You might need multiple strands to your application strategy:-
- Apply to lower tier schools that offer merit for your stats, which may not be traditional ‘targets’ but could feed into a local market for finance, or have programs that are targeted. Don’t just look at the posted costs, look at merit scholarships and also special programs you might be eligible for. Examples:
SMU - Cox - I’m sure there was a post from someone who was in a special prog there who was going into banking
South Carolina’s International Business Program (awesome, well regarded prog)
Ohio State business
Indiana - Kelley: has a special IB course or class I believe
I’m sure posters here can help you with other suggestions. Some merit is automatic but a lot is competitive and you don’t know until you apply, USC and Kelley are examples of the latter. A 1500 would be minimum for top merit.
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Start your career in Charlotte, Houston, Chicago or another regional banking market. Get a top tier MBA and then move. Or decide you like a more relaxed life and stay
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Start working on getting those AP scores that you will need for ALL these universities, whether US elite, merit hunting or in the UK. Plus those AP scores could save you time (and money) by skipping classes ahead.
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Study hard for the SAT or ACT and find out which one you do better on
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Many top universities offer a one year MS in Finance, which offers another possible pathway to IB. You could save money with a merit offer and use the savings for this.
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Consider other finance roles that are not IB but which involve similar skills and a decent