The field of investment banking is one that requires more than an undergraduate degree. To link be able to enter the field, you need a specific GPA, specialized knowledge and a strong network. Many financial professionals who are aspiring are curious about which schools are the most beneficial for the pursuit of their dream job.
Bulge bracket investment banks typically recruit for their analyst and associate positions from a small group of universities. These are called “target schools.” If you want to land a job at a top-tier investment bank, it’s essential that you attend one of these schools.
The most reputable investment banking school is one which consistently sends a significant number of graduates to most prestigious investment banks, and has impressive placement rates for undergrads. Some of these schools offer extracurricular activities and student groups that give students exposure to the business. Examples include the Stern Finance Society or Booth’s famous Finance Curriculum.
This year, Cornell tops the list of top investment banking schools which is followed by MIT and Columbia. All three schools are Ivy League and have a tradition of sending their graduates to Wall Street. The University of Texas at Austin is a different school that was selected. Its McCombs School of Business has an accounting major and an Investment Banking track.
Although you may still be able to get into a top investment bank even in the absence of a target school but it’s going to be much more difficult. The most practical route for non-target students is to sign up with an organization that is a regional middle market and then slowly lateral to a bulge bracket.
