Williams vs Rice for IB
Hey all, current high school senior here (got an internship this summer hence my “intern” status). Was committed to rice but just got off the waitlist for Williams. Wanted to ask if there was a huge difference between them for IB and PE recruiting in NYC. I like rice a lot and would prefer to go there since I’m worried the kids at Williams will be odd, but I’m worried it could adversely impact my career. If I can’t get NYC from rice, are there legitimate exits (UMM+ PE/HF) in Houston? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
The kids at rice are a bit odd too...
Williams will be much better for NY.
Williams. I don't think ive ever seen a banker from Rice outside Houston
Williams. Rice isn't known on the street.
No question, go to Williams for IB. Bumming it out at a similar NESCAC. I sorta wished I went to a bigger school, but the financial aid/opportunities here were a no-brainer.
Had to make similar decision and decided Williams was no brainer
^Ended up at an Ivy after waitlist stuff fully shook out but gave up my Rice seat for Williams first
I’m one of the few folks who went to rice and ended up in NYC but if you want NYC would go Williams
Thanks a lot man. If I go with rice and do manage to make NYC would I have good exits or would I basically just be a non-target? I definitely like rice a lot but it just seems like Williams is the choice for PE and all
Rice had like 30-40 kids recruit this year and had 30 placements out of that group, across Houston, SF and NYC - although most are Houston of course. You won't see that high of a placement rate (like successful placements out of everyone who tried) anywhere else tbh so even though NYC will be pretty difficult, just keep in mind how easy it is for Rice students to get interviews at Houston groups. But yeah of course if you're dead set on NYC and banking is a really big part of your college decision then Williams might be the place to go. PM if u want to talk more.
Thanks. Are there legit exits in Houston (UMM+ PE/HF) or am I just stuck in O&G banking if I stay down there. Culturally, I prefer Houston to NYC since I’m pretty conservative in terms of my personal values and obv TX is a super culturally rich place with a low COL. I just don’t want to lose out on opportunity. And my family is really pushing for Williams/ NYC
Williams is definitely better for NYC / any elite IB groups outside of O&G. If you're conservative, I would warn against going to Williams a little bit. Williams/Amherst type schools are very liberal and the only people on those campuses that are conservative are athletes. If you're not an athlete, it may be a rough college experience.
Eh you will be the odd one at Rice too if you go there specifically to seek out a more conservative vibe. I actually think Rice is a great place for kids to get out of their NYC/New England bubble if that’s where they are from but if you’re already posting on WSO as a high school student and just want to do finance, then you might as well go to school with closer ties to NYC.
Last few years have shown a solid track record to non energy or infrastructure / clean energy PE. But yeah, of course if you end up in an energy group then energy exits will be the easiest to attain but it's also just not as closed out to just O&G as it seems. MS, Citi, Jefferies, Moelis all have solid clean energy platforms in Houston and I'm sure others do too. Those are just the ones I know off the top of my head with good deal activity in clean energy taking place in their Houston offices. If you come to Rice, you'll find conservative types for sure but the overall vibe here feels pretty neutral and definitely not overly leaning towards the left like a lot of the small schools in the northeast. If culture is a big deal for you then Rice is definitely the move over Williams.
How’d you get a PE internship as a HS senior? Impressive
Guy in my neighborhood who runs a fund was impressed by me. The fund is super specialized and I happen to know a lot about the places they invest in so it was a good fit. Not getting paid like a regular intern but still getting decent compensation which I’m very grateful for.
Lmao that must be quite the neighborhood where you casually meet the head of a PE fund. What do the specialize in if you don't mind me asking? If it's so specific that you're scared of a dox then don't worry about it
Rem sit eos autem incidunt nisi sed. Qui reprehenderit quas illum et.
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