College (undergrad) - Syracuse or SMU for Investment Banking
I am choosing between SMU or Syracuse University for undergraduate studies. I will be majoring in finance, and plan to go into investment banking.
What will my opportunities coming out of these two schools? Will SMU lock me into working in Texas/the south? Will Syracuse be enough to get me into NYC BB IBD? If I am networking, would it be easier to get to NY from SMU or Syracuse? Syracuse obviously has a closer proximity, but SMU has a higher rated undergraduate business program.
Also, if I was to go into banking or another area of finance in Los Angeles, which school would be a better choice?
Thanks for any help-- I am just trying to see where these schools will put me (assuming good grades and networking) in terms of NYC, Texas, Los Angeles, and any opinions you may have about the schools, business programs, /options I will have out of graduation
I have heard SMU places well in the Dallas area for obvious reasons, don't know about other locations. Don't really think Syracuse would help much with banking, however i'm sure its possible from both places if you put in some work.
SMU is a better school academically and places much better into IB. NY BB would be a longshot for either school. But BB in Houston is very possible from SMU, especially if you are in the alternative asset program. Also consider that the social life at this school is great, campus is beautiful, people are beautiful, and Dallas is an awesome city to live in. I would take SMU without question.
Neither school will help you get to LA.
syracuse by far for nyc, mostly because of proximity. @TNA could probably help you more
Hmm. I'd personally go to SMU as the weather will be much better. Plus I think SMU has a good rep in Texas so you'll be able to target Houston banks. Dallas is a nice city also.
I see both schools as equals though. Syracuse is fine, big campus, fun sports, new business school. Plenty alumni also working on the street. If you know your shit and network you'll get interviews. I'd probably suggest working to get into the Orange Value Fund as that is the "pipeline" or whatever for finance jobs.
I liked SU and rep the school, but I made the choice to go there with no help or advice from anyone. Like I was pretty naive and it was the only school I applied to. If I could rewind the clock I would have applied to a bunch of schools and most likely gone elsewhere.
@"TNA" I agree that SMU has beautiful weather, and that internships in Dallas/Houston would be excellent-- but if my ultimate goal would be banking in New York, do you think that I would be better off going to Syracuse, Orange Value Fund, and then networking? Or going to SMU and working as an analyst there after graduation for 2-3 years, and then applying into banks in NY. If I network at both schools, even if I get better internships at SMU (In texas) do you think ill have a better shot at NYC if I go to syracuse due to alumni/proximity, or will my chances be the same networking from either school?
I go to UT Dallas so my advice is going to be slightly skewed.
Why is NY IBD so important to you? Ultimately I think you'd have a better change at SMU --> Dallas/Houston IBD --> Top MBA --> NYC anything Then you would at Syracuse --> NY IBD
That's just my assumption that those trying to find work in Dallas/Houston tend to honestly be a tier or half tier below those accepted to the top schools/targets and get into NYC.
I'd go to SMU simply for the weather and the women. I went to school in the northeast and it's just miserably cold for half the school year. Syracuse is even colder than where I went and since you get lake effect snows in that part of NY State, there are multiple ft of snow on the ground for most of the winter.
SMU grads tend to do pretty well in most fields down in Texas and there's a good alumni network.
Work in Houston and try and transfer to NYC once you get some experience.
SU is fine, not trying to say don't go. I suppose if Nyc right out of school is a must then SU will probably help with that. That being said, nice weather and Texas personally is more enticing IMO.
Thanks for all the responses everyone, I appreciate it. I don't know why NY IBD is important to me come to think of it, I guess it is just over hyped on this website. Makes sense due to the site being named after a street in NYC, and statistically speaking NY has a greater percentage of people in finance than any other city in US so it's not surprising that it is represented at a higher proportion than other cities.
That aside, SMU does have gorgeous women, great weather, and a hell of a college experience. I still have a few months to decide where to go, so I guess I'll wait and see.
If there are any SMU alum on here, I'd love to hear your input as well
check your PMs
A few of my friends went to SMU, where they had the time of their lives.
SMU guy here. I can tell you one thing, SMU places great with IB in Texas and in NY. One of my roommates is working for an elite boutique in Houston, another roommate is working for a respected boutique in New York, and I just got an offer from a top tier BB (GS,JP,MS type). I know plenty of people who have gotten great placements in Houston/Dallas/NY, and on top of that SMU is a hell of a good time.
SMU senior starting FT BB IBD in NYC next summer. I will speak only to what I know about SMU. Alternative Assets Program placed lights out this year (people on this forum would be shocked what it looked like out of the 30 kids in the program). At least 1 SMU person at every BB and elite boutique in Houston (except for 2 banks who are now coming to recruit this year). I got interviews in LA, SF, NY, and Houston. Several BB's will be recruiting on campus for NYC in addition to Houston as of this year. NYC banks are now actually flying down and not just recruiting through their Houston groups. Amazing opportunities to intern at Top HF's and PE Funds in Dallas if you reach out to them. Also a lot of wealth management groups and asset managers. Info sessions for BB summer analyst internships have already started
Do yourself a favor and go to SMU... upstate new york sucks.
SMU grad here from a few years ago. When I went there was OCR for BB and mid market in IB for Houston, Dallas, and New York. It seemed like every year more banks were on campus recruiting. There are also several PE and Hedge Funds in the city that had internship opportunities. The business classes in finance were pretty strong when I went so you can get your fill of accounting, finance, and derivatives. Great weather, city has a nightlife, beautiful girls... I would recommend.
TCU grad here and even I'd say SMU hands down. SMU is probably third in placing Houston Energy IB, only behind Rice and UT.
Definitely Syracuse... you know, Ebola and all...
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