This relates to both undergraduate admissions and job prospects.
I’m currently applying to Penn’s LBW summer program for high school students. It appears to be a wonderful program, but my dad thinks colleges look down upon finance because it represents “capitalism” and “greed.” He also says that financial services companies will look down upon applicants who have finance backgrounds because most finance is learned on the job (he was in the industry so I’ll take this to be true). What are your thoughts on this issue? Should I attend LBW if I get in, or would it look bad to colleges in general? I’m thinking I want to do economics as well as some finance in college, not necessarily at Wharton.
Yes attend LBW, this summer program actually helps admissions at Penn. Lots of people in LBW end up attending Penn. However LBW is highly selective <20%.
Idk how your dad came to that conclusion but it’s pretty clear he had several bad experiences with business relations or general stereotypes of businessmen.
Finance is the most popular concentration in Wharton and proportionally has the most grads proceeding to work in the industry’s top firms in the country.
Agree with Excavalier – there’s no industry bias against Finance Majors. People are looking to hire qualified people – whatever the major. Your dad is exaggerating and stating as fact, his opinion.