Ohio State Fisher, Indiana Kelley, Villanova, or Emory for business undergrad?
I am currently a senior in high school in Ohio and have been accepted direct admit into OSU Fisher, IU Kelley, and Villanova Business School (also been accepted to the honors programs for each of these schools). I also just recently got accepted at Emory, and have been waitlisted at Boston College, Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Michigan. I am planning on pursuing a career related to finance (not entirely sure yet, maybe IB, corporate finance, or even PE/VC). I get in-state tuition at OSU plus a little extra scholarship money, and the close proximity to home and city of Columbus are both positives for me. I got some money at IU, but the cost would be significantly higher than OSU, and nearly nothing for Nova/Emory (and most likely nothing if I get into any of the other schools). Which of these schools (maybe even including the ones I have been waitlisted at) would be the best fit for my situation? Thanks!
I am also looking to get an MBA eventually, should that be done directly after undergrad or after a few years of employment? I would like to live in Texas or somewhere out West by the time I'm 30. Would this impact any of my undergrad decisions and should it be a deciding factor in the B-School where I get my MBA?
after a few years of employment for sure. the undergrad school obviously helps the more prestigious it is but even then, there’s all sorts of schools at the top levels; just keep that gpa high to give your best chance
You’d do an MBA years after graduation so don’t even think about that at this stage or let it influence you. If you’re thinking finance I’d tend toward IU over OSU. If you start thinking about Emory that’s a totally different geography and a lot else comes into play. but IU is a great program for finance.
lots of great internships out of emory. represented at PJT, GS, Evercore, centerview, parella, greenhill, really everywhere. i know 3 people who go to emory going to Guggenheim for SA alone (i go to GA TECH). from what I hear the BBA program is pretty solid. they also get great consulting gigs. I think any good Atlanta school is the move because there’s tons of colleges here and they all mix with each other
Emory for sure, the other two don’t come close. Iu Kelley has the in workshop but it’s 70 kids per year out of a class of thousands
*IB
Not worth paying full freight at Emory/Nova with the other two acceptances. Don't know much about OSU, but IU's IBW places lights out.
How good is IU if I don't get in to the IB workshop though? Would it still be worth paying more than OSU?
IU > Nova
I posted this on another thread, but I will re-post for reference. Also, feel free to PM me to discuss the IU Program as I am 3-4 years out as an alum.
Going to IU is quite a big gamble on getting into the IB Workshop and much of the recruitment process, aside from GPA (even this can be manipulated based on what classes you take in what order), isn't something you can control considering much of getting in has to do with subjective measurements (Business Frats / Greek Life Connections which is predicated on what high school you went to and who you were friends with). For example, the minimum GPA to even apply for the IB Workshop is a 3.60 GPA and every year multiple candidates will gain admission while being significantly below this threshold mainly if they are a Diversity Candidate, but also through business fraternity / social fraternity connections. Also, a 3.80+ candidate can get axed over a 3.50+ candidate due to being an "optimal social-fit" - I.E. you play lax and got into one of the 4-5 well represented Greek Organizations freshman year.
Furthermore, all the top banks will ask the professor that runs the program for his "recommendations" on which candidates to interview and he will provide "recommendations" based on a few criteria (firm preference / GPA / mock interviews). Do you really think he'll recommend a 'Non-IB Workshop' candidate for the 1 Goldman / 1 Evercore / 1 JPM spot considering he is incentivized to achieve 100% student placement? -Answer: No
Is it possible to get offers without the workshop? - Absolutely, many do it every year, however, it is SIGNIFICANTLY more difficult and your prospects will 100% decrease to the point where if you are able to receive an offer to an MM bank such as a SunTrust / BMO / Piper Sandler / Baird without the Workshop, you would most definitely be guaranteed a spot at a BAML / Barlcays / Citigroup / MoCo etc if you were in the IB Workshop.
With that being said, the TOP job placements at IU are actually on par with the top placements at any Non-Harvard/UPENN schools (UCLA / UVA / Georgetown / Cornell) with a few kids joining the Blackstone / PJT analyst classes. However, much of your fate at IU is unfortunately decided your freshman year based on what fraternity you join and your relationship with the IB Workshop Professor / Upper Classmen.
With all that being said, despite placing ~80+ candidates/year, as an alumni I would have to admit to IU being a 'Non-Target' school because there are so many 'what-ifs' involved when evaluating a candidate from the school (ex: being a straight white/Asian male will make it categorically more difficult to place into the IB Workshop / Finance Societies).
Also ~80 placements in a KELLEY class (Not including 12,000+ other LAS/SPH students) of 2,500+ every single year (when I graduated around 2016-2017, many of the 'average to above average Kelley students' had no clue as to where they would be working post-graduation as an 2nd semester senior) is quite weak. A target school is classified as a place where someone NOT in the top 5-10% of the University can still gain a relatively selective position.
In all, IU Kelley is a GREAT option if you are unable to gain admission to a 'Prestigious-University'
Fellow midwesterner here. IU has the strongest program of what you got into, but as always a lot is based on your own initiative. I would not recommend OSU, it is not as strong as IU or Emory. Don't know too much about Villanova but I don't think it is as strong as IU or Emory, especially if you want to do finance.
For Chicago banking - IU, Notre Dame, UChicago, UIUC, and WashU place the most overall
All else equal, I'd pick Emory.
However, if you're paying near full tuition at Emory, then def. IU
Both Indiana and OSU will get you where you want to go, assuming you take advantage of all the resources.
If OSU is cheap, I very much would recommend that based on value. You can get the same job as a kid from Emory or Kelley if you have the work ethic. It will be harder and won’t be given to you on a silver platter from on campus recruiting but OSU has placed very well in banking and MBB the previous 2-3 years and has a rapidly growing finance program. Get into fisher futures the banking program and you’ll get just as good for a job as a Kelley IBW kid or Emory. I currently go to OSU and have a BB IB offer and will graduate debt free. The program is what you make of it but if you want to shoot for the stars you absolutely can get there from OSU and save a ton of money while doing it.
Emory or Kelley. Pick based on cost.
Et nulla quas doloribus quidem est error neque. Dolores sed nisi eum quis. Fugit explicabo voluptatem blanditiis facere. Nulla quibusdam eius nostrum nihil.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...