FermatABC

Hi, I'm a high school senior looking into Ibanking/Business School. As an employer at say Goldman Sachs, which candidate do you think has the most edge? I know the differences may be minimal, but what do you think is the absolute best candidate?

1.) Candidate A: graduated from Princeton University, Operations Research and Financial Engineering

2.) Candidate B: graduated from Harvard University, Economics/Mathematics/Finance

3.) Candidate C: graduated from UPenn Wharton undergrad, Economics/Business Administration

4.) Candidate D: graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Economics/Management Operations


Again, I KNOW the differences are minimal and the employer would hire all four candidates. BUT if you HAD to choose one of them, which would you choose?

jmoney00

In order of most likely to get recruited first, even though they will all get an interview and probably a job

3. Wharton places the most students on Wall Street
2. Its Harvard, need i say more
1. Princeton and Harvard are probably equal
4. (MIT is not as heavily recruited for banking as many think)

sjay

you're right, the differences are minimal and essentially insignificant. pick whichever one you can get into/like the most and don't worry about it. you can't go wrong with any of those options.

Majayiduke09

Right. It is recruited more so for Sales and Trading.

To the OP,

Once you get to those kind of schools, the recruiter will differentiate between these students via the actual interview. There is no other way to answer your question. I would pick whichever student interviewed the best.

theoneo

Yeah, at that point you shouldn't worry about which degree will look best to employers but rather which degree you will enjoy (or be able to tolerate). After all, you're comparing engineering v. liberal arts v. business degree. Those are three very different approaches to education and thus the decision should not be based on what employers want (because they truthfully want all three) but rather which you will enjoy and be able to thrive in.

kmzizzle

what about an accounting degree

Majayiduke09

An accounting degree is helpful but certain things need to be remembered:

1. There are multiple ways of showing interests in finance (activities, previous internships, etc)

2. The school you attend plays a significant factor.

3. The major you are pursuing is not as nearly important as your grades, work
experience, and leadership roles on campus. There are MANY liberal arts majors working in investment banking.

thatbiggbadwolfy

3. Polished from the beginning.
4. Quant Traders Galore
2. Extensive Alumni Network
1. Philosophy Majors can be Ibankers Too