Seeking Advice: UVA McIntire vs. Cornell Nolan Hotel School for IB, PE, or Consulting

Hey everyone,

I'm currently deciding between applying Early Decision to UVA and attending the McIntire School of Commerce or going to Cornell's Nolan Hotel School, with the goal of breaking into investment banking (IB), private equity (PE), or consulting. I’ve also considered Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, but the acceptance rates are so low that I don’t think it’s realistic for me.

I have very strong business-oriented extracurriculars, though none of them are hospitality-related, except for being the president of the entrepreneurship club at my school. Eventually, I’m looking to secure job placements in NYC, so that’s a major factor in my decision-making process.

Given my goals of working in IB, PE, or consulting, I’m trying to figure out which path would give me the best opportunities post-graduation. For those with experience in these fields, which school would you recommend and why?

Any advice on the strength of alumni networks, recruiting, and career outcomes from either McIntire or Nolan—particularly with a focus on NYC placements—would be super helpful!

Thanks in advance!

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

UVA McIntire School of Commerce

  • Recruiting and Career Outcomes: UVA McIntire is a strong feeder into investment banking (IB) and consulting. It is a target school for many bulge bracket (BB) and elite boutique (EB) banks. McIntire sends around 20 students a year to BB/EB firms.
  • Alumni Network: The alumni network is robust, particularly in finance and consulting sectors. This can be a significant advantage for job placements in NYC.
  • Curriculum: The curriculum is heavily focused on finance, economics, and accounting, which aligns well with your goals in IB, PE, or consulting.

Cornell Nolan Hotel School

  • Recruiting and Career Outcomes: While traditionally known for hospitality, students from the Nolan Hotel School have successfully secured front office roles at top firms such as Moelis, Evercore, JPM, GS, Blackstone, SIG, DE Shaw, PJT, McKinsey, Bain, BCG, BAML, Deloitte S&O, EY, WF, and Citi.
  • Alumni Network: The Ivy League branding of Cornell can be beneficial in the long run, and the alumni network is extensive, though not as finance-focused as McIntire.
  • Curriculum: The curriculum is more hospitality-oriented, which might not align as closely with your goals in IB, PE, or consulting. However, the strong business-oriented extracurriculars you have could help bridge this gap.

Considerations

  • Acceptance Rates: You mentioned that Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management has low acceptance rates, making it a less realistic option.
  • NYC Placements: Both schools have strong networks and recruiting pipelines to NYC, but McIntire might have a slight edge due to its finance-focused curriculum and strong presence in the finance industry.

Conclusion

Given your goals of breaking into IB, PE, or consulting, and considering the strength of alumni networks, recruiting, and career outcomes, UVA McIntire seems to be the more aligned choice. It offers a focused curriculum, strong recruiting for finance roles, and a robust alumni network in NYC.

If you have any more specific questions or need further details, feel free to ask!

Sources: UVA or Cornell?, UVA or Cornell?, Which school should I attend to get into Investment Banking: UVA Mcintire or Brown?, Stanford vs Wharton vs Booth vs Columbia for PE, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/any-of-you-bankers-see-uva-alumni-on-the-street-seeking-advice?customgpt=1

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

"Given your goals of breaking into IB, PE, or consulting, and considering the strength of alumni networks, recruiting, and career outcomes, UVA McIntire seems to be the more aligned choice. It offers a focused curriculum, strong recruiting for finance roles, and a robust alumni network in NYC."

I agree with Monkey bot, but some people are Ivy brand whores and would choose Cornell. I think you'd have a more fun time at UVA.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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