McCombs vs Marshall Undergraduate Finance

Hey everyone, I have often looked to these discussions for answers to my questions regarding Finance, and today I need a question of my own answered. I am a Senior in High School who recently got accepted to both UT Austin McCombs as well as USC's Marshall school of business. Sadly, I was unaware UT had the BHP program until it was too late to apply, but if I attend, I plan on applying for my sophomore year. I plan on majoring in finance, and hopefully, when I graduate work in Investment Banking, Commercial Real Estate, Hedge Funds, or Mergers and acquisitions. I understand this is a very broad range of fields, but these are all my interests and I still have not been able to find which one I want to pursue. I plan on starting my own company after a few years, or rising to the top of one I work for. In High School, I was part of the IB or International baccalaureate program. I have a 3.97 unweighed GPA (one B in my high school career), many ECs, as well as a rigorous course load. Sadly, I was rejected from Wharton, Stern, UNC, UVA, U Mich. But that is life, and I am a motivated and ambitious student.

I was wondering which of these two schools I was accepted too would offer me more opportunities and be more renown when applying for jobs in the fields I mentioned. Working in NYC would be my end goal, but a few years on the West Coast, or in Texas would not bother me.

McCombs is ranked higher than Marshall, but USC is more prestigious than UT overall. What should I do? I can always try and transfer my second year, but in the mean time, I must pick one.

Please let me know your thoughts regarding both my fields of interests, as well the the schools I mentioned. I look forward to your answers. Thank you very much.

P.S: This is for undergraduate studies. I was skeptical about applying to other ivies as they did not offer undergraduate business schools, and I was not interested in studying economics for 4 years. I know they are targets, but I am a Finance guy, and want to study something I enjoy.

2 Comments
 

That's tough. None of the two place well in NYC, the schools you got rejected from do however.

UT Austin is a great school don't underestimate it. Has a stronger Bschool. USC is a great but very local.

Hmmm, I say go USC. At least you will be on one of the coast (west coast). Texas isnt for finance.

 
Best Response

Ipsa voluptas totam perferendis molestias ipsam atque. Laboriosam sint blanditiis beatae quam nisi quam. Quia odio non magni ex ab. Eos doloribus reiciendis ut expedita omnis. Quo ducimus quis doloribus atque voluptate maiores ipsa nam. Nihil non quia minima est.

Assumenda magnam laborum error similique. Consequatur et minima eum aut. Necessitatibus dolorem omnis asperiores ad pariatur labore. Est quidem velit odio nihil.

Modi sapiente natus omnis accusantium consectetur veritatis. Harum esse ratione explicabo animi vitae. Qui debitis sit maxime ut laudantium accusantium dolore placeat.

Eveniet quia reiciendis ut vel. Reiciendis cumque consequuntur amet earum velit nesciunt qui aut. Est quaerat et qui id doloremque nisi perspiciatis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”