To What Undergraduate Business School (or a program) should I transfer to as a student aspiring to work in IB? Is it feasible?
Greetings Everyone,
I wish you a good 2024 and hope you are doing well. I need your advice.
I am a US citizen living and studying in Poland in my first year at The Warsaw School of Economics, doing a degree called International Business, Finance, and Governance (A degree entirely in English). While it is the best B-school and a respected finance target in Poland, it does not align with my goals. I always wanted to move back to the US for a long time, and I know transferring there to a university is the best way. That has been my goal ever since: transfer to a school in the US and work in IB there (preferably NYC). I started working and planning my career very late (in my last year of high school) when I decided to pursue a career In finance (I didn't even know what the SAT was until then). That Is why I had little time to think and strategize about my path to IB (That includes studying, exams, school choices, etc.). So, to conclude, my educational awakening was late and chaotic. This is my last shot at transferring; application deadlines are closing in, and I need your help and advice.
That is why my situation is interesting, and I hope I am not the only one. I work very hard and wish to transfer for fall 2024 to an institution that will help me break into IB.
My High School Stats and Background.
- IBDP - 32 points - HL Business 5, HL Econ 5, HL English B 6, SL Math AI 6, SL Polish A 4, SL Biology 4
- SAT - 1250
My IB score is above average, which is neither good nor bad. It is a Uni-respected secondary ed. program.
My SAT score is in the 81st percentile, which seems good, but from what I've heard, it's not.
At uni, I am doing well; I took a lot of classes with the hope It will help me with the transfer. By completing the first year of uni, I will have 104.5 ECTS, equivalent to 52.25 US credits. Have courses equal to Calculate 1 and 2 + all econ courses that are required to be completed by transfer students. My grades will be good for the first semester. Unfortunately, we don't have a GPA system, so I won't be able to give you the figures.
I also have good extracurriculars. I am a member of a finance and economics club. I write for an economic periodical at the university and am a deciding committee member of a club imitating the Polish central bank.
I can also list many other experiences.
+ Very high English proficiency
+ I will have three good faculty recommendation letters, one from a finance/banking professor and the other two from an economics and English professor.
I plan to apply as a transfer to 8 universities in the US. Below is my Excel sheet with the list. (All were chosen by IB placement and personal preference)
That is the part of the undergraduate B-schools I will try to apply there. I am still trying to figure out the best and most optimal programs. I also want to choose only a few schools to apply to; I am swamped with uni work.
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What do you think of that list? (I know it is very, very hard to transfer to my ultra reach and reach choices)
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Do you think I have a shot at transferring? What programs would you recommend in those schools?
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Is there any school you have in mind that might be a good choice for me and my future career?
I also plan to do an MBA in the US, and I treat those schools to whom I am transferring as a way to get a solid background for IB and apply to MBA programs from there. I would have a solid starting point.
I'd be eternally grateful if you have anything to add from yourself or any advice for me! Please speak your mind freely, and tell me any hard truths! If you need more information on my situation, please don't hesitate to ask me.
This is my first post here :)
Hey there, future master of the universe!
First off, hats off to you for aiming high and setting your sights on the bustling world of investment banking in NYC. It's a jungle out there, but with the right moves, you can certainly swing from the vines like the best of them.
Now, let's talk strategy. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to consider:
Target Schools: You're on the right track thinking about transferring to a school with a strong IB placement record. The usual suspects like Wharton, NYU Stern, and Columbia are dream launchpads for any aspiring banker. But remember, these are ultra-competitive, so you'll need to bring your A-game.
Feasibility: With your current stats, the ultra reaches might be a tough nut to crack. But don't let that deter you! There are plenty of semi-targets and even non-targets where hard work and networking can still get you in the door of a top IB firm.
Networking: This is key. Join finance clubs, reach out to alumni, and start building your network now. It's not just about where you go, it's about who you know and how you leverage those connections.
MBA Aspirations: A solid undergrad foundation will indeed set you up nicely for an MBA down the line. Keep that GPA up, get some solid internships under your belt, and you'll be golden.
School Suggestions: While I can't see your Excel sheet, I'd say consider schools like University of Michigan (Ross), UVA (McIntire), or Berkeley (Haas). They have strong finance programs and a good track record of sending folks to Wall Street.
Remember, transferring is a big move, but it's all about positioning yourself for success. Keep grinding, keep networking, and keep your eyes on the prize. And don't forget to enjoy the ride – college is also about finding yourself, not just a job.
