A degree from a top university is an advantage in investment banking, particularly at bulge bracket banks in the US or London. However, it doesn’t mean that you cannot find a job at an investment bank if attend a university that isn’t a target or even semi-target. It’s just more work and a wider network to locate a job.

The most important thing to take into consideration is whether your school is “targeted”. These are schools that consistently send large numbers investment bankers into the largest firms. These schools are chosen by banks because they know that their students possess the appropriate capabilities and are able to fit into their culture.

Harvard, MIT Wharton, Columbia Chicago Booth, Kellogg Northwestern Darden UVA and Fuqua Duke are all on the list. Other prestigious schools like Imperial College London and New York City’s Baruch College also make the list. In terms of curriculum the finance courses at many of these schools are famous for their analytical rigor and practical applications, helping to prepare students for careers in investment banking. They also provide various networking and informational events for students who data room price are interested in the field.

You can improve your chances of being accepted into a desired university by taking part in extracurricular activities that are related to investment banking. You can do this by attending seminars on investment banking as well as joining finance clubs, or doing a coop or an internship in finance your sophomore year. It’s also beneficial to add two or more solid leadership experiences on your resume prior to the time when recruitment season begins in your junior year.