Wharton ED vs Stanford REA for PE placement

Hey y'all!

Long time lurker here but need some advice on colleges for getting placed into PE directly post-college.

So for demographics, I'm an Indian male from India, not applying for financial aid, from a feeder school to top US colleges.

I've been considering both Wharton and Stanford for my undergrad, and am confused about whether or not I should ED to Wharton. For context, my main goal is getting placed into PE, or a top IB firm out of college.

Now in terms of placements, Wharton beats Stanford hands down, with considerably more people going into PE directly out of college. The only reason I'm split about Wharton ED is due to the fact that I'll be learning just finance there, and I also wish to minor in CS or Physics in college. Stanford gives this opportunity, and also is top tier in terms of prestige, although I think their placements aren't that great in finance (probably due to self-selection and a lot of ppl going to FAANG).

For context, I've got a 98% GPA as per the Indian system, which is top 0.1% nationally, and a 36 ACT, with 5s on 4 APs (Macro, Micro, Physics C, Calc BC), and in terms of extracurriculars, I run a mid-sized dropshipping firm, a pro-bono marketing firm, and have won quite a few prestigious competitions like Tiger Global's case comp and the Wharton HS investment comp. Alongside this, I have a few President positions in school and have published econ and business research papers, and won quite a few MUNs.

Another factor is that I also really like Stanford and the econ major there, so I'd like the opportunity to apply to Stanford as well, but the placement prospects of Wharton are significantly better as per statistics. So what would you say is the better choice in terms of placements, and is there any way I could study something like CS or Physics alongside finance at Wharton?

 

Nope, not at Doon or Mayo. Although I'd say Mayo isn't really a feeder anymore, it might have been earlier.

For context, my school has 8-10 total Ivy placements per year, and 2-3 each at Duke, Uchicago, etc. We have 1 Stanford admit every 2 years though, so overall my school would be classified as a feeder or a semi-feeder.

Not revealing my school though, don't wanna be doxxed.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

I believe M&T is a dual degree of Engineering + Finance, so ofc it's ultra-prestigious, but engineering isn't something I'm particularly interested in. My CS interest is more so on the side of web dev and coding, so I don't think engineering would really suit me.

I'm exploring Huntsman though, something I forgot to add on the post

 

KKR, Bain, and Blackstone have OCR at Stanford. Maximum 25-40 kids are actively pursuing these opportunities here because everyone is so focused on tech, meaning less competition and far better brand name overall in terms of undergrad prestige (Carries the same weight as Harvard). Arguably gives you more options should you decide not to go into high finance - but if you do you are still a super target for top groups and arguably competing against no one compared to Wharton. The placement is low because of lack of overall interest, but everyone who attempts finance here does very well in placement. Shoot for Stanford early 100%

 

Ever hear of not being able to see the forest through the trees?

Imagine having the academic accolades you do, yet actually believe going to stanford could somehow hurt your chances to do private equity lol. Talk about book smarts and no street smarts.

Also, don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. You’re a smart Indian male from india. Wharton and Stanford are no guarantees. You’re a dime a dozen within your ethnic group.

 

Maybe I wasn’t clear, I was asking how Stanford shapes up for someone going into finance, since it’s historically known for tech and Silicon Valley rather than Wall Street. And yes, I do realise Wharton and Stanford are no guarantees. This post isn’t about choosing a college to go to, it’s about choosing whether I should ED to Wharton, as that basically commits me to it if I’m admitted. 

 
Most Helpful

No you were perfectly clear. You wanted to know if going to Wharton was somehow much superior than going to Stanford for a finance/PE career.

Which is an insane question.

Just take a step back for a second. Do you believe in your heart that going to one of the best schools in the entire world, Stanford, would in any possible way handicap your job prospects going forward?

Look I know you just wanted to brag about your accomplishments and were hoping a few posters would comment with envy about your resume, it feels good to brag I get it.

But next time, find a more creative way to humbly brag. Asking silly questions just makes you look dumb. I actually went to Wharton and let me tell you, Stanford kids are much smarter, if anything your wuestion should have been the other way around. But then, you were not really asking a legitimate question were you?

 

I don’t know why you think this post was about bragging considering that I just mentioned 2 sentences about my achievements, but I’ll explain why I asked this.

The reason is 2 fold -

1. I thought Stanford could be a minor handicap specifically for finance since it’s alumni venture more into tech comparatively, rather than Wharton’s finance, which would correlate to Wharton having a superior alumni network, and given the importance of networking in finance, could be a great plus.

2. What I currently know about PE is just all from a course I’ve done on it, so not going to act like I know much about it. But from the limited I know, I think PE requires more technical finance experience than usual IB would require, and with the massive amount of opportunities available at Wharton, specifically the finance clubs and overall teaching, I thought it could be better compared to Stanford, where the closest I get to finance is economics.

So I simply wanted the views of some experienced professionals on these two points. I’m not going to argue anymore, but thank you for your inputs

 

You expect me to believe you placed in the top 0.1% of the entire country of india in academics, and can’t figure out a solid view of PE through the internet and basic research?

