UT Austin or Williams College?
I was recently accepted into both McCombs (non honors) and Williams College. My post grad plan is to work in investment banking in NYC. Where should I go? Cost isnt a factor.
Any advice is appreciated!
This is a no brainier, Williams. Congrats!
Hook ‘em
UT Austin will be a much more fun college experience
These two schools couldn't be more different. Are you a big-time, football, state school kid or an intellectual, liberal arts-type kid? Go where you think you're going to fit in - you can break into IB from either school if you are determined and work hard.
I don't even think Williams is a good fit if you're an "intellectual, liberal arts-type kid."
Maybe LACs like Oberlin & Swarthmore actually fit this, but the NESCACs are more like glorified New England boarding schools, with an even greater emphasis on sports.
Second this as a Williams student
Williams by an absolute country mile
Don't over complicate things and fuck up (like I did). Just go to the better school.
So, Williams?
Yeah. I mean if you feel very strongly that UT is the better pick then go there but if you’re not totally sure I think Williams is the safer choice.
IMO yes. Do not underestimate how much banks care about overall school prestige. It's much easier to land a top job from Williams than UT.
There are probably more people gunning for IB at UT than there are in the entire Williams class. A lot of them are extremely driven hardos who either have a chip on their shoulder for not getting into an Ivy, or chose UT to save money. The people placing into top banks from places like UT grinded their rear ends off to get into the right clubs, classes, etc.
This is not to mention UT mostly feeds to Houston. NYC is doable, but definitely more challenging to land. Williams mostly feeds into NYC and Boston.
UT easy
Some thoughts. Went to Williams/Amherst/Middlebury (general 3 LACs I'd consider "targets") Tl;dr though is go to UT Austin
Take UT Austin.
This is very informative - thank you. Could u elaborate on how it’s a semi target if you’re not an athlete? I haven’t heard that before
I went to Williams, and can attest that most of the IB class came from a similar background (top private hs, sports team, etc).
I commented elsewhere not too long ago...
"It was astonishing how much of the recruiting at these schools was captured by the athlete ecosystem. Like I'm talking about sports teams having separate info sessions, many alumni explicitly only helping those who played their sport, amongst other things."
This time I want to provide more context on one of those "other things" as it'll give you more color. My junior year I had an on-campus job at the career center, and (I might get some shit here for what I did being unethical but whatever) I was able to do some digging through the system to see the resumes my peers submitted for certain internships. So, so many people who ended up getting good SA roles, good FT roles and now, 11 years post-graduation have the best roles were those with the sub 3.5 GPA who played a sport. Like I'm talking I vividly remember certain people with 3.7+ GPAs who are legitimately more impressive people who didn't play a sport not landing the same opportunities as those who did.
Taking brainless business classes will prepare u for the first 2 years of the job. Doing something intellectually challenging like math, philosophy, etc. will teach you how to think rigorously and independently, which is much more valuable outside the first 2 years of the job.
Hope u enjoyed middlebury
If your goal is investment banking in NYC, McCombs has a strong business network, and Austin's proximity to the finance industry could give you a solid leg up in terms of recruiting. Williams, on the other hand, is great for a liberal arts education but might not offer the same direct connections to banking.
My pick Williams
Austin’s proximity to the finance industry?
Think he is referring to the recent growth Austin has been experiencing with a big rise in private equity and growth investors alongside a growing startup ecosystem.
Would add that UT Austin's WSFM program (with the caveat that it is an extremely selective process) places nearly 100% of its students in NY. There are also several other clubs that have continued to consistently place a a significant portion of its students in NY for IB / PE roles (TUIT, USIT SCG, TEC).
I aint sure who is using my login to make comments here.
Or is this a bug from the site that shows someone else’s comments as mine.
I never commented on any post in wso but I can see a lot of them were made through my Id and this one today.
X
Don’t listen to these idiots. Go to Williams. Undergrad matters to much more than you think and it’s beyond just getting an IB job out of school
My genuine advice
A. You will learn nothing at UT Austin.
Class size is too big it’s a party school
B. UT Austin is awesome, environment, fun etc and I would argue definitely places better for non nepos than Williams.
BUT
C. The main thing that matters in college is the people you meet and the name.
If you say you went to Harvard anywhere in the world ppl will give u capital, think you’re smart, boost your status etc
Kind of stupid but such is life.
So go to Williams for primarily the name and your network for best career results.
Go to UT Austin for an incredibly fun balanced college exp where you’ll place fine but ppl won’t see you as smart.
one of the biggest pros of such a big student body is that you can find whatever your looking for. Theres groups within the student body at UT and everyone can find something they are looking for.
If you want to be with a bunch of smart nerds, join these undergrad orgs. Pretty sure some have placed people at Bain Cap. and even Citdel.
Want to have a good time? Join Greek life + 6th street, etc.
Go to UT, find your people, and work hard.
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