Good luck, and may the finance gods be ever in your favor!
Sources: Undergrad School OPTIONS (please help), For the monkeys still in college, I Transferred Schools for Investment Banking, Boston University for IB or Consulting?, Community College to IB?
I think your transfer rates are not entirely correct. The acceptance rates you pulled look like the rates for transfer admission to the university as a whole, when transferring into the business programs/schools is usually much lower. I know for a fact that transferring to McCombs is around a 10% acceptance rate, and transferring into BHP is basically impossible if you weren't a freshman in McCombs. Furthermore, UT is a state school and they strongly prefer students from Texas. Not sure about Indiana.
The three "easiest" to transfer into (IU, SMU, UT) also have some caveats to reaching NY IB, since you'll need to get into IBW, Alts, and WSFM to maximize your chances of getting an offer. These are extremely competitive programs, so take that into consideration if these are your only opportunities.
The list itself is great but I'm not sure how feasible your chances are, especially because I am unfamiliar with how international grades translate over to the American system.
I just want you to be aware that you may be making this seem far easier than it truly is.
Thank you for your input. You are right, I got the transfer rates for the entire school, not the business programs. Now I can see, that BHP is unachievable for non-UT freshmen and rates are significantly lower.
Would you be able to recommend any schools that might offer me "entry" into US universities while also giving me a decent finance/business background and a way into IB? Are there any semi-targets that might be suitable in my case?
I think SMU and IU are still good starts. I’m really unsure of the way that your grades will transfer over so I can’t give you any schools that will be absolute locks, but if you check out PeakFrameworks list of target schools, some of the schools between 20-60 should be somewhat attainable. Best of luck.
I would throw Georgetown McDonough in the ring, placements are very good.
May I ask, what do you think of SGH? I've been toying with the idea of applying for a masters program there after I finish up my bachelors.
Could you also shed some light on IB/Finance in Warsaw?
SGH is definitely the top target for finance in Warsaw. We have OCR from many financial firms, most notably Big 4, for IB JPMorgan and Citi have a significant presence. If you go to SGH, whether for a bachelor's or master's (master's has definitely more value here), you will surely get the recognition you need to get your head through the door.
Three leading universities are targets for high finance in Warsaw: SGH, Warsaw University, and Kozminski University. SGH is the most recognized and prestigious of the latter and still most recognized. If you want to work in Warsaw, SGH will open many doors (especially with a master's in finance).
As for the general overview of SGH from a freshman's perspective, it is a good school with a flexible curriculum, people are quite friendly, and it is a welcoming space for international students, who make up 15% of the English program student base (everyone speaks English well). School is growing and getting more modern yearly, so it is a better place to study and spend time. It is also cheap (relative to US tuition costs and its value in Poland, it's dirty cheap)
As for the finance environment in Warsaw, I cannot speak in detail, but for the opportunities, we have a major Goldman office in Warsaw; JPMorgan is here, and Citi is as well. I don't know how the IBD has grown, but getting in for the FO roles will be competitive (I presume not nearly as difficult as in the US). There are a lot of risk management, corporate finance positions, etc. But again, I have limited knowledge of this.
I hope that helps.
*(Do you plan on moving to Warsaw from the US?)
*Would you say I have a chance of transferring to an undergrad B-School in the US with my stats and situation, which would be worth the cost to go for FO roles in IB?
Thank you for the details!
Perhaps. It is an idea I toy with, however I also see myself staying here for a couple years, putting some money together and then making the move to Poland.
I'll be honest, your stats are not fantastic, your SAT is lower than most applying to target schools, and your IB grades are not top tier (from what I understand). However, you are an interesting candidate because you are a US citizen with international experience (no visa issues!). I am not a admissions expert by any means, but I think it would not hurt to apply to some schools, the worst they can say is no. As the other user mentioned, some of the schools (Indiana, UT, SMU, etc) present their own set of challenges, which is why I think you should look into some feeders more directed at your goal.
Now as to if it is worth it -
It depends.
Are you going to need to take out a loan for the two years here? If yes, what would you do if you don't end up in IB/something likewise high-paying? 100-200k is a large bill to have hanging over your head.
Do you want to stay in the US long-term? If you do, and you end up doing banking for 20 years, the debt is a drop in the bucket.
One alternative I will suggest, in case transfer admissions do not go as you are hoping, is the MSF route. There aren't a ton of good ones but some (Vanderbilt for instance) have really good placement rates.
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