"LACs only get students into banking through nepotism or diversity"

I'm a student at W/A who has seen this assertion repeated consistently around this forum, and it's making me worried about my prospects…but what I've observed among upperclassmen is that it's simply not true. The majority of students from my school who go into IB are neither nepotism (at least, not to the extent I was able to dig up) nor diversity candidates; a lot are athletes, but the athlete:non ratio is approximately the same among both prospects and successful recruits. I quite literally cannot find any evidence that it is true outside of people who didn't go to any of these schools claiming so. LAC alums, can you correct me if I'm wrong?

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, the assertion that LACs only get students into banking through nepotism or diversity is not accurate. Here are some key points from various discussions on the forum:

  1. Alumni Network:

    • LACs have strong and cohesive alumni networks that can significantly aid in job placements. Alumni from schools like Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Bowdoin, and Pomona are known to be very supportive and proactive in helping current students and recent graduates.
  2. Job Placement:

    • Many LAC graduates have excellent job placements in banking and investing. The alumni network at these schools is often cited as a major factor in their success. For example, Bowdoin, Pomona, Middlebury, and Claremont McKenna College (CMC) have strong alumni networks that actively help each other.
  3. Recruitment:

    • While traditional target schools might receive more recruiting attention, LACs still have pipelines to Wall Street. Banks appreciate the unique perspectives and skills that LAC graduates bring, which is why they continue to recruit from these institutions.
  4. Athletes and Non-Athletes:

    • The ratio of athletes to non-athletes among successful recruits is approximately the same, indicating that being an athlete is not a significant factor in recruitment success.
  5. Financial Considerations:

    • For students who receive substantial scholarships from LACs, attending these schools can be a financially prudent decision compared to taking on large loans for traditional universities.
  6. Personal Experiences:

    • Many students and alumni from LACs have shared positive experiences regarding their career prospects in finance. They emphasize the importance of being proactive and utilizing the available resources and networks.

In summary, the notion that LACs rely solely on nepotism or diversity for banking placements is not supported by the experiences shared on WSO. LACs have strong alumni networks, good job placements, and are respected by banks for the unique qualities their graduates bring.

Sources: Picking between LACs or Uni for Undergrad Degree, Undergrad School OPTIONS (please help), Help me choose a LAC with a career in finance in mind, Cornell vs Michigan vs Dartmouth school choices, Back to make fun of UCLA, the worst top college there is

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

I'm at a West Coast LAC and don't think it's completely the case. At my school it was mostly diversity for SA this year with the other people either being athletes, nepo or both. I didn't see any non-athlete, non-nepo break in for a while now.

 

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