Villanova - Choosing between Bentley and Villanova
I have to choose between Bentley University and Villanova University, not really sure which one I like better and the cost will be the same. Can anyone give me some advice?
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Nova hands down. Close to NYC, has decent alumni base and better name brand.
Take a look at placements. Should make the answer pretty clear.
Any idea where i can find placements for bentley? can't see to find any. I also think I want to work around boston after i graduate if that changes anything
You can't find placements because they really don't have any. IMO, if you want to work in Boston I would have looked at Boston College. Nova really isn't going to help you with Boston, but it is the better program. The issue with Bentley is that it is one of the weaker MSF's in Beantown.
MIT >> BC >> Bentley/Brandies
Boston is a real saturated MSF market.
Oh, I guess I should have made it clear that I am applying to the undergraduate programs at both of these schools. I did apply to BC but I was waitlisted and am hoping to be taken off and for sure will attend if I am lucky enough to be accepted
Villanova by far
Villanova for Philadelphia, Bentley for Boston.
Few of my friends are heading to BBs next year from Bentley. Goldman was on campus this year, which is pretty rare but I've seen more and more firms popping up here. OCR is very good here as well. So we do place, but we are shadowed by the other schools (Harvard, BU, BC etc) because we're so close to Boston.
I will say that within the first week, you'll start to learn all the basics about finance, modeling, valuing companies and skip all that other bullshit liberal arts schools throws your way because Bentley is a pure business school. The Trading Room is def something to check out - 40 Bloomberg Terminals available to anyone at anytime is heaven for anyone really interested in finance. The Investment Group is no joke either - guys that know their shit from previous SA's will take an hour out of their day to teach you the basics of an LBO or DCF and more, plus they're always available to talk to in the trading room. They have a long-only $650k equity fund that is run by all the members in the group, meaning anyone can pitch a company they believe is undervalued to the group who will then vote on whether to buy in or not which is a great way to have your ideas critiqued by some more senior guys who actually know what they're talking about. Most of the kids have money too (you'll see ferraris, maseratis, few bentleys and plenty of BMWs/Mercedes driving around) so they have parents in high places that can help you out if you happen to become good friends with one of them.
Also, there are a good amount of Alumni on the street and they are all very good friends. Once you meet one and make a good impression, they will most often reference you to their buddy and so on and so forth, so the alumni group is strong and getting bigger. Lot of guys at JPM, PE funds, few at GS and plenty sprinkled throughout the mm and boutique landscape as well. They all want more Bentley guys on the street, so they'll do their best to help you in whatever way they can and won't just shrug you off like some other alumni from a bigger more highly regarded school would. Lots of good looking girls at Bentley too.
Cons - we are shadowed by the bigger guys - MIT, Harvard etc. since we're so close to Boston. However, not sure about the opportunities at Villanova in PA but I got an IB internship at a MM as a sophomore in Boston with between a 3.0-3.5GPA so it is easier to break in with the quantity of firms in the area. (Just have a good story, network and actually show a strong interest in whatever it is you want to do.) Some kids can be pretty snobby, but whatever... you'll always find those no matter where you go.
Villanova is a much higher regarded school in terms of popularity and name recognition. In NYC, most guys haven't heard of Bentley, but they are out there. IMO Bentley has a stronger business program and is up and coming so its a tough choice between the two. I've had no problem networking and pretty much gotten in everywhere I wanted so Bentley has been good to me in terms of career placement, but networking def played a big part.
Can't speak about nova that much because I don't know them that well, but that's where I stand on Bentley. Both are great schools, so either way you'll be fine. Good luck
Waymon, can you tell about where you rank in your class and whether or not you networked alone or had family/friends to help you out
Middle of my class, but unlike 90% of the guys here who may have a 3.5+, I knew exactly what I wanted to do long term and understood the steps I needed to take to get there (IE started looking for internships for the school year/ next summer and reaching out to alumni far in advance during the summer when everyone else is enjoying the beach.) I knew I would be at a disadvantage given my GPA (between a 3.0 and 3.5) so I started to network.
However, the internship I got was not through networking (although a Bentley alum does work there and was in charge of recruiting, that said about 5 Bentley guys got interviews). Its all about persistence and showing them just how bad you want it. I was restricted from applying via OCR because I was not yet a junior, so I printed out my resume, put it in a envelope with the MD's name on it and hand delivered it to him at his office. Next day I had an interview.
I do network a lot, started early during my freshman year (thanks in part to coming across this site) and I have been making plenty of trips down to NYC from Boston to meet people, so I'm not sure how much it will pay off as I have been teeing it up for my Junior SA position.
Familywise, one of my parents is in the industry (but not at a BB or working in banking at all for that matter) and I have not asked them for help at all.
I am a very persistent and passionate person when it comes to getting what I want and will follow through until the end. So if they're telling me I can't apply because my GPA isn't up to par or because I'm not yet a junior, there is always a way around it.
TL:DR Don't have a fantastic GPA (yet) middle of my class, did some networking so far, but not at the bank I am currently working at. Persistence is very important and was the main factor in me getting the job, and family/friends have not yet been a factor in my success as I have not called on them yet.
As a freshman, how did you network? Cold-calling/emailing, or did you find alumnus and just reached out? I am going to be a freshman next and want to start early like you so any tips are appreciated.
Bentley? It's not even a Top 5 MBA program in its own city.
Clearly Nova is the right choice.
Villanova without a doubt. Did you get into any other state schools? Villanova will only get you into Ibanking if you have a 3.8 +. Nova has connections to a lot of top accounting firms too if you're interested in that.
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