Yale vs. Princeton vs. Wharton Undergrad

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Firms like Silver Lake that I would want to work for only recruit from Wharton, and I'm worried that I'll have to work much harder at Yale to have a chance of getting the same opportunities.

You'll likely need a 3.95+ at Wharton to be competitive for the 2-3 SilverLake spots a year. That is not an easy thing to achieve. Getting a top buyside spot, at any university, requires a lot of hard work. Additionally, SilverLake recruits associates out of the usual BB/EB groups--you'll have plenty of access to banking recruiting at all three schools.

It sounds like you really liked Yale. Go to Yale--it's an incredible school.

https://www.leveragedsellout.com/2006/06/how-gopal-mehta-got-paid-almos…

One of the more helpful and respected finance blogs makes some strong points in favor of Princeton. Would highly recommend you read this and reconsider.

I went to one of these three schools and would tell you that you will turn out just fine—with regards to potential buyside recruiting down the road and otherwise—at any of these three schools. Go to the school that you feel is the best fit for you personally—sounds like that’s Yale for you.

Not surprised you didn't like Penn or Pton and preferred Yale...sheesh

Honestly I would say Wharton is better if you are dead set on finance. I have friends at all three schools and I think that Yale is the coolest. I know it is too late, but it sounds like UC Berkeley or Stanford would be a great fit for you.

Went to another ivy and majored in ORIE as it is termed there. I worked really really hard for an "unimpressive" (think 2.9/3.0) GPA by finance standards. Engineering school is no joke and will be a very different college experience than other majors.

Choosing between 3 schools of this caliber based off of perceived buy side placement will lead you to make the wrong decision and end up with a worse college experience. Always pick the place where you fit in the most whether it be a school or a job when there is this little difference in opportunity between them. You’ll be happier when you choose based on fit which will lead to getting more involved, performing better, and getting the best chance at going wherever it is you decide to go next.

I promise you no one at any of the schools you listed is kicking themselves for not going to another unless it’s because they chose the wrong fit

1. You said "I'd want to pursue entrepreneurship and startups, consulting groups, other finance-related EC's." This doesn't sound very Yale to me. Do you have any other outside interests? Also, Yale has the whole society system and Greek Life is supposedly growing and playing a much larger part of the social scene.

2. Greek Life culture at Penn is definitely large but if you're at Wharton you're more insulated from it if that's what you want. But maybe stay open-minded to these things?

3. I don't know why you would major with ORFE unless you want to be a quant/trader. Everyone in IB/PE from Princeton that I know were not engineers. You may be shooting yourself in the foot in terms of your GPA.

4. Are you really using your real name for your WSO profile? If so, you are easily findable on Google.

Is it a terrible idea to email people at Silverlake and other places you like and actually ask them? Who would know better than them?

They could be in a position to give you an interview in 3 years. You seem well-mannered and "switched-on" as people say in the UK. I doubt you'll say something stupid that makes them reject you when you apply in 2-3 years. Be careful though.

If you want to enjoy your life, go to Yale.

Also everyone at Wharton / Princeton wants to work in finance, and so it looks like they “place better” but students at Yale have more varied interests.

You’ll be fine recruiting from any of these schools so go wherever you think you’ll be happiest.

Go to the school you like best, seriously. None of those schools will close off doors for you.

But would also recommend changing your username, pretty sure I found you in like 10 seconds.