a “target” school for IB/PE. However, it keeps me physically present in the U.S., which might make networking, internships, and post-grad opportunities more accessible. I might be able to transfer later or leverage strong grades and internships to move up. I’m just worried about the perceived prestige or lack of international brand compared to Erasmus.

My Questions:

• Given that I hope to work and live in the U.S. long-term, would attending Erasmus hurt my chances of breaking into U.S. finance roles?
• Is it realistic to aim for U.S. IB/PE with a European degree and no U.S. work authorization?
• Would UTD, despite being non-target, provide better long-term immigration and career positioning?
• Does the prestige and fast-track of Erasmus outweigh the U.S. location and recruiting advantages of UTD?

Thanks for reading—any advice from students, grads, or professionals who’ve navigated international paths to finance would be massively appreciated.