Philosophy students preferred by IBs over politcs/IR undegrads?

how does anyone perceive this degree?

The degree is great for those who want to go to law school. Otherwise, you have to go to a target with a high azz gpa to consider ib.

So let me get this straight: you're asking if investment banking recruiters, etc, prefer a philosophy major to a poli sci or international relations major? Do you realize that none of those is relevant in the first place?

I suppose in the industry groups, such as Enery, that deal with companies that have heavy regulation and lots of government involvement, a poli sci/govt degree might have a BIT of relevance. But if a govt major gets a job in the energy IB group, I can promise you his success had NOTHIGN to do with his major.

If you go to a target school, your major matters only insofar as it is only one of many potential ways to signal your interest in finance. Case in point: I am a senior philosophy major from a top LAC (target school) with a gpa in the range of 3.6-3.8 and will be working at a major BB bank in IB as an analyst beginning in July.

Why would you not get a business degree if you want to get into IB? People who want to become doctors don't get degrees in english do they?

A double major Philosophy/Business would be a good call.

justanotherbanker i totally agree with you however i think your applied math economics would be pretty relevant in working with derivatives since that area of IB is extremely relevant to your background in maths.am i right in assuming that? JPS at what school did u study philo if you dont mind me asking?

Philosophy is less boring than business???

GGekko im from England.Here BUSINESS as a degree is not seen as very good subject.Economics is,on the other hand.My only problem in applying for an eco degree at uni is that i dont have the required maths background.And plus i see Business/Eco more like a specialized/vocational degree whereas philosophy really stimulates the mind in ways which the other 2 cant. i read books on corporate finance and found Finance as a discipline pretty straightforward and very do-able.i also took the IMC(investment management certifcate,UK qualification,prior to CFA)exam and passed it. im doing accounting in school right now so thats pretty straightforward too. My main concern was the impresion that IBs have on these NON-RELATED degreesand i think it would be absurd not to accept people with degrees other than eco/business/management/maths some of the highest paying MDs in IBs have degrees that dont relate at all with Finance.eg:history,english,law,history,etc.at least thats what ive seen on their profiles on the internet. And plus,a Master in Finance at a top schools such asLSE,London Business School will greatly increase your chances.

I also seen alot of undergraduates that go to study for an MBA immediately after uni when they are 22-23 years old.Where is the logic in that?i thought that an MBA will best suit someone with some work experience(3-4 years at least).Isnt MBA a course meant to develop your managerial skills,etc.what managerial experience does a 23 year old fresh graduate has,other than managing(maybe) a McDonalds branch during school and part-time. WOuld be grateful to anyone that could clarify these issues.

Carl87: I agree that my math background is highly relevant for derivatives. It was an absolute must for some of the cap markets interviews I went into. However, my math background is much less relevant for IBD analyst functions like making a pitchbook, doing comps, or touching up an offering circular or prospectus.

BB interviewers were much more interested in what they perceived to be my ability to endure long, drawn out agony -- which they picked up on because of my problem set-intensive major and eight years of high-level endurance sports.

Sorry, I assume you study your interests at college, since its kinda the point of higher education in the first place.

If you can/want to study Philosophy and get into IB, the more power to ya. I didn't learn shit in undergrad business because I had spent a lot of time learning on my own outside school.

So the only question is, how does one expect to get an interview if you're a Philosophy major? If you know somebody, or BBs come to your school looking for poets, you're set. Otherwise you're putting yourself at a disadvantage. IMHO

BTW, people who go to GOOD high schools read just about everything you would ever touch while pursuing a Philosophy major in college. Also, people who go to GOOD schools learn that you shouldn't use two conjunctions consecutively when writing in english.

I've always thought of the undergraduate education as a place to sharpen the mind, not necessarily to only learn relevant things. You'd be surprised at how much stronger your analytical abilities become through a difficult philosophy or English class. Though I am an econ major, I have definitely made a point of taking other less "relevant" classes, both out of my own interest and also as a means to sharpen my mind, so to speak.

Carl87: I was responding to Zala.

Sounds like you're on top of things. In the US, people generally wait 3-5 years before getting an MBA. I don't know how it works across the pond. I also don't know how BBs recruit in the UK but a MSF at one of your nice schools would definitely help if you don't get IBD the first go-round.

agreed.