Georgetown vs "the field"

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I have a few questions that I hope can be answered. I am a 20 year old (soon to be 21) Community College student, who has recently been accepted into Georgetown's McDonough School of Business. The problem is its REALLY expensive (40,000 dollars a year). I was wondering how valuable a degree from this type of school is when compared to others in the Virginia/D.C. area, such as George Mason, Virginia Tech, ODU and William and Mary? All state schools are much less expensive. Is it really worth three time the amount to go to Georgetown? Is it really worth it? How much more is Georgetown "respected" on Wall Street when compared with the other state schools I mentioned? The only way I can afford Georgetown is to take out at least a 40,000 dollar loan. However, if I attend a state school, I will not need to take out a loan. I'm really conflicted, because part of me believes in the long run the 40,000 dollar loan will be worth it. I also believe the prestige of Georgetown can open doors on wall street that those other schools can not.

So can you guys help me out? Will Georgetown open more doors for me than a Virginia state school would (for a Wall Street career?) Also is it worth the loans I'll need, or should I just go to a state school because the difference is minimal between them...

Thanks

 

Unless we are talking about UVA, Georgetown will open the most doors out of all those schools. I tried to do a quick search on BB websites and I did not see much recruitment at those other schools. I know W&M gets a lot of accounting , but fails to place a lot of people into IBD and S&T. Virgina Tech might be good, but they are much more engineering. Georgetown gives you on-campus recruiting, a strong alumni base on Wall Street, and a killer university name on your resume. I know it costs a lot, but in the end I think Georgetown is worth it. Since you will be entering as a junior make sure you try to take as many upper level finance classes as you can and supplement your knowledge with your own reading so that you will be prepared for Summer Analyst interviews in the winter. The school name gets you interviews, but in the end FT recruiting is all about your junior year internship. Just think, you'll be making $110,000 right out of college and you can start taking big chunks out of the loan with your signing bonus. Good Luck and Congrats.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

I'm finishing up now at Georgetown.

Some people come here thinking that it's their golden ticket. This is totally wrong. a degree from Georgetown (or other similar top tier institution) is necessary but not sufficient for a great career start. The top firms get sooooooo many applications that they don't even look at those who went to second tier schools (no matter how high the GPA, previous internships, etc).

However, i have friends who took it easy while they were at gtown and now they are having an awful time finding jobs - even bad jobs. On the other hand, if you work your ass off, doors will certainly open.

So, 40,000 will be worth it if you are prepared to WORK! WORK! WORK! nothing comes easy, as there are 1,000s of other top-tier graduates competing for the same top jobs.

Otherwise, don't waste your money. The education you will actually receive is not much different than any other decent (even 2nd tier school).. it's more so a branding that will allow you to enter into the grand competition.

Go East, Young Man
 
WallStreetKid:
Asia_i_Banker:
The top firms get sooooooo many applications that they don't even look at those who went to second tier schools (no matter how high the GPA, previous internships, etc).

I guess all those non target kids should just give up...

No matter what school you go to you still need to get good grades, know what you are talking about, and network with a lot of alumni. Getting interviews is more about who you know than what you know, it just so happens there are a lot more "who" that came from Georgetown than my semi-target school, but I still got my BB S&T internship so its still good. Going to a semi-target does not doom you, it just makes your life more difficult....save yourself the trouble and go to Georgetown.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

It was a typo, M is close to B.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

i know someone that transferred to georgetown last year from a community college

he worked his ass off and actually landed an internship with MS IBD for this upcoming summer. you're going to have to work hard, but georgetown can open doors for you

 

Unless I missed it, you didn't mention UVA in the schools you were considering. Why? That's a very legit school. Not sure what tuition runs there at all but I'd expect it might save some bones vs. Georgetown.

I wouldn't worry about the money you need to take out in a loan regardless of where you go. Get a job on campus that doubles as a resume booster to start chipping away at it, and then use your indebtedness as motivation to work your ass off and get to Wall St.

 

Georgetown is a good brand. So is UVA. William and Mary actually has pretty decent placement and is leagues above the others you mentioned. If you choose one of those schools definitely go with Georgetown or William and Mary.

 
Best Response

If you're a good student at Georgetown and interview well, you will likely not have a problem landing an offer. Every bank comes on campus, and Gtown has a strong WS alumni base, certain firms in fact it is second biggest pool, occasionally first. If you want to work on WS, definitely go to Georgetown... even if you decide you don't you'll have a degree from a great school.

Jack: They’re all former investment bankers who were laid off from that economic crisis that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have zero real world skills, but God they work hard. -30 Rock
 

Ut mollitia dicta quia adipisci tenetur voluptates quo. Eveniet sunt voluptates nostrum autem nostrum quae sit.

Beatae pariatur porro repellat laudantium quis. Rerum expedita nisi deserunt fugit nulla rerum. Illum animi omnis illo sed eius dolor. Quas doloribus delectus omnis nostrum a nam eum. Voluptatem molestiae voluptatem sed pariatur exercitationem. Ut vel laborum labore soluta perspiciatis sunt quisquam. Consectetur velit incidunt molestias asperiores dolorem id.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”