I got into Wharton for undergrad and I cannot afford to go. Even though it’s one of the best schools out there, 320k is simply too much money.
My question is, are there any target schools outside the US? I’m an international student so getting a job on Wall Street is already hard enough, but will going to a school outside the US make it almost impossible?
Thank you for your time.
| +44 | UC Berkeley (Haas) vs Cornell Dyson vs Columbia vs Dartmouth | 19 | 2d | |
| +33 | MSF Rankings 2024 | 25 | 4h | |
| +27 | Should I take on 100k in loans to go to Emory? | 31 | 1d | |
| +23 | Got admission to ESCP MiM - now what? | 14 | 2d | |
| +21 | UK business schools (below top 5) | 9 | 3h | |
| +21 | Clash of the MSFs, Georgetown vs Nova | 9 | 1d | |
| +18 | HEC Mim vs Bocconi Mfin (URGENT) | 7 | 1d | |
| +18 | SHOULD I DO THIS MINOR? | 15 | 5h | |
| +17 | Oxbridge or Top 15 US School. | 5 | 18s | |
| +17 | Full-Ride at Nontarget or Full Price at Target? | 9 | 19h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
The visa situation makes it practically impossible for a non-US citizen that is not studying in the US to get to Wall Street straight after graduation.
That's very unfortunate. Thank you for the information
LBS for sure
.
they don’t. it’s only a grad school
what country are you in?
.
this is super tough man. I assume since you’re international there’s zero in the way of financial aid or even loans. if it’s at all possible to scrounge up the money with a combination of various loans - Wharton is definitely worth the $320k investment - you will definitely get a solid job on Wall Street and be able to easily pay the loans back and more. will be the best ROI you’ve ever invested if you can somehow swing it. this will change your life.
it’s a really tough situation I feel for you. it’s going to be impossible to go to wall street from an international school but if you can get financial aid from LSE, Warwick, Oxbridge, Imperial - idk how they work there in the U.K. but you will be able to get into the london banking/finance scene, and then potentially lateral internally to the U.S. (still tough) it’s just super hard to get into America otherwise.
Have you tried any other american schools? Obviously Wharton is your top choice, but maybe there are other schools that are more affordable or give you a scholarship?
.
Okay, I am international as well and know it can be though. Maybe keep applying, I think if you get into UPenn, you should be fine getting into most state schools or LACs.
Upenn provides financial aid for international students. Unfortunately, after checking their website, it seems like you need to state that you are going for that in your application since it does affect who they accept from the international student pool.
I would call the financial aid office at Upenn if I were you and see if you can come up with a solution. It seems unlikely from their website, but it is worth a shot.
I wish you the best of luck.
.
Start reaching out to every single foundation in your country. Email every single large corporate about possible sponsorship+contract with them. Cold call every single Wharton alumni in the country. I'd start along these lines, if loans aren't possible.
Also, if you can pay just ONE semester, go first. Then take a leave as soon as funds run dry, and use the time + branding to figure out a way to pay. They might require proof of finances, but I believe it's usually just for one year. So try and get that if you can, whatever's necessary. [Additional hack: If you can go for one year, get a 4.0, do that, then transfer to Oxbridge on a scholarship/at a lower cost]
This opp can change your family's financial situation drastically (completely), and I wouldn't stop trying just yet.
EDIT: The added benefit of going for just one year is that it makes any subsequent scholarship/networking you do much easier. So if you did very well your first year, you might have more leverage with the financials/international office at Penn, or might be eligible for more scholarship from your country/government.Also, depending on what country you're from, you might try directly reaching out to the Department of Education or whatnot, you might be surprised at how they might be able to help someone headed to a great school (esp. for smaller countries).
.
I know financial aid offices are hard to deal with, but you need to pester them more for money. Explain your family situation to them again and keep asking.
This is a difficult decision to make, there is almost no chance to get back into the US after studying in Europe or Asia. Can you borrow from family members?
OP either 1)troll 2)cheater 3)suffers from autism Upenn is a need AWARE school for international applicants. You can pay full tuition? Your admission chances are going up. You cheated the system and now want the financial aid? Unless you are lacking attention to details and genuinly missed the financial aid application which is on the upenn checklist btw. You cant miss it. Anyway IB isnt a great fit for you. Except if you are a very talented troll
Every international student knows to not request financial aid from need aware schools - logically given how difficult it is for anyone to get into one of these schools, the usual strategy is to attempt to get in at any cost (even if it means saying you can afford it even if you cannot) and worry about paying later. By asking for need your chances of getting in become much much lower.
Well anon exactly what I said except I had no idea it's a common practice to apply without filling the financial aid application and then cry about it that can't afford it, I deserve it more than anybody else, give me money or I can't do it. OP knew what he was doing and knew the risks. I see I'm getting shit from cheaters.
You have one MS, grow up dude
There's no need to be rude. I didn't try to "cheat the system", I cannot afford to go because of recent changes in my family's financial situation.
