I’ve been accepted to Northwestern University’s economics major and Cornell ILR. I was wondering which school would be better for an ibanking/financial career? I know that NU’s econ is really strong and that I will have a large possibility of landing a job in Chicago. However, even though I will be attending Cornell as an industrial labor relations major, I have heard of many people from ILR breaking into ibanking and financial careers. In addition, I know that Cornell’s Ivy league brand name will help and that it is a target school for most finance firms. But the only concern that is holding me back is that I will be majoring as an Industrial Labor Relations major. I was wondering how hard/likely/possible it is to break into finance through ILR. Will (Cornell ILR+Ivy League Brand Name)>Northwestern Econ? Thanks!
Why ILR at Cornell? Why not Econ? Unless you see yourself concentrating in labor economics, the two seem quite different.
Between the two, you will have an easier time marketing yourself at Northwestern Econ based on what I have seen and heard.
@yikesyikesyikes since i will be an external transfer to cornell i wont be able to transfer into their econ or aem programs. Ill pretty much be stuck in ilr. However, i’ve heard that ilr students always break into ibanking/finance, how true is this? wont cornells brand name trump nu?
Where do people get the wacky idea that non-HYP (and non-Wharton) Ivies have a better brand name than Ivy-equivalents?
@PurpleTitan I just assumed that because Cornell just has a much better brand name that NU. Do you know anything about its ilr program in terms of placing in finance?
^ But that’s what I don’t get. Why do you think that, even if you believe that Cornell has a much better brand name than NU for some reason, that everyone thinks the same way?
That has not been my experience, BTW. Also, brand name/prestige is like beauty and really in the eye of the beholder.
Go with what you want to study. When looking at applicants from these 2 schools, people hiring (who are not alums) would evaluate each individual as a person and not which of NU/Cornell they went to. Have you looked at what courses are offered in each major?
@PurpleTitan I would definitely have no problem getting into finance from NU because its NU haha. On the other hand, Cornell ILR isnt the most ideal major for finance, however due to the flexibility the program offers I’ll be able to take many accounting/finance courses and be able to minor in econ. Will this help in the eyes of recruiters?
^ Finance is a big and varied field.
What do you want to study? Again, recruiters will be looking at the individual.
But where did you get the idea that Cornell has a bigger brand name?
@PurpleTitan investment banking, consulting, etc. I just assumed Cornell has a bigger brand name due to its ivy league status.
Go to Northwestern - there’s literally no distinction in name value between the two schools. You’ll be competing with hundreds of students at Cornell for a select number of finance positions and you’ll be at a disadvantage relative to the economics and AEM majors.
@Boothie007 won’t I also be competing with other econ majors at NU for a select few spots also?
There’s way fewer NU grads gunning for finance jobs.
“I just assumed Cornell has a bigger brand name due to its ivy league status.”
Lay people may assume that. People who actually work in consulting and banking don’t differentiate based on athletic conference.
At Cornell could you minor in something more related to investment banking? Perhaps statistics, data science or economics? In addition, are there clubs/programs you can join that help point you towards investment banking even if you’re not the correct major? If so, then that would be my choice. But if you’re just in ILR with no extra help I’d pick Northwestern. Also the thing to remember is Northwestern is going to place you more easily into Chicago/midwestern IB, whereas Cornell will be better for New England (NYC) IB.
Northwestern is a major target for consulting; by the way, ILR sounds so related to human resources.
@IWannaHelp: It’s what ILR was set up for. Grads there do enter other fields, though.
@PurpleTitan i mean will it be THAT much harder to break into finance from cornell ilr than nu econ?
@PurpleTitan unrelated to the thread but how do you determine “Ivy league equivalents”? Obviously Northwestern applies but there must be a line somewhere.
@genieforuboi: I don’t know if it would be harder, but why are you attracted to ILR? Do you really like that subject? It doesn’t seem so as you haven’t expressed an interest one way or another. Would you consider ILR at NU over econ at Cornell if that was the option?
But go where you heart lays. Just do it with your eyes open. I really am not lying when I state that unlike some laypeople, folks who actually work in prestige industries don’t care what athletic conference the school you go to is in.
@ANormalSeniorGuy: I determine an Ivy-equivalent by alumni achievements:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1893105-ivy-equivalents-ranking-based-on-alumni-outcomes-take-2-1-p1.html
Schools that have alumni who achieve certain things at rates comparable to Ivies are Ivy-equivalents.