Hi guys, I need some guidance about potentially transferring schools again.
My situation:
I’m currently a sophomore at Vanderbilt studying Economics and Human & Organizational Development. This is actually my second school since I transferred here after freshman year from somewhere else.
My goal is to get into investment banking in NYC after I graduate. In high school I got rejected from NYU Stern ED1 (though I did get into their regular college) and also got rejected from UC Berkeley Haas. I ended up picking Vanderbilt instead.
Now my parent thinks I should try transferring one more time to either Stern or Berkeley. I’m a California resident by the way.
What I’m wondering:
Do you think I have a realistic shot at getting accepted to Stern or Haas coming from Vanderbilt?
For investment banking recruiting, would transferring actually help me or could it backfire? Is Vanderbilt good enough if I hustle with networking?
Is NYU Stern really that much better than Vanderbilt for getting IB jobs in New York?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience with transfers, recruiting, or knows about IB placement rates at these schools. Thanks!
Transferring twice may raise concerns for recruiters, who often look for commitment in your academic journey. It’s worth noting that Vanderbilt does place around 15-20 students into bulge bracket investment banks each year, meaning your chances aren’t nonexistent. However, you’ll need to work harder since it’s not a core target school like NYU Stern. Additionally, the transfer acceptance rate at Berkeley Haas is quite low—under 10%—and your California residency status could be impacted. NYU Stern has roughly 25% of finance majors landing IB roles, but the competition is fierce. Instead of risking another transfer, concentrate on boosting your GPA, engaging in investment clubs, and building your professional network.
honestly, transferring twice might raise some eyebrows with recruiters. banks like to see commitment. vandy’s decent for ib if you work hard on networking and keep your gpa up - i know folks who got interned at bb from there. stern might have better stats, but you’re at a solid school. focus on improving your grades and cold emailing rather than restarting.
Been there - stayed put and it was the best decision I made. Vandy isn’t a target but it’s solid semi-target territory if you’re willing to hustle. I’ve watched people from much worse schools land BB roles by networking hard and nailing their technicals. That “transferring twice” red flag will definitely come up in interviews, and you better have a rock-solid explanation that doesn’t scream indecisive. Transfer as a junior and you’re losing time to build connections with career services and professors for recs. My advice? Stay, nail your GPA, and lock down good internships this summer.
lmao your parent wants you to transfer again? You’re gonna look flaky as hell. Vanderbilt’s a solid school - plenty of kids break into IB from there if they actually grind instead of constantly thinking the grass is greener. Stern kids are everywhere in NYC and half still don’t get BB offers anyway. Save yourself the hassle and just network harder where you are instead of chasing rankings.