What is the target school for investment banking?

Top investment banking target schools are consistently the Ivy League (Harvard, UPenn Wharton, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth), along with MIT, Stanford, NYU Stern, UC Berkeley Haas, University of Michigan Ross, Duke, Georgetown McDonough, Cornell Dyson, and UChicago, forming elite feeder schools with strong alumni networks and direct recruiting pipelines into major financial institutions. These schools offer the best access, with some "ultra-targets" like Wharton and Harvard leading in placements, while other strong "semi-targets" like UT Austin McCombs or Emory Goizueta provide good opportunities with more emphasis on GPA and networking.

What is a target school for investment banking?

Investment banking target schools are universities that top firms consistently recruit from due to strong finance programs and alumni networks. Attending a target school for investment banking offers direct access to recruiters, internships, and structured hiring pipelines into analyst roles.

What school do most investment bankers go to?

Most investment bankers come from a core group of "target" universities, with University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Cornell, and Michigan often cited as top feeders, alongside other Ivies and strong business programs like UChicago, Duke, and UC Berkeley, due to strong alumni networks, prestige, and location advantages, especially for NYC firms. 

Is MIT a target school for IB?

They don't account for student interest and demand. For example, universities like Stanford and MIT are clearly targets in the U.S., and many students from these schools could get into IB if they wanted to. But they tend to be more interested in tech, startups, consulting, and other non-finance roles.

Is Imperial a target school for investment banking?

Yes, the Imperial MSc Finance is worth it for students targeting careers in investment banking, asset management, and consulting, with graduates earning average salaries of around £43,853 (Class of 2018) and strong placement in London's finance sector.

Investment Banking Target Schools (Using Data)

What schools does Goldman Sachs recruit from?

Goldman Sachs recruits from top universities like Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Columbia, MIT, and NYU (Stern). While these schools are common sources, the firm also hires from other prestigious institutions.

Is a 3.6 GPA bad for investment banking?

A 3.6 GPA isn't considered "bad" for investment banking but sits at the lower end of the competitive range, often seen as a minimum threshold for target schools, with many successful candidates aiming for 3.7+; however, strong networking, relevant internships, and extracurriculars highlighting finance interest can significantly compensate, especially if you're from a non-target school or have a harder major. 

What college does JP Morgan hire from the most?

J.P. Morgan hires heavily from top universities, with consistently strong placements at UPenn, NYU, Columbia, Cornell, University of Michigan, and Harvard, but also surprisingly high numbers from schools like Baruch College, especially for front-office roles, due to its NYC proximity and finance focus. Other major feeder schools include Duke, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and UC Berkeley. 

Is IB or ap better for MIT?

Loads of applicants worry about this choice, but here's the thing—MIT doesn't officially favor one over the other. They get thousands of applications from both IB and AP students every year and what they really care about is if you pushed yourself with tough courses, not just which program name is on your transcript.

How hard is it to get a 45-45 in IB?

Achieving a 45/45 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is absolutely possible, but it's an accomplishment that fewer than 1% of IB students worldwide manage each year. This score reflects flawless performance across: Six academic subjects (all 7s) The Extended Essay (EE)

What is the big 4 for investment banking?

The "Big 4" in the context of professional services are the major accounting and consulting firms: Deloitte, PwC, EY (Ernst & Young), and KPMG; they offer corporate finance advisory, including M&A, but are distinct from Bulge Bracket investment banks (like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan), which focus on massive M&A and underwriting, though the Big 4's finance arms compete with mid-market banks.
 

Who has more salary, CA or investment banker?

Investment bankers generally earn significantly more than Chartered Accountants (CAs), especially at senior levels, due to higher performance bonuses, faster promotions, and involvement in lucrative, high-stakes deals (M&A, IPOs). While CAs earn well in traditional roles (auditing, tax, finance), investment banking offers greater upside potential and quicker advancement, though with a more demanding, fast-paced environment and potentially worse work-life balance. 

What degree for Goldman Sachs?

Graduate with a bachelor's degree in Finance & Investment, with the potential opportunity of a full time position with the firm.

Is Brown a target school for investment banking?

A 2025 LinkedIn analysis found Brown to be in the top 25 undergraduate schools for finance when adjusting for student population. While it certainly is not a hallmark of the University, there is no doubt that Brown is widely considered to be a target school for investment banking across various finance forums.

Where do most investment bankers go to college?

Most investment bankers come from a core group of "target" universities, with University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Cornell, and Michigan often cited as top feeders, alongside other Ivies and strong business programs like UChicago, Duke, and UC Berkeley, due to strong alumni networks, prestige, and location advantages, especially for NYC firms. 

Is Cornell a target school for investment banking?

Overall, Cornell is a fantastic place to pursue investment banking and finance. Our investment banking target school list is a complete rank of 60 schools and analyzed >60k LinkedIn profiles of professionals who worked in investment banking between 2008 and 2023.

Does Harvard prefer AP or IB?

Harvard doesn't prefer IB over AP; they value students who challenge themselves with rigorous coursework, whether it's the IB Diploma, a suite of AP classes, or other advanced options, demonstrating academic preparedness and intellectual curiosity within their school's available offerings. Both are respected for preparing students for college, with focus on depth in subjects and strong performance, though Harvard uses scores for placement rather than direct degree credit. 

Is 37 a bad IB score?

Strong IB scores matter greatly for admission to top US and UK universities. Competitive applicants typically report totals in the high 30s to low 40s. Scores of 38+ are viewed as solid. For Ivy League schools, applicants generally aim for 40‑42.

Is 1530 good enough for MIT?

Unsurprisingly, MIT SAT scores are exceptionally high. The average composite SAT score at MIT stands at 1550, out of a possible 1600. The 25th percentile for SAT scores at MIT lies at 1510, and the 75th percentile is at 1580. This means that 25% of MIT students scored below 1510, and 25% scored above 1580.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Is it harder to get into JP Morgan or Goldman Sachs?

It's incredibly difficult to get into either JPMorgan (JPM) or Goldman Sachs (GS), with acceptance rates often below 1%, but recent data suggests JPMorgan's internship program has been slightly harder to crack due to a higher volume of applicants relative to spots, making it about 17% more competitive in recent years, though both remain extremely selective and prestigious. The difference in difficulty can fluctuate yearly based on application numbers and hiring goals, with Goldman often seen as the pinnacle of prestige but JPM also a top-tier, highly competitive target. 

What GPA for Goldman Sachs?

College GPA is often a significant factor in securing interviews at top investment banks, particularly at Bulge Bracket banks such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley. The general GPA cutoff for Bulge Bracket banks is often a minimum preferred cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Can I be an investment banker if I'm bad at math?

As long as you have a secure mathematical understanding, either from school or from your degree, then you have the skills to become an investment banker.

What is a 3.7 GPA in IB?

IB 6: Roughly equivalent to A or A-, scoring about 3.7 on the GPA scale. Denotes strong mastery of content. IB 5: Converts to a B+ or B, generally seen as a 3.3 or 3.0 GPA.