McCombs or IU Kelley

I'm in-state for UT and I know that it places more students into IB, but from what I've heard it's a semi for NY. I also heard that McCombs is also competitive due to the number of students there, is that also the case for IU Kelley? If I'm aiming for NY or Chicago(Not Texas), would it be better if I went to IU Kelley or should I stick with McCombs? 

 

I’m from TX and have a lot of friends in McCombs and one close friend in Kelley right now. From what I’ve seen, McCombs is definitely much more competitive and unless you get into BHP, it will be tough making it into Wall Street for McCombs or the top investment clubs (USIT, TUIT). The IB workshop at Kelley is definitely competitive, but they select 70 kids each year (compared to ~25 for WSFM) and it has surprisingly good placement given it’s a semi-target. I’d say if you get into BHP, go to McCombs since you should have an easier time, but if not, and cost isn’t a factor, I would go to Kelley.

In general, I think the pool of kids you are competing against is tougher at McCombs. Being from Texas, I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of smart kids not get into their top choices and have to “settle” for UT auto-admit. BHP should give you a leg up, but if you don’t get in, Kelley would probably be the better option.

 

One thing to add: Going to Kelley is essentially a bet that you will make it into IBW. Baseline McCombs is better than Kelley because at least you still have a good shot at Houston banks, but Kelley w/o IBW is essentially non-target.

 

Yea but I have heard there are two other workshops at Kelley that have decent placements. I think CBW or something.

 

I've heard from friends at Texas that ~35 place in New York and ~2 in Chicago every year. Students also land offers in Houston, Bay Area, Dallas, Southeast.

 

The McCombs BHP is your best option. Being instate means you'll save a lot of money at UT. IU Kelley isn't bad but you have to get into IBW (CMBW might work too) to gun for the roles you're interested in. That being said, Texas banking isn't the worst. If you want NY or Chicago, you could probably try and lateral out of there. That's probably a safer risk to take than to go to IU and bet on maybe getting into IBW.

 

Even if you don’t into BHP at McCombs, you still have a great shot at getting into IB. Don’t let anyone convince you that if you don’t get into BHP, or any of the elite investing clubs you can’t get break into IB. I know plenty of people who may not have been BHP, but still make it into IB with excellent firms. It may be more difficult, but I think McCombs has a great reputation that is only becoming better and better as time progresses.

In a few years, I truly believe McCombs will be a target for NY. Currently, I see it as a semi.

 
Most Helpful

IU Alum here, did IB (without the IBW)

UT and IU are both great options and have awesome business schools, and are both semi-targets for NY IB. In my opinion, you are much more likely to bump into Kelley grads than UT grads (although a fair number of elite MBA guys did UT undergrad). If you're interested in Chicago, IU is superior. One thing to note is that if you have a change of heart and want to move back to Texas post-grad, IU connections are very limited there. 

In terms of the IBW and CMBW at IU, they have a great program when it comes to placement in New York and Chicago, and they operate completely within their own, exclusive network. I was not a part of the IBW and was still able to do IB in the lateral manner (I transferred from a 'backwater' office and moved to London briefly before exiting). A lot of Kelley students who initially want to do IB coming in end up finding another workshop they enjoy and are passionate about, so just keep an open mind. Best of luck!

 

You said you were at a MBB firm in another post - does that mean you were in the Consulting Workshop?

 

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