<p>I have a few questions. First, let me start off that I am a semester ahead at Coastal Carolina University, so I am currently a junior. I have a 3.62 gpa and I'm double majoring in finance/economics with an international business minor. I am doing an internship with a hedge fund marketing consultant right now. I recently completed an internship at The Landmark Resort, as an IT Audit Project Manager.I want to work in either hedge funds or investment banking. My school obviously is a non target school. I am taking the CFA (part I) my senior year and the CHA (Part I) in November (hedge fund certification). I have literally no connections in either industry other than th online hedge fund internship I'm doing. I applied to College of Charleston, New York University, and UNC - Wilmington. If I go to cofc, I would major in just economics. If I got to uncw or nyu I'm going for finance.My issue is that if I transfer I will have to take out loans for the last two years. I am worried about finding a investment banking or hedge fund job out of school (even if I transfer). I understand my credentials aren't staggering but I am working to increase my gpa and possibly transfer. Would it be worth transferring to any of the schools listed for the bigger price tag, meaning would it be easier to find a job?? (I got into cofc and uncw I'm waiting on NYU)</p>
<p>First, you're a sophomore (if you'd have two years left, you are)</p>
<p>If you get to NYU, yes, you will have a better chance (due to on campus recruiting). However, given the current market, recruiting is still EXTREMELY competitive there, and it is absolutely no guarantee that you will get a job. I've got friends still in undergrad at Ivy targets with great GPAs and past work experience that could not even come close to getting a job right now. Plus, if you could only pull off a 3.62 @ CCU, then I'm not sure how well you would fare at NYU.</p>
<p>I would transfer to NYU, even if it would be more expensive (I wouldn't have more debt than you could pay back in 5 years). You'll be able to find internship during the school year, or find some high paying part time work. Recruiting at NYU would also be a lot better than at other schools. At my D's school (a target school), most of her friends are still getting good internships for this summer.</p>
<p>Because the job market is more competitive now, I would encourage you to take some math courses, CS. Finance and business courses are easier relative to math courses. One complaint managers have is most students use their AP calculus to fulfill their math requirement and never take another math course again in college. Everything we do now is dependend on IT (trade entry, performance analysis, order management). If you are proficient in some sort of programming language or design it would also make you stand out. Lastly, if you have an opportunity to take an accounting or law course on work out for distressed asset would also be very helpful (we have a lot of non-performing assets that need to be moved off our balance sheet, what would be the most favorable treatment of those assets).</p>
<p>Well, I understand a 3.62 at a school like coastal seems bad. I have a 3.62 because I was working 11 pm - 7 am five days a week (seriously try it). I was also during another internship online, so I was seriously working 60 hours a week (for experience and financial reasons). I don't know of many college students that were managing accounting their freshmen year (auditing- I used to be an accountant major). Also, I am technically a junior because if I drop my economics double major and my international business minor, then I graduate in Dec 2010. I have no problem taking extra accounting courses. I am actually really good at it, I just don't really like accounting. I probably just should of not worked and tried to get a 4.0 (which I probably would have gotten a 3.8). Thank you for the input.</p>
<p>Second what the truthcomesout said. NYU will certainly give you access, but there's absolutely no guarantee. You will have to get great grades there and be what banks and funds are looking for. That's maybe a quarter of the Stern class.</p>
<p>That's a good point. I don't expect it to be easy if I go to stern. I think I will have to work extra hard. I am sure I would need at least a 3.7 just to be even considered probably even higher than that. I didn't even get in yet, so if I don't get in I will probably stay here and work a normal job then go for my mba.</p>
<p>If you are going to get MBA, why Stern? Don't understand UG business school.</p>
<p>From what I have read ( I could be wrong), it is extremly difficult to get an mba without relevant work experience. If I want to work in hedge funds or i-banking, I will not even be considered if I stay down south. I am probably just going to go to baruch because its cheap and work my way from there</p>
<p>If you were in engnineering, heading to med or law school or interested in most other things I wouldn't say this. NYU is worth the money, even if it means loans, if you really want HF or ibanking. There is the occasional hire from Baruch in banking, and most I've seen have been part of minority recruitment programs, but chances of getting there from Baruch, especially into a HF, are so remote that if you can get into Stern run!</p>
<p>Well, I will highly consider stern, but I haven't even gotten in yet. I have in state for Baruch and I know the school is better than coastal by far. If I do not get into stern, then I will probably go to Baruch. I understand how competitive the environment is now with finance, but my GPA should be a 3.7 at the end of this semester (I have strait a's so far). I think a 3.7 is probably the minimum to be even considered (I still think it will be extremely difficult to even get an interview, but being in the nyc area has its plus'). If all else fails, I will just get an MBA and score well on the GMAT. Thank you all for the input.</p>