<p>Since I want to go into investment banking (or at least something related to finance - PE, HF, VC), do you guys think transferring will help me or hurt me? I’ve been thinking that Harvard and Wharton would obviously help. But I don’t know how much Yale and Columbia would since I’ll have to start over with my GPA (are GPAs usually higher freshman year or later on?) and I’ll have to start as a sophomore at clubs.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Transferring from Duke to Harvard and Wharton would be worth it but I honestly don’t think Columbia and Yale are better recruited for investment banking jobs. I would stay at Duke and try getting involved in the Investment Club, Duke Venture Forward, etc. while pursuing a concentration in Finance.</p>
<p>I hope you realize that Duke now has more finance-related classes than Harvard. Harvard College doesn’t even offer a certificate or a concentration in the field.</p>
<p>Yeah I think I’ll apply to both Columbia and Yale and then make my decision of whether or not to actually go (if I get in-chances are slim anyways) at a later time if need be. Are there any other schools that you think would be worth transferring to? I’ve been getting involved with the finance clubs and hope to get involved with Duke Venture Forward next year.</p>
<p>I am aware of that. I looked into Harvard’s programs and saw the applied mathematics and economics major (or concentration which Harvard calls it) and figured that dealt a lot with finance and econometrics and other stuff to prepare me for Wall Street.</p>
<p>Anyone else have any advice?</p>
<p>You look like you have a really good chance. Just submit your applications, and wait and see.</p>
<p>Do not complain about the frat culture at the place you want to leave. Focus your essays on what the place you want to transfer to offers you academically.</p>
<p>Yeah I figure academic reasons will be perceived significantly better than social ones. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Does anyone have any input on which schools would benefit me if I transferred and which schools wouldn’t help me that much? This can range to others besides Wharton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia.</p>
<p>Do you guys think it would be acceptable to write about prestige in an essay or would that sound like I’m trying to transfer up? I’d only do it for Harvard.</p>
<p>I do not think that writing about “prestige” is a good idea.
I would probably write about some unique professor(s), research center, course, etc. at the institution you want to transfer to.</p>
<p>Why dont you apply to NYU? It actually has a business school, is the closest to wall street, and actually accepts a large number of transfers.</p>
<p>If you’re only applying to the super selective ivies then yes, it seems as though you are only looking to trade up and I highly doubt you’ll get into any of them.</p>
<p>Yeah I was just checking about the whole prestige thing.</p>
<p>I don’t really think it’d be worth it to transfer to NYU from Duke regardless of how much I dislike it.</p>
<p>Don’t be under the impression that Columbia and Yale are better than Duke for finance/consulting because there is tangible evidence to the contrary.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m also interested in transferring and investment banking, and my school doesn’t offer finance courses neither. For your interest in finance, I’d say a lots of ppl learning finance for earning decent salaries, and Harvard, Yale have enough elites like them, so maybe they want ppl who are different and special. Besides, the taste of students in Harvard is so unpredictable, sometimes they like nerds, sometimes they like global leaders… so it depends on luck. Yale and Columbia has more realistic and pratical taste of students, they like shiny students, with armful of awards and honors. You can show yourself as an ambitious and aggressive person. For Wharton, they care more about finance background and your network. Internships will definitely help, and college clubs may seem a little childish I guess…BTW, can I add you as a friend? maybe we can talk more about transfer :)</p>
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<p>And you would know this how??</p>
<p>Guess I’ll have to ask my D1 if her transfer cohorts were shiny :rolleyes:.</p>
<p>I think that Columbia and Yale are on a semi-even plane as Duke for finance and consulting with maybe Columbia a touch ahead and Yale a touch behind (that’s just my interpretations of various people’s opinions; I don’t have anything to substantiate that claim). I’m also not 100% positive that I want to do I-banking. If I got into Yale, I’d consider corporate law or something. But I’d rather be somewhere else figuring it out, then here. Although staying (which could very well happen with the low acceptance rates) definitely wouldn’t be the worst thing to ever happen to me.</p>
<p>Hopefully, I can come off well to the schools. I’ll apply, and then all I can hope for is the best. I’ve got a pretty good fall-back if I need.</p>
<p>Ahh, this thread hasn’t been posted on in awhile, but I’m currently trying to transfer out of Duke too.</p>
<p>I’m not aiming as high…currently looking at USC and Brown, but you guys mention how the prestige is important. There are days when I think it’s crazy that I would throw away Duke for USC, but other days, I wanna hop on a plane and just get the hell out.</p>
<p>I guess I just want to ask, should I really leave Duke for USC? I’m scared of doing something I’ll regret. </p>
<p>I really screwed up my GPA first semester, thanks to a calculus class that I should’ve just dropped. My other grades are decent; it’s just math that screwed me over. Now, I’m not sure if I even want to go the math-science route, so it seems like such a waste. If I apply as a completely math-unrelated major, would I still have a shot at equal caliber schools to Duke?</p>
<p>I have a friend who is in the position…what is your academic focus then? If you have a focus then you should really give a good reason for transferring from Duke. I say USC you have a good shot as long as you aim for a reasonable major! I am actually also considering transferring myself, more interested in going somewhere like Columbia though…lol its so weird that people want to leave Duke, why do you not like it??</p>