Chance Me w/ New College List [CA resident, 4.0, 1570, Full Pay, business or economics]

If you like one of the concentrations then sure. And if you don’t then no

Oh so do you think ivies would be better or worse then?

I’m still a bit unsure because I’m just 17 haha but I do see myself looking towards a big city for a finance/business job if I build the right connections in college. That was partially a reason why I was so interested in columbia as ED because of the opportunities in NYC (Also im a big fan of the jazz scene there :wink:

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Is it possible to transfer between Dyson/Johnson or between a different college and Dyson/Johnson once I get there if I was hypothetically admitted? For example I know that its extremely hard to switch majors into Wharton once admitted into UPenn

Forget finance and wall street and btw a lot has moved OOS to places like Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, India.

You can get there from finance, Econ or even art history etc.

What is it you want to study ?

Forget brand name for a minute.

Research and find out.

Anything ranging from Finance to Business to Econ, like I said I’m conflicted but not picky

I am a career investment banker so I am a bit biased. In spite of most of the elite schools not having business concentrations these schools remain highly over represented at premier investment banks.

This isn’t to suggest that you can’t get a job from lesser schools but it is far more challenging.

By example if you are the top 1 or 2 kid at a no name school perhaps you get into a great b school/law school or elite career etc but beyond those top few kids it gets pretty rough for top tier options. Conversely, from an Ivy most all of the kids have lucrative opportunities.

Of course you will always hear the anecdotal story of the underdog doing great or Harvard failure but in reality those are the exceptions. Reality is the most well traveled path to CEO, I banking, consulting, top grad school, etc is Ivy plus.

11% of Fortune 100 CEOs went to such schools when they represent far less then a fraction of 1% of students.

All isn’t lost (very much the contrary) if you don’t get in but take your shot so you never have to wonder what if.

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Cool thank you so much!

Just a quick question, for investment bankers (since you have a lot of expertise in that field :)), would UPenn Econ look better vs Columbia Financial Economics or vice versa/they’re about the same?

Candidly about the same. When recruiting on Penn’s campus there is a focus on Wharton but all candidates are considered and pooled into the same recruitment team.

As far as Columbia proximity matters. Wall Street remains a fairly insular community in some ways. NYU remains a top 5 feeder given its relationships with the street. Columbia similarly maintains close contacts with numerous firms through a variety of academic, alumni and mutually sponsored events that allow students to network and in many cases get practical experiences as students. As an aside I would also look at Fordham (no affiliation at all) but they seem to punch above their weight in WS placement.

I would focus on fit across numerous criteria. What sort of academic, social and geographic environment appeals to you? I would suggest you answer these questions and find affordable options then work backwards into reputation and results in the fields you are interested making sure that if your interests change you will have options in school and success upon graduation.

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As you are interested in NEU, I will say that any school that has an admissions rate below 50%…if they say that something is optional, it means that it is optional for the application to be considered complete. But if you’re looking for an acceptance, “optional” supplements are really required, especially at schools that are sensitive to their yield (the percentage of accepted students who actually enroll…and NEU is one of those sensitive ones).

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I thought NEU didn’t have supplementals though, optional or not optional

You’d have to research each school on transferability. But trying to back door is never good. Some schools don’t admit by major.

I might point you to a previous thread. Kid wanted to be in I banking. Goes to Va Tech. Wants to transfer because says it can’t be done.

I pull up LinkedIn. Lots of i bankers from Va Tech.

It’s likely a hard field to enter from ANY school but it’s also possible from mich more than the elite. Jane Street contacted my Alabama son for next steps simply by applying on line.

Why do you want to do ‘Wall Street finance’ and do you know what it even means ?

Like I stated earlier - certainly take your shots and hopefully one come through. But you should find the right school and major for you, first and foremost and not simply one that has a big name. That still makes Wall Stret a long shot.

You have to be somewhere four years, day after day. Study what you want and at a place you believe you can thrive, big name if it happens or otherwise if you find a better fit. It’s a different world today - especially with the internet and hiring as well as Wall Street firms relocating and in some cases outsourcing. Good luck.

You’ve got a great profile so I’m sure great things are ahead.

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You had asked about I banking. Results wise I would keep in mind that lots of people work at investment banks that aren’t investment bankers. Typically approximately half are termed support staff (legal, compliance, IT, accounting, etc).

If looking at results compare results that you are seeking which typically are cap or financial market or banking or relationship roles.

Also of note we typically interview 20+ people per offer made so no guarantees. Good luck.

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OP - I just read your previous thread. You mentioned sociology. Well your counselor did. So this seems a big change.

But this is why it’s important that your major (and college) is your choice short of money constraints which are not in play unless your parents ultimately decide they don’t want to spend $380k.

Here are some lists for you. These aren’t be all and end all but simply lists.

And don’t forget many will come from the graduate ranks. But I assure you - people work in finance and I banking from all sorts of institutions, not just known feeders.

You’ve got a great profile. Stop listening to your parents, school counselor and even people here like me. Pursue what you desire and where you desire. Just have a safety.

If you truly want I Banking, I’d have to think IU would be on your list. That you don’t like the area is 100% a great reason not to apply. But when you start mentioning UCM and UCR and Davis - I start to think - really ? I know you can get to anywhere from anywhere but you are full pay and your path, if it’s truly your goal, would be simpler there or Penn State or Rutgers or UMD , etc. maybe your bottom end needs more relevance to your goals since affordability is no issue.

Good luck

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That’s correct, but lots of applicants write “why NEU?” emails to their AO, and that seems to help a lot. This is an unadvertised feature.

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Cornell Dyson is very hard to transfer into. You are better off applying directly and switching out if you change your major (transferring out of Dyson is straight forward).

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Cool thank you so much! Is there a word limit that they generally abide by or is it kind of just until the applicant feels that the essay has hit the sweet spot?

Thank you, yes I did consider sociology heavily but after thinking a lot I felt it wasn’t the best path for me. I personally just love the california vibe more and I have a lot of family/friends in california which is why Davis, Riverside and Merced, although not as geographically appealing, still seem better to me than IU.

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Since it’s not an official part of the process, there are no official guidelines. As with any email, it’s best to not make it too long. Be concise and direct. 2-3 paragraphs should be fine, IMO.

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If you prefer the California vibe, and since you already have Fordham on your list, have you thought about Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, or U. of San Francisco as other likely schools, as they are also Jesuit institutions?

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