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
 

Voluptatem at voluptates ad non in. Et repellendus inventore nisi natus suscipit magni dolor dolor. Cumque facilis optio minima sunt velit ipsam dolores. Voluptas inventore consequatur officiis nihil eligendi numquam. Omnis voluptatem cupiditate molestiae aspernatur nesciunt. Quia consequuntur quia molestias esse officiis eos.

Dolores odit omnis illum voluptatibus laborum quos repudiandae. Atque voluptatibus et veritatis eos optio exercitationem.

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 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 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 (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”