Investment banking is a field that requires more than just an undergraduate degree. To break into the industry, you need a specific GPA, an in-depth understanding, and a solid network. Many aspiring financial professionals wonder which schools can help them most in their pursuit of the career.
Bulge bracket investment banks generally employ analysts and associate positions from a small group of universities. These are called “target M&A transactions in the foreign market schools.” If you’re hoping to secure an employment at a top-of-the-line investment bank, it’s crucial to go to one of these schools.
The best investment banking schools are those that consistently send an impressive amount of graduates to the most prestigious investment banks and boast impressive numbers of students enrolled in undergrad programs. Some of these schools also have extracurricular programs or student groups that allow students to be exposed to the business including the Stern Finance Society and Booth’s famous finance program.
This year, Cornell is the best investment banking school, followed by MIT and Columbia. All three schools are Ivy League and have a history of sending graduates to Wall Street. The University of Texas at Austin is also on the list. Its McCombs School of Business has an accounting major and an Investment Banking track.
While you could still get into top investment banks even if you don’t go to an accredited school but it’s going to be much more difficult. The best alternative for students who aren’t the ideal candidates is to start with a regional company in the middle market, and then move to a bulge bracket.