<p>I am attending the University of Michigan in the near future and am interested in becoming an investment banker. What undergrad majors do you think would put me in the best situation for becoming an IB??</p>
<p>I’d bet finance is probably up there among the best majors, I’m assuming you’ll apply to Ross? Not sure if they have that major…</p>
<p>My dad’s an investment banker, and he majored in European History and Spanish…just thought I’d throw that out there. But my dad’s weird.</p>
<p>Finance and accounting. There are plenty of other majors that make it (econ and engineering are popular), but the most recruited (at my school at least) are finance and accounting.</p>
<p>Usually, it is economics, accounting, and finance. Math, engineering, and physics aren’t uncommon either.</p>
<p>But, forget about majors. If you really want a guaranteed spot, get an MBA as soon as you can. Most investment bankers have these.</p>
<p>Mathematics. If you can graduate with a degree and a decent GPA in math from a good school, you’ve proven something. You are smart. </p>
<p>IB’s (the few that remain) usually start with elite University mathematics/quantitative grads (e.g. MIT), then move on to top schools finance and economics grads, then to their other liberal arts grads, then…yeah, not much looking after that. The food chain is pretty thin as it is.</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in either economics and mathematics or economics and statistics. I started off planning for Ross but because I am a transfer student it would take me at the very least a year and a half of extra school to go the Ross route…figuring out the opportunity costs of that decision I’m pretty sure ill be going with one of the choices I mentioned at the start of this post</p>
<p>If you can double major in Math and Economics, you would be in great shape, but make sure you maintain a 3.5+ GPA. Every single IBanks recruits Economics majors at Michigan. Students with 3.5+ GPA almost always get offers from major IBanks, but once GPAs drop below 3.5, it gets increasingly difficult.</p>
<p>I figure most people have a business degree or an economics degree who are looking for those offers thats why i feel like double majoring would set me apart…hopefully im right.
what are some examples of major Investment Banks?</p>
<p>Mathematics would be a very useful and marketable major.</p>
<p>Some top IBanks include Citibank, Deutschebank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Lazard, Morgan Stanley, UBS</p>
<p>thank you alexandre.
What doors in your opinion would economics and mathemtaics open up for me in todays economy? job possibilities wise…</p>
<p>You could join a Marketing/Market analysis team as an analyst in almost any manufacturing/technology firm. You could also join an auditing firm such as E&Y or PWC, but you should take a couple of accounting classes for that. You can also work in Consulting or Financial Services firms. Alternatively, you could work for Government or non-profit companies. Finally, you can becoming a teacher. The list goes on and on. The options are virtually endless.</p>
<p>thank you for your help alexandre. I’ve always leaned toward mathematics personally, and I do enjoy accounting so I will probably take a few more classes as well as strengthen my computer skills to open up more possibilities.</p>
<p>kcmdonahue–you said your father is an investment banker? for what company? and do you by chance know what he would recommend since he is in the field?</p>
<p>My father’s an independent investment banker now but he previously worked for a few companies in LA before I was born. He’s definitely unusual seeing as he worked his way through community college to tons of other universities and didn’t get a traditional education, especially to be an IB, but I did ask him what most of his business contacts majored in. One of his business partners is some high-up management person at JP Morgan, and she said basically what everyone on this thread has - that there’s a lot of majors (math, econ, finance, accounting) but that as XX55XX said, most of the people she looks at to hire do have MBAs. So I’d say major in one of those fields that interests you most, work for a few years, then work towards an MBA.</p>
<p>Thankfully, as Alexandre mentioned, most of these majors have lots of flexibility. Do what interests you most!</p>
<p>How many of these threads are you going to make pal?</p>
<p>kcmdonahue–Thank you very much for taking the time to help:)</p>
<p>gordon_gekko–I just like to get everyone’s opinion, because I have realized when people are asked questions they give their opinion and there is never one answer to any question, some opinions obviously differ so more opinions are better, and in doing so I learn a lot from you guys:) </p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who has helped</p>
<p>I think if you mix Accounting and Mathematics you’ll have the most doors opened for you… As long as you major in something related to business or something math/science related you’ll be fine, I doubt it really makes a big difference which combination you have.</p>
<p>Here’s another thought, perhaps you should as a couple professors what to major in. They could probably give you better advice than most of us.</p>
<p>Yea thats what i have thought about but when i decided to switch my major I had already finished all of my final exams so I haven’t had the chance yet but i guess there is no hurry, next semester when school starts back up I will be asking my teachers for their advice.
Thank you for your insight gordon_gekko, much appreciated. merry christmas :)</p>