UVA McIntire VS UVA Econ
I'm a current UVA freshman and I'm afriad if I can't make into McIntire for my upcoming application.
I saw many UMich Ross VS LSA or NYU Stern VS Stern and people are mostly referring to how the clubs are exclusive to B school kids and there's less networking resources for college of arts and science student. (I don't think it'll be a problem at UVA as all the best clubs are open to students from every college and I just don't think if I'm able to break into those super hard clubs).
UVA McIntire turned from a 2 year program to a 3 year program from my class, which means people all recruits and land in offer placements prior to being accepted to McIntire (like I don't know the specific timeline but basically McIntire releases results in the very end of intern application so basically people are all recruiting as UVA CAS (most of them) students. However, I'm just curious if the school name or reputation itself will make a difference for students applying interns from UVA McIntire or UVA CAS, considering that I'll either apply as a McIntire OR CAS students, instead of just being CAS students as the upperclassmen who recruited before.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:
Recruiting Timeline and McIntire's Impact:
The shift to a 3-year program at McIntire means that most students are recruiting for internships before officially being accepted into McIntire. This aligns with the accelerated recruiting timeline, where banks often complete their hiring process before McIntire students even start their core classes. As a result, the distinction between McIntire and CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) students during recruiting is less significant than you might think. Recruiters are primarily evaluating candidates based on their resumes, networking efforts, and technical/behavioral interview performance rather than their specific school within UVA.
Clubs and Networking:
At UVA, the best finance-related clubs, such as the McIntire Investment Institute (MII) and Virginia Venture Fund (VVF), are open to students from all schools, not just McIntire. These clubs are highly respected in the finance world and provide excellent networking opportunities, technical training, and alumni connections. Breaking into these clubs can be competitive, but they are a critical resource for building your profile regardless of whether you're in McIntire or CAS.
School Name and Reputation:
While McIntire has a strong reputation as a top undergraduate business school, the UVA name itself carries significant weight in the finance industry. Alumni loyalty and school pride are strong at UVA, and cold emails to alumni often yield high response rates (around 70%, according to WSO threads). Whether you're in McIntire or CAS, leveraging the UVA network effectively can make a big difference in your recruiting success.
Key Takeaway:
The distinction between McIntire and CAS is less critical than your ability to network, join top finance clubs, and perform well in interviews. Focus on maintaining a strong GPA, building relationships with alumni, and gaining relevant experience through internships or club involvement. Even if you don't get into McIntire, you can still position yourself competitively for investment banking and other finance roles as a CAS student.
If you're worried about not making it into McIntire, prioritize excelling in your current coursework, actively participating in finance clubs, and networking with alumni early. These steps will help you build a strong profile regardless of your eventual school designation.
Sources: UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, Georgetown University MSB vs. UVA (Undergrad), What firms do UVA kids end up in banking?, UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, Break into high finance from a community college
Here's what my friend who went to UVA told me back during UG. He thought that there were two types of students that recruited for finance and were not in McIntire. The first would be the group of students who weren't good enough to get into the school (partied too hard). The second was the group of students who did not think McIntire and its required classes were a good use of their time. The latter group tended to tack on a cs or math double major to econ and bet on themselves. Needless to say, no one (other than maybe some alumni) will care about your McIntire degree and would rather judge you and your capabilities.
Not a big issue. Good luck!
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