Semi-target Liberal Arts Colleges VS Semi-target universities (For IB)

I'm a junior who wants to get a job in IBD (Preferably the Wall Street, but I don't mind other places). I am thinking of applying to some semi-target LACs like Colgate, Haverford, Davidson, Hamilton and semi-target universities like Emory, USC, and IU(Kelly), UVA, and Villanova.

Can you please list my options in order (in terms of recruitment and academic reputation)? Please recommend other LACs or universities too!

 

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If you go to a LAC you will need to learn financial technicals on your own because you are studying Econ. If you are okay will independent learning then LAC is good for you. If you want a more structured program go to a undergraduate business school.

 

IU (if you can get into the IB workshop) > UVA > USC (if you can get into the mentors program) > Emory > Villanova > Colgate > Others. You'd have a better network at the non-LAC schools listed.

Why not apply to better LACs (e.g., Williams, Amherst, CMC, Swarthmore, etc.)?

 

Completely agree on those rankings, though I'd slightly put UVA over IU, but rest the same. Those better LAC's are basically crap-shoots though and I bet the OP either isn't a match stats wise or doesn't like the schools.

 
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It'll be easier and more of a traditional path from the Semi-Targets. You can just join the right clubs, take the right classes, and do OCR and will probably end up with something decent. The difficulty is that competition will be tougher, especially for the top tier banks.

At a good LAC college, the path is less certain, but it'll be much easier to network well, impress and MD at Goldman and just have them pull hard for you.

I went to a top LAC and never really considered going to a Public Ivy/Semi-Target(which given my stats would have been within my range). I'm pretty happy where I've ended up, so I don't think I would have changed anything, but the one thing I wish I would have considered more is social scene. I probably would have liked the bigger school vibe slightly better in hindsight, but hindsight is 20/20.

Honestly either type of school will end up being fine. I'd visit and figure out what has the best feel. I say this on nearly every college thread I post on but, its not worth being miserable for 4 years just for slightly better odds of getting into banking.

 

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