Do I take my boutique offer or delay graduation & transfer to an Ivy?
Hey guys,
I'm in a bit of a tight spot, and could use some advice.
I'm a rising junior at a non-target unranked state school and this past summer I managed to get an internship as a summer analyst at a private equity firm.
Fortunately, I knocked it out of the park, and even though they weren't looking to hire, I was able to leverage the connections / recommendations for an internship at a boutique this coming summer. If all goes well, that internship will turn into a full-time offer.
My dilemma is that I applied to transfer to a few schools, and was offered delayed admission to an Ivy & as well as a top 15 name-brand school, both of which have excellent resources & the network to catapult me into a BB. Both schools will lead to more debt, but the Ivy is a considerable amount more.
As is, I graduate in two years, and am on track to work at a boutique, but is it worth me taking an extra year in school & considerably more debt for the improved network / name-brand?
I could see this going one of two ways:
1) Take the boutique offer and finish up at non-target. Get into a solid MBA, and work from there to a more prestigious firm.
2) Take the Ivy and hope to get a shot at a BB after graduating.
Some things that might help would be if you could name the school, because if it's a top notch Ivy, then that changes everything. Also are you interested in pursuing an MBA? Do you see yourself in IB in the long-run?
It's all a matter of preference. PM if you have questions.
The Ivy is Columbia GS & the other school is USC. I was also waitlisted at Claremont McKenna, and my admissions officer told me if I applied again that I'm almost guaranteed admission, so I guess that's technically a potential option too..
To be honest, I'm not totally clear on what I want to do. For now the plan is IB for 2 years, and then lateral to PE or VC. MBA isn't out of the question, but for the time being it's not something I'm leaning towards.
Others may chime in, but why not work at the boutique for a year (or two) and then lateral? You'll probably end up at the same stop given your work experience, with the benefit of that option being a dick ton cheaper.
I guess my question is whether or not the Ivy stamp will have value that goes beyond IB as more of a long-term investment. Especially considering that I don't currently plan to get an MBA.
Correct - PE is even more prestige oriented than IB. Even if you're a top analyst, for MF recruiting school background will be a bias against you.
My advice to you is not to miss the forest from the trees. The best thing you can possibly do for yourself is to go to Columbia. The education and the intangible benefits you will get from going there will have a lifelong impact on you. I went to HYPS and then spent 7 years in banking at two BBs before moving to the buyside where I am now a portfolio manager. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today if it were not for the people I met in school, the network of alums that have helped me out at various points in my life, and the credibility I get for having gone to a top school....on top of the incredible education I got. If you go to Columbia, with your hustle and drive that you seem to have, I am confident that everything else will take care of itself in terms of recruiting by the time you graduate. Focus on the long run, not just what is in front of you. I hope that helps.
why don't you run this in parallel? take the ivy and then see if you actually get the full time offer?
I have delayed admission, and if I transfer I have to take minimum two years worth of courses to be awarded a degree from that institution.
The extra debt is well worth getting Columbia on your resume. The benefits will last for your entire career.
that's what I was thinking reading this thread, you have to have a certain number of credits from that institution when transferring. like 60 right?
If you can swing it all, I'd try to take the internship and then transfer. That will put you an infinitely better competitive position as post-transfer you'll be competing against peers who already have internships.
Take Columbia and don't look back. The alum network you will have there will be insane and since you are in NYC it will make networking really easy. Also boosts your chances at a top MBA.
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