Getting recruited by top investment banks like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan is extremely competitive. Many banks focus their campus recruiting efforts on a select group of target schools. Students from these target schools tend to have the best chances of getting interviews and job offers. So what exactly are the top target schools that investment banks recruit heavily from? Here are some key facts and information.
Ivy League Universities are the Most Popular Target Schools
The Ivy League schools consistently top the list of target schools for investment banks. These include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Cornell, and Dartmouth. The prestigious Ivy League brand and large base of high-achieving students make them prime recruiting grounds for Wall Street firms.
Other Elite Universities Also Recruit Investment Bankers
Beyond the Ivies, banks also heavily recruit from other top national universities like MIT, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, and University of Chicago. These schools may not have the Ivy League brand, but they still have exceptionally strong undergraduate and MBA programs that produce top talent.
Special Mention for Wharton and Stern at UPenn and NYU
Two business schools in particular stand out for producing undergraduate business majors tailor-made for investment banking – Wharton at UPenn and Stern at NYU. Wharton has the prestige factor, while Stern has the advantage of being located in the Wall Street area.
Targets Depend on the Bank and Region
Banks adjust their target school lists based on the bank itself and the region they are recruiting for. For example, JP Morgan and Citi may recruit more heavily from Ivy League schools on the East Coast, while Wells Fargo focuses on West Coast schools like Stanford and UC Berkeley for their San Francisco office.
Look Beyond Just the Target Schools
While going to a target school gives you a major edge, students from non-target schools also break into investment banking every year through strong networking and interview preparation. Write strong applications and leverage your connections, and don’t let your school hold you back.
The top target schools for investment banking recruiting include the Ivy League universities, other elite national universities like MIT and Stanford, and top business schools like Wharton and Stern. But students from all schools can break in through exceptional resumes, networking, and interview skills.