Columbia SPS Applied Analytics vs. Ross MBA vs. UNC MBA vs. USC MBA

Hi all,

first of all a big THANK YOU to the community for being helpful and informative. As inferred from the title, I got accepted into all these programs and am currently weighing out my options. Overall goal is to work in IB at a BB in NYC.


Little background info regarding work experience:

  • 4 years M&A experience at an IB (mid-market)

  • currently an Associate at the TMT-Group

  • male, international student from Europe


Which of these options would place me well into Wall Street? I am slightly inclined towards the MBA program at Ross but still want to hear how Columbia SPS is regarded in the US (declining an Ivy school is kinda difficult for a first gen academic).


Looking forward for all the comments.

 

Going to be completely honest: UNC and USC shouldn't even be in the picture. Definitely Columbia - right in NYC, perfect for networking, and Ivy degree is much more valuable 

 

Ross

Columbia SPS is the school of professional studies and known as the university's cash cow. That school does not play any part of the highly structured IB recruiting process. You will have near zero chance of participating in the IB recruiting process that CBS or other top MBA programs have. If you want to land an IB seat, do not go to CU SPS. You also need sponsorship, so it's not like you can sneak into a smaller bank for IB

Ross is the better of the MBA programs you listed, while it's more of a consulting school than a IB school, it's a great program and you can land a post-MBA IB seat there. I'm not sure how well the school places to NYC IB vs Chicago IB

USC is more of an up and coming MBA program and places more to the west coast. I'm not familiar with their IB placement, but getting any role in NYC after would be challenging. 

UNC does a decent job w/ IB placement but would opt for Ross as its the better overall MBA program.   

Best of luck! 

 

Really appreciate your honest and structured reply!

The enrollment deposit deadline for Ross is on the 25th of April. However, I am still awaiting Cornell's reply to my MBA application (rolling admission till April 8th).

From the IB in the USA perspective, are there any differences between those two? Should I just take the Ross offer and pretty much prepare with a peaceful mind?

 
Most Helpful

Voluptas aperiam aliquam vitae sint. Quasi ut voluptatem amet temporibus explicabo et et. Ut sapiente quis iusto vero aut.

Itaque aspernatur qui accusantium ab ipsum suscipit aperiam. Provident non aut voluptatem ullam voluptatibus molestias quia error. Tenetur voluptatem explicabo et qui. Quae iste nostrum doloribus eos. Sequi molestiae odit atque quasi illum pariatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 18 98.3%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”