Wharton Or Harvard For Undergrad?
Repost because the previous one didn’t get any interaction.
Basically the title. I got into both and want to pursue (pretty much set on) high finance on Wall Street.
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Based on the highest ranked content on WSO, the choice between Wharton and Harvard for an undergraduate degree, especially when aiming for a career in high finance on Wall Street, is a nuanced decision that depends on several factors including personal preferences, career goals, and the specific areas within finance you're most interested in.
Placement in Finance: Wharton students have an exceptional placement record in finance, including investment banking, private equity, and other high finance roles. The school is known for its strong finance curriculum and close ties to the industry. This is somewhat akin to the EB vs BB argument in finance, where Wharton is highly regarded within the finance circle, similar to how EBs are viewed.
Global Recognition: Harvard, being a globally recognized name, carries a lot of weight across various industries, including finance. While Wharton may have an edge within specific finance circles, Harvard's name is universally known and respected, which can open doors in various sectors.
Curriculum and Interests: If your interest lies specifically in finance and you're looking for a curriculum that's tailored towards financial education from the get-go, Wharton might be the better choice. However, if you're looking for a broader educational experience with the flexibility to explore different fields before diving deep into finance, Harvard's liberal arts education could be more appealing.
Networking and Alumni: Both schools boast strong, influential alumni networks in the world of finance. Wharton's network is particularly strong in private equity, investment banking, and finance in general. Harvard's network is vast and spans across various industries, including finance, which can be beneficial for broader career opportunities.
Culture and Environment: Consider the culture and environment of both schools. Wharton, being part of the University of Pennsylvania, offers a vibrant campus life in Philadelphia with a strong focus on finance and business. Harvard, located in Cambridge, offers a rich academic environment with a diverse range of disciplines and a slightly broader focus beyond just finance and business.
In conclusion, both Wharton and Harvard are excellent choices for someone looking to pursue a career in high finance. The decision should ultimately be based on which school's culture, curriculum, and network align best with your personal and professional goals. Remember, success in high finance comes not just from the school you attend, but also from your personal drive, networking skills, and the experiences you gain during your undergraduate years.
Sources: Wharton, Harvard, and Columbia, Wharton, Harvard, and Columbia, Wharton kids favor restructuring/distressed investing?, Wharton is King, Wharton vs Stanford Undergrad
If all you want is finance, finance, finance, go wharton.
If you want a more traditional college experience with liberal arts, more wide variety of interesting people (which I'd highly recommend) go harvard.
Even if you only care about finance, Harvard
harvard
I could just go to HBS to get the Harvard alumni status though
You can go to Wharton for MBA too? Would much rather be Harvard UG -> Wharton MBA, than Wharton UG -> HBS imo
Harvard. You have the rest of your life to think about nothing but finance all day long. Plus the Harvard brand is globally recognized.
What about just going to HBS!
HBS is a total crapshoot. Dont assume youll get in (especially if targeting finance / PE)
genuinely have no clue why people want to go to Wharton now that SL, SPC don’t have their programs. That seemed to be everyone’s justification .
0 intellectual breadth + worst community of hardos imaginable.
Going to HBS gets you the Harvard alumni status either way is my point
go to harvard - I go to a T5 and the name really does so much for you in terms of beyond the world of finance. One day you're more interested in tech, another day you're more interested in policy, Harvard will provide the best for literally everything.
going to wharton will probably not place you in a better position in finance - but going to harvard you can enjoy exploring much more beyond finance and not be surrounded by people who r stuck in the tunnel vision of banking/consulting/PE. Life is much more than that and make it a balance between enjoying it and working towards a goal
:)
Harvard all the way.
Can’t really go wrong here but Harvard is better. You get grade inflation (matters a ton), the brand is recognizable literally everywhere, and you’ll meet the cream of the crop in all fields (minus DEI kids)
“What about going to HBS” we get it bro u didn’t actually get into harvard
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