undergrad business--does it matter?

<p>Hi, thank you for all you expert out there reading this post. Yes! I am a very confused college freshmen currently enrolled in USC Marshall business undergrad, yet I find the academics here not challenging enough (i know this sounds bad....but I got 4.0 without trying too hard). My friend in Dartmouth told me that I still have a good chance at transfering to an ivy league school. Now here is the dilemma. I would really want to apply (even though it is less than 1 month away), but i heard that they do not provide transfers financial aid, and I really need money!</p>

<p>Here is my question,</p>

<p>My dream is to be able to go to HBS, or top 10 MBA program around the age of 25. Do you think that transfering is worth it for me? Even it means having huge amounts of debt? Would it make a huge difference where I go do my undergrad?</p>

<p>By the way, my major is accounting/finance, and would like to work for top IBanking companies like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley..... </p>

<p>Please give me some advice..... Should I try apply to Dartmouth, Cornell, UPenn (Wharton) for the sake of my dream? Is it likely to happen? Thx so much for ur help!</p>

<p>I think you should be a lot more worried about getting good work experience with increasing management experience. If you have financial aid at USC and no financial aid at Ivy league, stay at USC. Between USC and Ivy League, it just doesn't matter at all for undergrad. I would add some upper division math/statistics or even double major in math or statistics if you're not challenged enough. Being qualified to become a quant can open up a lot of doors in IB.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I am a very confused college freshmen currently enrolled in USC Marshall business undergrad, yet I find the academics here not challenging enough (i know this sounds bad....but I got 4.0 without trying too hard).

[/quote]

Figures. You should've gone to UCLA instead. ;) Or Haas.
Although in fairness to U$C, you're still a freshman. Not that I don't believe it's a fluke but the more difficult courses are still to come.</p>

<p>
[quote]
My dream is to be able to go to HBS, or top 10 MBA program around the age of 25. Do you think that transfering is worth it for me? Even it means having huge amounts of debt? Would it make a huge difference where I go do my undergrad?</p>

<p>By the way, my major is accounting/finance, and would like to work for top IBanking companies like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley..... </p>

<p>Please give me some advice..... Should I try apply to Dartmouth, Cornell, UPenn (Wharton) for the sake of my dream? Is it likely to happen? Thx so much for ur help!

[/quote]

There's a handful of U$C grads at each of the top 10 b-schools so while not having a true marquee undergrad in your transcript will make it slightly tougher on you as an applicant, what's far more important is your work experience. And if you truly are the academic superstar that you appear to be, then you'll be be well on your way to getting into a top b-school.</p>

<p>If your goal is to go to a top 10 business school, then stay at USC (with the premise that you are paying less there, and will continue getting outstanding grades). If you want to stay in California to work then definitely go to USC.</p>

<p>If you want to work IB in NYC out of undergrad, that is not something I can answer but others here may be more familiar.</p>

<p>thank you so much guys.......I am currently double majoring in Finance and Accounting in USC--another reason why I am hesitant about leaving because I wouldn't have the opportunity to do that in Ivy schools......but would double majoring help to increase my opportunity at IB jobs??? i am really worried because ppl tell me USC isn't that big on east coast.....and getting good jobs are critical to MBA admission.........</p>

<p>also, i am an international student, so jobs are real hard to find....</p>

<p>You will definitely get a good enough job from USC to get into a top school. You shouldn't worry about that.</p>

<p>You go to USC Marshall? I went there for my undergrad as well. I did operations management and information systems as my focus. Congratulations on your 1st semester 4.0! I think that the level of students has definitely gone up in the past 5 years. Didn't Marshall recently eliminate their grading curve this semester? </p>

<p>There is a great book out there that you might be interested in reading. It's called "Your MBA Game Plan" and has lots of info on the MBA applications process. There's also some good information, strategies and stats available at <a href="http://www.veritasprep.com/mba/schools/Harvard/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.veritasprep.com/mba/schools/Harvard/&lt;/a>. From what I've learned, your undergrad experience matters less and less as your work experience becomes longer and more fleshed out. Of course the GMAT score is always a big part of the process.</p>

<p>In terms of getting jobs being at USC, the school is famous for having one of the best and most supportive alumni networks out there and there's definitely more than a handful of USC grads working for top I-Banks. The important thing coming out of undergrad for those jobs is going to be: 1. Face time with recruiters at corporate events and information sessions. 2. Strong internships with some of the companies you'd like to work full-time for. 3. A solid resume that has outstanding academic achievements, leadership experience in clubs/extracurricular activities and a well-rounded background. If you browse job postings on the USC Careers website, you'll always see one common denominator: "Excellent written and verbal communication". They want smart people who can not only be analytic and detail-oriented, but also be able to communicate their clever ideas. This is what comes through with face-time and your cover letters.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>thanks so much for your advice! The problem is, leadership skills is really not my thing, I am better with analytical skills, that's why I want to increase my employment chances by transfering to a more academically well known college...... well, I guess now I don't have to worry about finding jobs in Wall Street IB after graduating for SC?</p>

<p>I would go to the career center near Commons in the middle of campus and see how often and when these Wall Street companies come to campus for recruiting events. Then I would clean up your resume working with an advisor from the career center to really get those "action/results" items in your resume. Then go and attend those info sessions and get to know the different companies and recruiters. Companies like it when you show them enthusiasm for the job position as well as well-articulated knowledge about the job. I'd try to apply for summer internships at these companies NOW.</p>

<p>There are a lot of Ibanks with offices in LA. I am sure some of them will recruit at USC. I know someone with a Wharton undergrad degree who started at the UBS office in LA.</p>

<p>I just called Cornell and UPENN.....it turned out, they do offer me financial aid (i am a canadian), and based on my parents' low income status, they can offer me full tuition--which is more than what I am receiving in USC (because USC only gives me half tuition scholarship). So, what do you guys think? Is it worth transfering to Cornell and UPenn for Econ major? Or should I stay at USC marshall to double major in Finance and Accounting? which would benefit me in the long run in the business world? Thanks a lot for your help guys!</p>

<p>really confused..
in my idea. everything depend on yourself. if you can study hard.in everywhere, you can get success. your family cannot supply you the full finacial. so , choose the uni which can offer full tuition. and then you can study in less worry.
i just finished my uni study. my major is tour guide.
now i work for a business company.</p>

<p>They told you that you would get full tuition on the phone? They didn't have to look at your finances or anything?</p>

<p>sorry for the confusion.......i got really tired last night....=)......they only told me they would offer me need-blind financial aid, but my parents have really low income, so I guess Upenn and Cornell would help me out more with my financial situation.......</p>