Does being a Wiessman / Presidential Scholarship at Babson have any REAL effect on Investment Banking opportunities?

I'm a senior at an NY prep school who's been admitted to Babson College as a Presidential scholar. I'm also a finalist for the Weissman Scholarship. I'm currently considering colleges and really need some guidance regarding Babson.

The presidential scholarship pays for about half of my tuition, and the Weissman scholarship gives me a full ride, as well as some other perks including funding for entrepreneurial ventures.

Babson is probably at the bottom of my school list in terms of investment banking exit opportunities, so I had originally dismissed it, but I wanted to know if either of these scholarships may boost my IB exit opportunities to a target or semi-target school. Money is not too much of a problem, but saving a half or full college tuition is substantial, so I figure I should consider.

Does anyone know how this could help me, and to what degree? Please be brutally honest, I don't want to make the wrong decision. Any information would be appreciated!

Thank you!

 
Best Response

I think from what I've seen, Babson sends a couple kids to BAML for sure and maybe every few years or so sends kids to other banks (I think I saw a Babson kid at a GS Financing group). I can't image that many or any EBs recruit there on campus.

I knew a couple kids from my HS that went to Babson. From what I saw lots of people there want to do banking and the spots are slim pickings so it's pretty competitive. Look, it depends on what your other options are and what your financial situation is.

Frankly, your scholarship means little because it's a reflection of your HS performance. Unless you are some absolute super star you probably aren't going to be the very top student at Babson so some people are going to have an edge over you at which point some scholarship that reflects how you did in HS doesn't matter too much.

 

As a student and a Presidential Scholar at Babson, I can tell you there is an active portion of our campus population focused on breaking into the investment banking field. That being said, the path is more difficult here than it would be at other schools; friends of mine at U Penn, for instance, report a much easier time getting into IB. In spite of this, it is still quite possible to make it into IB, but it requires a fair deal of hard work. Alumni of Babson (some of whom I knew during their time here) work at Societe General and Bank of America, among others. A friend of mine, a sophomore, made final round at Goldman for an internship this summer working with options trading. In short, Babson is starting to gain traction with firms we never have before.

In terms of your scholarship, the Presidential and Weissman Scholarships are, by and large, a reflection of your excellence in high school. You would have to prove yourself at the college level through such actions as keeping a high GPA, campus involvement, pursuing opportunities for certifications (Babson offers the Bloomberg Aptitude Test, i.e.), and doing independent research and learning to set yourself apart in a highly competitive field at a highly competitive college.

Financial aid and exit opportunities are critical components of your college decision, so questions like these are important. Odds are, if you’re receiving the Presidential Scholarship and are eligible for the Weissman, you have received a number of merit awards from other schools. Keeping that in mind, things like professor-student interactions, ability for faculty to serve as mentors, references, and research advisors, and campus culture are important things to consider. Ultimately, only you know where each of these things rank on your list of priorities—with hard work, you could find your IB exit opportunities at Babson. It may require more effort than if you attended other schools, but it is definitely possible to achieve.

 

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