Okay buddy. Let us know your decision after all the ivies, Stanford and MIT accept you.

 
Controversial

Shut up, Stanford is literally known for crippling careers.

In respected industries, it's a school with a watered down curriculum (for minority athletes), easy admissions (real admission rate is like 27%, even higher for in-state) and bad candidate pools (everybody there isn't verbal/articulated/polished). 
 

Stanford only churns out code bitch monkeys, nothing else.

It sends as many kids into high finance as Ohio State. It's alumni gets disrespected and shit on for their shitty alma mater at every opportunity.

Nobody is going to take a kid from some school in a desert founded little over 100 years ago seriously.

 

Dude you literally went to LSE or NYU, you're not one to talk

 

LOL I'm not gonna lie this is unironically funny. Knowing a couple of Stanford alums since I'm in VC, the quality of their students is significantly watered down/characterless when compared even to semi-targets like Georgetown. Definitely can pick out smart high schoolers, but I would tend to agree that it cripples their potential with a lightweight default major track for the liberal arts. They have some great researchers, however, and the international reputation they've built is solid. Still would rather stick to an old-school Ivy or USMA if I had the choice again. 

 

Sounds like you’d prefer Stanford but don’t like the risk of missing ED. For IB / PE recruiting you will be just fine wherever you go. Go with your gut on where you would have a better college experience. I know it seems like recruiting is a #1 concern but optimizing for best all around college experience will be more rewarding for you in the long run. I implore you to trust me and I implore others on the forum to back me up that you should pick what will make you happier and not start optimizing for career path probabilities now since you are clearly highly qualified and will be fine anywhere.

 

1.) you are an international applicant from an disadvantaged background bc 1000s of Indians will be applying to the schools you mentioned

2.) your grades and extracurriculars aren’t even that good. only 4 APs with a 5, r u kidding me?

you talk about these schools as if you already got in, but let me tell you, your chances are not amazing

 

you are literally an avg highschooler. ur top 0.1% in a country with 1.4B people, so that means there are about 40k people like you with the same grades, applying to the same schools. acceptance rates for the top schools for internationals nowadays are sub 3%, and for you to think that you’ll be automatically accepted is ridiculous.

 

I went to Stanford and somehow fell into finance. It wasn’t a walk in the park but I also was 0% prepared and focused. Even then I ended up in a top BB group somehow (I say somehow because I only got 2 banking offers 1 EB and 1 BB and got no other superdays and even missed out on a bunch of first round invites). People that were actually semi-focused from sophomore year ended up doing super well.

Wharton will force you do so super well probably because everyone is doing the same thing more or less. If you’re motivated then there really won’t be a difference from Wharton or Stanford from a recruiting angle. Yeah maybe Silverpoint only hires 1 Wharton kid a year and from nowhere else but it’s minor stuff. On the other hand Stanford opens doors to the tech world that most people would kill their mothers for.

I would say if you’re set on finance and not willing to play the odds, then do Wharton ED as it has a high acceptance rate. Otherwise do Harvard early action. I think their rate is high too. And then apply to everywhere else regular decision.

I think Stanford is amazing but you’ll be fine if you get into any top tier institution. And if you’re a rich Indian I’m hoping your fam is connected enough to help boost your resume in the very early years of college and also pay the $500k investor visa green card. 2 of my best friends in college were Indian internationals. One’s dad was a PE partner and the other was Ambani’s/Birla’s/Godrej’s/Adani’s/Bajaj’s #2 man (idk how doxxing this is so I’m adding some random Indian tycoons in this list). Both got unlucky in the visa lottery and so their parents forked over the cash to get them investor green cards. Worthy investment.

Anyways good luck and don’t be too picky. The reality is you’ll have a blast and do well from any of these top tier schools. My first choice was Harvard and I was depressed when I got waitlisted. My plan was to do a year at Stanford and try and transfer to Harvard. What an idiot. I look back at that and realize the best blessing in the world was being “forced” to go to Stanford.

 

This makes a lot of sense, thanks a lot for the insights. I’ll go for Stanford REA tbh, seems like a better option than Wharton ED. Harvard just defers really heavily so I’ll RD there. Thanks tho!

 

Are you the TQQQ guy? Also must say, you have inspired me and many others on this forum. PA sitting around $80-100k, 100% TQQQ (still in college, heading off to top rx after school, will be plowing all of my savings into it). Remembering reading your post in like September, then did my own research and realized you were right, got in at ~120.Btw man, would love to hear about your story- I think a lot of ppl would be interested if you did an AMA or something

 

Hmm for my edification what exactly here makes you think that? I’m not sure how many posts are tied to my name to connect but I’ve been relegated to exclusively anonymously posting now.

I’m not sure there’s a lot of excitement to be shared in an AMA. My story is pretty run of the mill honestly. There’s literally nothing special in it.

