Undergrad College Decision

Hey guys,
I could use your help and advice. I will start college in Fall am looking to pursue a career in Finance (Investment banking or management).
I’ve narrowed my choices down to four schools:

  1. UIUC-Gies
  2. IU-Kelley
  3. UCLA (business econ)
  4. UC Berkeley (Econ)

Pros about going to a school like UIUC or IU-Kelley would be the tailored workshops such as IBA at UIUC or IBW / IM at Kelley. but the negative could also be the lack of recruiting outside specific workshops if I don't make it into the workshops.

Berkeley or UCLA might give me a great band but UCLA doesn't have a business school option for undergrad and at Berkeley have to apply to Haas after sophomore year (so not guaranteed) and the banking jobs might be a lot more competitive here?

If cost or distance from home or job location are not primary decision factors, would like your input on what you would do in my position. Thanks in advance.

 

Fin-Banker, way too quiet in here. What about these resources:

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Depends on how much you believe in yourself. Berkeley is the best if you believe you'll get into Haas, IU is good if you think you'll get into the workshop, u of I is ok if you want chicago IB and do really well there. UCLA is probably a decent west coast semi target/target

 

Thanks. UIUC is the only one in-state, rest are OOS. I also have been admitted to the business schools in both Villanova (VSB) and Georgia Tech (Scheller).

I have some friends telling me that Berkeley will give me a life long brand, yet some others saying if you want to get into banking then Kelley, Villanova or UIUC workshops might give me better odds given that Haas is not guaranteed at Berkeley (and lack of a business program at UCLA).

How important is the brand long-term? Does the brand matter significantly post the first job? Trying to figure out if I should weigh the brand more or the odds/path to banking more that some of the schools above provide.

Can use your advise....

 

Where do you want to work? I know IU people at great banks but all of them were in the workshop. The brand of Berkeley is great especially if you get into Haas, but it really matters the most for your first job.

 

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