Undergrad Exchange in US/Europe
I'm a finance/economics undergrad at a go8 uni in Australia whose looking at going on exchange next year for 1 semester.
I am looking at going to either US or Europe.
Is it worth considering which schools are the best or is it irrelevant given I'm only there for 1 semester? If it is relevant, which of the schools I've listed have the best reputation? If it isn't, then which do you think will give me the best overall experience?
I want to pursue a career in IB and if I can work overseas. Do large financial services or IB in US/Europe ever take on exchange students for a short-term internship? If not, would smaller firms consider exchange students? (FWIW I have an expired UK passport)
I don't speak any languages other than English atm, but I'd be open to learning a new language.
Schools I am eligible to apply for include:
US - Penn State, Kansas State, North Carolina State, Boston College, Indiana Uni Bloomington, Purdue Uni, University of Vermont
UK - Queen Mary ULondon, UBristol, ULeeds, Nottnigham, USheffield, UC Dublin, Loughborough
France - IEPG, Limoges
Germany - Free University Berlin, UMunich, Humboldt University Berlin
Italy - Bocconi
Netherlands - Maastricht, Utrecht, Free University Amsterdam
Switzerland - USt Gallen
Scandanavia - Copenhagen Business School, Aarhus, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Admin
The only non-US one of those I can say I've heard of is Bocconi. As an American, I can tell you that absolutely zero of those schools will help set you apart for recruiting in this industry. If that's your goal, aim for Bocconi.
If that isn't your real goal (and realistically, it shouldn't be since one semester at another school doesn't help you for recruiting) and you want to see the American school "experience" for yourself, you need to look at Penn State or IU. Go in the fall. You'll see football, Greeklife, constant parties, and be surrounded by more new trim than you'll know what to do with.
Thanks for the advice...I'm going for the spring semester, so I suppose I'd miss out on seeing the football?
As APAE said, going for one semester on exchange will not help you in recruiting in that country (or in that region) since, as you said, they don't usually interview exchange students which do not hold a proper visa. Having said that, going on exchange can help you during the interview process in your home country. It may give you a different profile and give you something to talk about which is less boring than P/E or accretion-dilution analysis. For instance, I clearly remember an average/below average guy from my school who received a FT offer from a low tier BB because he aced an interview with a MD talking 85% of the time about his exchange semester in Australia and how Australia was cool from an European perspective. Because of this, if you want to work in IB (starting from your home country or your region (APAC?)) I think you should pick a school that would give you an interesting story to tell. Personally, I think that your best options are: - Bocconi (I went there, PM me for more details if you need them) because it is a target school in Europe and because it is in Italy (more interesting experience than UK I think (for an australian person at least); - St. Gallen: target school and the best university you have there. Only problem, St. Gallen is an awful location but you can leverage the fact that you had the chance to travel to France, Italy, Spain, etc; - CBS and UCD: semi-target, don't know if Australian people find Scandinavia or Ireland interesting though; - US universities as listed by APAE (I cannot rank them, what about Boston College?); Stay away from all the other European universities since they are not target schools (especially the UK ones) and they don't sound that interesting (IMO).
Nam similique cumque provident ducimus labore alias tempore. Aut perferendis sapiente velit.
Vero repellat quisquam animi. Et id iusto et suscipit ipsam qui dolorem repudiandae. Officiis aliquam aut atque autem in aut. Rerum repudiandae provident consequatur et qui minima eligendi dolore. Et nostrum repellat non consequatur qui officiis omnis.
Voluptas ea consequatur voluptatibus. Ab laborum et soluta natus adipisci dolorem. Commodi ex molestiae tenetur natus nihil molestias. Itaque tenetur tenetur voluptas ab libero.
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...