Realistically the only reason you didn't get aid is because your parent's income is outside of the band for being eligible for aid.. Otherwise, Penn would absolutely have given you aid.
So either your parents suck it up and take the momentary hit for the benefit of helping establish their child's future or you get loans to finance your education. In any case, Wharton is absolutely worth it for either scenario.
The only alternative is taking a gap year and applying to the likes of Oxbridge, LSE, UCL etc in the UK but you will be restricted to just London recruiting without US work authorisation initially. Other schools in the US will cost around the same as Wharton at full freight (unless you get a merit scholarship somehow) so you'll just be back in the same position if you were to pass up this offer.
Short of literally declaring yourself estranged from your parents there are no other real alternatives here. Sure, you could "work for a few years" to lower the loan burden but that's not an optimal strategy. You may as well just go full-freight, head into school with your eyes 100% set on the highest paying new grad jobs and then clear the debt once you're in one of those career paths after school.
I laughed way too hard at this
Just got off a online seminar with my school's international student office --- an immigration lawyer was in that webinar.
The situation is, a lot of finance companies are reluctant to sponsor. It's not about cost: OPT usually cost less than $2k per person --- if exceeds a few hundred at all --- and STEM extension/E-verify is free. Is it because of other factors? Let's take a look at the engineers, who get sponsors very easily. Their companies usually process the visa even before an engineer starts working officially. Is that because there are no American engineers? No. I've taken computer science courses in collegee, and I guarantee you there are a lot of engineers who are Americans. So what is the answer?
Finance companies just don't want to sponsor. That's it.
The few people I kknow on the street right now secured positions a couple/few years ago via internship --- full-time offer routes. Recently, have not known anyone who secured ft finance positions as an international, except minorities (a girl).
Finance companies just don't want to sponsor. The situation is not that complicated and the cost is very low.
.
Can't give you advice about the school in question or visa sponsoring but I would like to say all hope is not lost. Getting into Wharton is no easy feat, and I'm sure you can use that to your benefit even if you don't end up there.
I suggest you start reaching out to folks on Wall Street/maybe the London scene and ask them about their story of making it/other typical networking call things but then explain your situation and see if they can offer any advice. Best case maybe they give some very solid advice that actually helps your specific situation and worst case is they can't do anything but they see your plight, recognize you as an up-and-coming hard worker whose passionate about the industry, and keep you in mind for future opportunities. Remember things might be incredibly tough to do but with the right network you just might be able to beat the odds.
Feel for you man, best of luck!
.
$320k? What the fuck?
.
Hey Man, I'm in a similar situation. Definitely not Ivy league, but had gotten into a semi target in the US but had to let go of the offer (got a 60% scholarship too). Why? Because as a non-stem, your OPT is only 11 months. In that time, you have to find a job (good luck finding a sponsor), impress your manager's, get them to file an h1b and have it approved. All that in 11 months. Chances are slim to none. What I would advise you is this -
Go to Wharton (CONGRATULATIONS btw), and during the course, hire a job consultant. Alot of International students do. They will really help you in landing a job, you got a good chance. The rest is all your luck (h1b filing, Visa regulations etc.)
To answer your original question, Id suggest Ivey in Canada. Their HBA program is the best in the country and every year they place quite a few kids on the street. Their reputation is really good and they get into a lot of BB positions (Bulk at Barclays and CS). Also, easy to get a PR in Canada after you study there, so its a hedged bet.
.
Sequi eligendi voluptatem rerum vel voluptate. Dolor pariatur dignissimos sequi quaerat vel repellat fugit. Ratione dolores qui provident quaerat. Autem earum earum aliquid quia. Distinctio rerum sit consectetur beatae.
Odio deleniti ut rem quia est. Consequatur blanditiis aut incidunt ipsam. Aut mollitia id voluptatem qui.
Sunt tempora quia ut sit. Inventore non adipisci velit est. Tempora molestiae odio eveniet explicabo eos provident. Qui aspernatur velit pariatur neque ut.
Dicta quam possimus dolores nemo. Ad nihil quas et omnis dolores voluptatem. Aliquam voluptas aliquid distinctio facere. Dolorem animi quo tenetur sit totam nesciunt. Aspernatur inventore rerum suscipit sit.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Unde voluptatem incidunt inventore excepturi. Assumenda consequuntur qui consectetur laborum modi ut. Aut optio consequatur dolore quod corrupti nihil provident.
Ut voluptatem placeat ut aliquid ipsum. Libero consequuntur dignissimos sed repellat quos perferendis minima. Saepe vero aut unde repudiandae suscipit iste optio. Ut dolores placeat doloribus recusandae. Ratione numquam sit voluptates et laborum. Ratione molestiae sed nulla totam et sint enim. Asperiores natus voluptatibus omnis sit voluptas sint.
Omnis error vero voluptatem distinctio nostrum. Dolor repudiandae doloremque voluptas distinctio. Iste distinctio laudantium deleniti et.