 

I just have a knack for digging into things lol, also I think you mentioned Stanford somewhere and I recognize your writing style. How are you not interesting- mid/low 8 fig NW at such a young age not through entrepreneurship or inheritance is super interesting. If you can't do an AMA, is there any chance you could PM me? Had some questions for you.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

They do hire internationals, they average ~1 offer per year, and they almost never extend offers to non-Wharton candidates (there have been a couple Harvard over the years)

 

Thanks for clarifying. I’m not up to date on the ins and outs of college recruiting anymore. Used to be only one and from Wharton. But then again when I was around that age Silverpoint was only a distressed hedge fund and not trying to build a business. Now they’ve got private credit growing like a weed. Regardless, think my general gist stays the same here.

 

Just out of curiosity, you’re from India right? Not another country like Pakistan or UAE— makes a difference in admissions. Just curious

 

That’s right, but I also asked because I was curious about something. You see, I call cap on this post. I think you’re impersonating a kid from Dubai (who presumably won the tiger global case comp and the W comp), and you just said you’re from India, not Dubai…

 

I think you need to do more A.P's....I am also from an international background (LATAM) and had similar SAT/ACT scores and involvement/background/stats. Took 11 AP's on my own and scored 5 on all but 1 (Calc). Did not get into any "Top" schools. Did not matter in long run bc am on my 3rd year in IB now.

 

REA to Stanford doesn't give a boost, while ED'ing to Penn does. Why are you worried about this right now? The deadline for both has already passed, and if you're a junior then you have other things to worry about other than choosing your ED college this early

 

Make sure you apply to a range of targets and semi-targets, never any guarantees but your stats are solid. That said you should tour both Stanford and Wharton and apply ED to the school where you feel you would fit in the best. Fit is extremely underrated. You'll be more involved on campus and get along easier with your peers and alumni if you're comfortable at your university. Very little difference in opportunity between these schools, anyway. I had a tough time deciding between schools but ended up going exactly where I needed to be. Was able to be really involved on campus, lead clubs, get into IB etc. but also pursue a ton of non-finance interests and generally enjoy college. Don't discount the non-finance aspect of your university. You'll spend less time hustling to get a job than you'll spend going to class, working with your peers, eating at the dining hall, messing around in the dorms or off campus with your friends etc. Make sure those people and places are a good fit for who you are. NGL you sound like a major hardo so maybe select for that. Best of luck hope you get into a school you're happy with. And seriously try to enjoy your senior year...

 

Occaecati est maxime ipsam animi consectetur rerum amet. Sapiente dolorum veritatis et autem. Ut rem molestias et velit nemo recusandae. Qui aut laudantium beatae ut. Veniam voluptatem aliquam eaque. Ut natus placeat omnis harum ratione qui.

Nesciunt eligendi dolorem recusandae aspernatur aut. Ut vero nihil necessitatibus ipsum iusto. Saepe quibusdam deleniti quasi numquam. Voluptas voluptatem reprehenderit possimus deleniti incidunt nisi autem. In animi et ut aut qui qui eveniet.

Magnam commodi explicabo incidunt. Est eligendi dolorum possimus deleniti dolores quaerat. Ducimus at natus dicta veritatis eaque fuga. Dicta facilis officiis natus ab eveniet. Quisquam ipsa architecto nobis adipisci autem numquam et. Possimus non voluptatem dolores.

Sit quas voluptatem quis consequatur possimus qui nulla. Autem tenetur nam amet magnam sit quam. Qui qui et odio dignissimos et autem. Laudantium rerum sit sunt error eius.

 

Voluptatum et iure qui perferendis quod non. Nihil illum voluptas consequatur. Velit doloremque adipisci soluta illum illum. Est ipsam beatae eveniet possimus. Fugiat vitae et sapiente exercitationem.

Quia et fuga mollitia quos. Nesciunt sapiente deserunt nihil facilis voluptate nemo. Unde et nesciunt corrupti itaque in est. Illo debitis consequatur itaque at deserunt vel rerum. Magni laboriosam et aliquid fugiat est. Facere voluptatem amet et dignissimos enim neque.

 

Molestiae repellat expedita placeat velit dicta. Rerum impedit voluptatibus accusantium voluptas nemo quo ipsam. Possimus ut maiores eos ex mollitia voluptas. Reprehenderit sed ipsam sed nihil itaque id laborum.

Adipisci laudantium ex et iusto nobis. Consequatur sit vero sint aut. Minus reprehenderit quis quia officiis non. Tenetur corporis magni consequatur sed sed qui. Eligendi consequatur mollitia qui omnis ducimus. Asperiores asperiores maiores autem.

Atque debitis quia eum est eligendi enim tempora recusandae. Vero ut id maiores illo eius debitis. Quas id alias eius.

Illum animi a harum nisi consequatur. Dicta eveniet vel nihil iure. Praesentium reiciendis voluptates assumenda voluptatem accusantium voluptatum. Fuga ipsa qui dolore dolorem repellendus vitae. Nisi ducimus hic odio dolor nobis quia error. Voluptas ad quas consequatur in eum corporis voluptatum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (21) $586
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (89) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (204) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (386) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (28) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (313) $59
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”