Non-Target transferring into a target
Cumulative GPA: 3.5
Extracurriculars: Honors Business Program, Case Competition Competitor, Student Ambassador
I just decided to transfer with about a week to go in my Freshman year at a nontarget. I went into the year not knowing if I wanted to commit to IB and by the end of the year I realized that I wanted to pursue it as a career path and the school I am going to currently doesn't have any resources or support to get me into IB. Because I missed all the transfer deadlines I am planning on taking a gap year and then transferring to a target or a semi-target. During my gap year, I want to take some classes at a CC so I can cover some of my general requirements, and I also want to get a job relevant to finance to get some more real-world experience. If I can get A's in the classes and get a solid job do I stand a chance of getting into any of the more well-known target and semi-targets recruiting for IB? If there are any solid options what would they be? Will the gap year hurt my chances during IB recruiting wherever I end up? Just trying to get some feedback to see if I am handling this the right way. Thanks.
I transferred to a semi-target (one UC to another UC) with a similar profile and it was hell but was very much worth it.
These three areas will be your life [80 hours / wk] for the next 50-80 weeks
Then, apply to the flagship public business program in your state and a number of fall-back privates. If you are in California, Texas, North Carolina, or Michigan: attend the public school, you will be much better positioned as public business programs have a a lot of transfers and consequently a lot of resources to help you hit the ground running. If not, go wherever is cheapest, even if it is a semi-target; a wealth of junior positions might not exist in the next 2 years with AI and you will kick yourself for taking our that much student debt.
Transferring was the single most gut-wrenching but rewarding decision I have ever made. It takes balls to drop out of school, don't make it a mistake.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
This helps a ton. Unfortunately the flagship business program in my state isn’t even really a semi target. The current list I’ve got going is UMich (Ross or LSA), UVA, UNC, IU, Penn State, USC, and UW Madison. Are there any other public or inexpensive privates that have solid programs in either the Midwest or northeast? I just don’t want to get fucked by not getting in anywhere and I want a lot of schools to apply to. I’m only looking at USC because I can get a discount there, I know how expensive it is.
That is helpful context. Aim a little higher, you should probably add in all of the T10 schools even if OOS. Never know what can happen. I still think you should juice your in-state program and "shop around" to see what other programs can give you. These are scumbag tactics I used, but might be worth it to get your own place to show you are no longer on your parents teat, drain your savings into an illiquid asset (do not buy a fucking beamer or any stocks/bonds as they'll expect you to sell everything to pay tuition), and do your best to negotiate with programs that don't give you good aid packages. You should work to have an admissions profile that is impressive enough to make the financial aid officer drop to their knees when you ask nicely. These are multi-billion dollar trust funds with classes as a side gig, they're good for the cash.
There is also a bit of raw talent and go-get mentality at play, most of which you will hedge by working your ass off in community college. I have friends that took out $400k+ to go to "target" schools, who could not get to the second round for a commercial banking gig. You will need to perform a crude DCF to the absolute worst downside case to see how fucked you will be if nothing works out.
Happy to clarify anything but in essence, building your profile is tough work, applications is about casting a wide net.
Thanks for all the help. It definitely gives me a better understanding of what I should be trying to do moving forward if I decide to go with the gap year. I still am kinda on the fence about transferring and I already have a job at a camp that's going to have me off the grid without any real free time to do much else besides maybe working on my technicals for an hour or two a day. If I were to stay with my current school, which is still a respectable business program it just doesn't have a lot of options in terms of banking, what are the best ways to get the attention of banks? I've already reached out to every alum that I could find and have been able to set up a bunch of networking calls already, I am going to have a position working at the school's student managed investment fund this fall, and I plan on trying to get a TA position. I've also already built a list of every boutique in my area and I plan on reaching out to them soon about getting an internship next summer. I feel like the only thing really holding me back is my grades which I've always somewhat struggled with. Is there anything that I should be doing if I end up staying? If there's any chance I could DM you I would love to pick your brain about it a little bit more.
You're solid so far and doing just about everything I'd recommend, but there of course is some pretty critical info you likely don't want to share publicly. Probably best to DM me.
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