<p>Posted this in the investment banking forum over 12 hours ago. No one's replying, so whatever.</p>
<p>I'm a current high school senior who doesn't quite have the grades for the Ivy League. I've heard of people starting off their college education at a less prestigious schools and then transferring out to get a degree at Ivy League schools. My goal is to become an investment banker. </p>
<p>My question is: When do I make that transfer? Do I do it before I complete my undergraduate degree? Or do I just get my Master's at target school?</p>
<p>The biggest banks tend to recruit at the ivy’s and top schools for economics and business (chicago, stern, ross, kelley, mcyntire, etc.). Those people will probably transfer after their first year of college into a better college if they can. Also, wall street and such tend to want people out of college or with MBA’s. And MBA’s that are meaningful are hard to get without work experience prior.</p>
<p>Transfer admissions rates are lower than first year rates at the sort of schools you are talking about. Also they think the reason for transferring is important. If you want to be an engineer and your current school doesn’t offer it, or you found that a single sex school isn’t for you, those are understandable.
I would do the best you can where you are, and work early and hard to land Wall Street interviews. But your best chance is apply to top tier MBA programs based on your undergraduate performance and some interesting job or entrepreneurial experience.</p>
<p>Right now, you should be worrying about getting into the best school you can for your freshman year. Then worry about getting the best grades and best experience you can there. You should not give any thought to transferring until you have a semester of college grades, at the earliest.</p>