Which School/MBA Program to choose for Investment Banking?

I have been admitted to Darden (zero scholarship), Anderson (60k scholarship), and McCombs (30k scholarship).

As an international career switcher having spent most of my time in CPG Brand Management and Management Consulting, my first priority would be the strength of IB recruiting and preparation at the school, and then maybe scholarships (I'm still trying to negotiate more money out of all these schools). And given that I would need sponsorship since I'm an international candidate, BBs would be my main targets with a handful of EBs that sponsor.

I have gone through the publicly available employment reports for all these schools and have spoken with current students/alums from all three schools, and prima facie, it appears that Darden is the strongest for IB, but I would welcome specific and nuanced inputs here from people who have spent multiple years in IB.

So good folks, what advice would you share with this greenhorn?

4 Comments
 

I’m a Darden alum so I am biased but I have only the best things to say about my Darden experience. I don’t think McCombs is worth it for only 30k. Anderson at 60k is worth it if you want to stay West Coast but if you want to be East Coast then Darden feels like a no brainer of those three. The more money you get from Anderson, the more difficult of a decision it becomes.

 

Thank you for your inputs!

Yes, I would ideally like to be on the East Coast (as most of the product/coverage groups are situated there). I tried negotiating with Darden for some pittance but they didn't budge, and it feels kinda bad rejecting Anderson with 60k (after converting my waitlist status there from Round 1).

But I guess it's time for me to swallow the full tuition-pill at big D.

 

EyeingEyeBee

Thank you for your inputs!

Yes, I would ideally like to be on the East Coast (as most of the product/coverage groups are situated there). I tried negotiating with Darden for some pittance but they didn't budge, and it feels kinda bad rejecting Anderson with 60k (after converting my waitlist status there from Round 1).

But I guess it's time for me to swallow the full tuition-pill at big D.

60k per year and Anderson is a no brainer, 30k per year and up to you. Darden will place better but Anderson holds its own weight, just 60k isn’t that much for the trajectory you’ll get by increasing your odds of placement

 

Odio aut cupiditate laboriosam ullam hic. Voluptatem asperiores ipsa ut tempora quia ullam. Consequatur aliquid eum consequuntur velit consequatur. Et non omnis eligendi delectus fugit placeat rerum.

Tenetur eaque rerum et aspernatur. Suscipit ut non omnis soluta sequi nisi unde odio.

Velit et sequi aliquam dolore illo. Blanditiis aut molestiae sed laborum delectus esse. Ullam ut et laboriosam illo deserunt.

Necessitatibus non quis est doloribus repellat nobis labore. Id fuga labore quae consequatur molestiae. Perspiciatis non dicta ut quo tempore. Reprehenderit quaerat omnis ratione id aut debitis. Qui dolor aut quia labore. Aut dolor qui atque laboriosam sint est distinctio.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”