Importance of university
Asking again because I asked in the wrong forum before.
For those who know about how CVs are assessed for IB(or anything finance, PE, consulting etc…) could you please educate me on how important ones course vs university is, for example would maths at Bath (which as far as I know is a high semi-target) be better or worse than anthropology (or Hebrew and Jewish studies, etc…) at UCL?
If you think the Bath candidate would be favoured how would they compare to someone at a stronger target, say LSE and studying language and culture?
Basically is university bias so strong that even studying one of the most rigorous degrees at a non-target (not one of the 6), still seen as less favourable to someone studying the most wishy-washy courses at a target?
P.s no offence to someone studying one of the courses mentioned, I don’t actually know if they’re considered ‘wishy-washy’, if they’re not, replace them with courses that are
Based on the most helpful WSO content, the importance of one's university in the context of investment banking (IB), private equity (PE), consulting, and similar finance sectors is significant, but it's not the only factor considered during the recruitment process. Here's a breakdown to address your query:
University Reputation: The reputation of the university plays a crucial role in the initial screening process. Candidates from target schools often have an advantage due to the established recruitment pipelines between those universities and finance firms. Target schools are typically well-regarded institutions known for their strong alumni networks in the finance industry.
Degree Subject: While the university's prestige is important, the subject of study also matters. STEM, business, and finance majors are generally preferred because they are seen as providing a relevant skill set for the finance industry. However, candidates from non-traditional backgrounds (like anthropology or Hebrew and Jewish studies, as you mentioned) can also be considered, especially if they have demonstrated strong quantitative skills, relevant internships, or extracurricular activities that showcase their interest and capabilities in finance.
Comparing Universities and Courses: A candidate studying a rigorous subject like mathematics at a semi-target university like Bath could be very competitive, especially if they have complemented their academic performance with relevant work experience, networking, and extracurricular activities. On the other hand, a candidate from a target university like LSE studying a less directly related subject might also be attractive to employers, given the prestige of the institution and the transferable skills they've acquired.
The Balance Between University and Course: There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to whether a rigorous degree from a semi-target is more favorable than a less directly related degree from a target university. It often comes down to the individual's overall profile, including GPA, internships, extracurricular activities, and how they present themselves during the recruitment process.
Mitigating Factors: Candidates from non-target schools or those studying less traditional subjects for finance can mitigate the "university bias" by focusing on building a strong overall profile. This includes securing finance-related internships, participating in finance clubs or competitions, networking with industry professionals, and possibly pursuing relevant certifications (like the CFA for investment roles).
In conclusion, while the prestige of the university and the relevance of the degree subject are important, they are part of a broader evaluation of a candidate's suitability for roles in finance. A well-rounded profile with strong academic performance, relevant work experience, and demonstrated interest in finance can make a candidate competitive, regardless of their university or major.
Sources: Investment Banking University Recruiting Report – 7 Key Takeaways, The Life of Ricardo: What is Your Comparative Advantage?, Why so much focus on prestige in IB?, Does the major you do matter to BB banks?, How important is an in-depth understanding of Accounting for IB?
bath is nipping warwick in numbers these days a lot IBs prefer bath as equal as warwick ( i dont know about ucl though ) . Like i always say if you take warwick off that 6 and put it in strong semi ( alongside durham,kings,bath,manchester) you will probably see equal proportions of students breaking into IB from each uni in this bracket .
and honestly only the companies HR department knows which universities to target .
bath maintains good relations with top IB/PE firms and they do prefer bath .
What is wishy-washy about having 10 9s in Humanities-related GCSEs to gain admission for learning Hebrew from the scratch? There is a reason you're at a non-target (unless you were handicapped by financial poverty or you were unwilling / didn't think of studying far from where you were born)—you just couldn't make such grades in your so-called rigorous STEM pre-university subjects!
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