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05-12-2008, 04:58 PM
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#16 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 0
Posts: 12
| just as an aside, a number of econ majors (CAS) and policy analysis and management majors (humec) go into investment banking too | 
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05-13-2008, 07:43 PM
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#17 | | Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Threads: 43
Posts: 573
| I'd actually choose AEM in this case, here's why. GPA is a MAJOR determinant in getting an IBanking job, and it is pretty hard to have a really good GPA coming out of OR. In OR, you need to take physics and chemistry classes that are useless for banking... plus many other core difficult engineering classes. that all make it difficult to get a good GPA. AEM on the other hand, is a completely different story. It is so easy to get a high GPA in AEM. I am an engineering major who has yet to get higher than an A- in an engineering class... but I have gotten an A+ in the two AEM classes I have taken so far (Marketing and Business management). I think AEM is the right decision here. | |
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05-13-2008, 07:51 PM
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#18 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Threads: 8
Posts: 1,506
| Bah. Students place too much emphasis on GPA.
Coming out of Cornell engineering, all you need is above a 3.3 to merit a second look of your resume. After that it comes down to experience, interest, personality, and interview. You would be surprised, but it is very easy to separate the wheat from the chafe during the interview process. Some students know their stuff and have a great personality. Others don't.
Don't underestimate the power of personality and extracurriculars. Why do you think Cornell athletes typically have no problems getting good jobs coming out with GPAs in the 3.0-3.3 range? Well, being a varsity athlete indicates a lot to employers about work ethic, diligence, ability to cope with stressful situations, etc.
Whining about grades does not.
Don't kid yourself. No employer ever decides to hire a student with a 3.7 over a student with a 3.5 strictly on that basis alone.
Last edited by CayugaRed2005 : 05-13-2008 at 07:56 PM.
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05-14-2008, 05:55 AM
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#19 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Threads: 12
Posts: 643
| The top tier investment banks weigh GPA heavily. You should have a very interesting "story" if you have a lower GPA. In this profile of GS, they weigh GPA as the #1 factor they consider. I haven't been in touch with their career offices in years, but about eight years ago, I can tell you that they required a minimum of a 3.5. I don't know what their policy is today - or even if they have a policy today! I have the highest respect for CayugaRed, even though he called me old  ! I have to agree with Brown Man this time... Sadly, I know many, many Orie majors who transferred to AEM because they needed the GPA. Now, if I see an Orie major with a 3.5 or above... that resume goes to the top of my pile!! Goldman, Sachs & Co. Recruiting Profile
P.S. CayugaRed... I used to drive a Tahoe at my ski house, but I do love Lake Tahoe!
Last edited by Tahoe : 05-14-2008 at 06:02 AM.
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05-14-2008, 07:10 AM
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#20 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Threads: 8
Posts: 1,506
| Well, then I stand corrected. You need a 3.5, not a 3.3
Although one has to wonder about the rational decision making capabilities of investment banks these days...
But I agree with Tahoe, between a similar looking ORIE and AEM resume, the ORIE student will go to the top of the pile. Hell, I would place a mechanical engineer resume over an AEM student, all things equal. | |
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05-14-2008, 07:33 AM
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#21 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cornell University
Threads: 31
Posts: 4,007
| Ibanking recruiting is also heavily affected by the markets. This year, banks are hiring a fraction compared to prior years.
The markets waited just for people like me to come around, bah  | |
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05-14-2008, 05:46 PM
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#22 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 28
Posts: 212
| Someone really needs to put the difficulty of being a Cornell engineer in perspective for me... Anyone care to do that? What's the worst case scenario, studying six hours a day? Nine hours a day? (As an OR major) | |
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05-14-2008, 05:50 PM
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#23 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Threads: 8
Posts: 1,506
| As an OR major?
Assuming you are good at math (5 AP BC and 780 + SAT) I think if you study on average, four hours a day, every day, you can easily get a 3.5. No problem.
Most students fail to realize how much the work ethic of students may fail during their first year of college. There are tons of distractions -- romantic interests, sports, exrtracurricular activities, the Internet, everything. Suck it up and study. Kids get into problems and start stressing out when they don't start their problem set until the day before it is due.
The engineers I knew at Cornell tended not to do much work on weekends.
Most individuals who come in represent the intelligence of the average Cornell student and are remotely serious about their studies at Cornell have no problem having above a 3.3 by the time they graduate. | |
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05-14-2008, 05:59 PM
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#24 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 28
Posts: 212
| CayugaRed do you have AIM? | |
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05-14-2008, 06:00 PM
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#25 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Threads: 8
Posts: 1,506
| No. Not since my junior year of college. No.
But I can offer you the best advice I can. Choose the college to apply to based on where you think your academic interests lie. If you are at all interested in things like optimization or mathematical modeling of business processes, apply to engineering. If you are more interested in general business, apply to AEM.
The ends very rarely justify the means. | |
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05-14-2008, 06:01 PM
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#26 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 28
Posts: 212
| What if I've already taken all the math requirements Cornell majors need for engineering?
Edit: Errr, at least most of them. | |
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