The "Am I good enough for Investment Banking/Consultancy?" Thread

Okay this is something that's really worrying me. I'm international and for some reason, my stupid school doesn't offer Economics as an A level, so I had to take Business Studies instead, which I now know is 'non-preferred'. Apart from that, I have good grades and I was lucky enough to get an offer from LSE for Economics and Economic History. I worried myself sick about this throughout the UCAS process, given that I was applying for Economics-related courses, and am so grateful that universities have looked past this ill-informed decision. I believe I have the potential to do well in this field, but will my choice of Business Studies (and lack of the Economics A level) haunt me and ruin my chances of securing spring week internships? Sorry if this sounds dramatic lol, I have no idea what the application process involves, but I'm guessing since you're only in your first year of uni, you will have to list your A level subjects and grades too. Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

To answer briefly.

No, If you get into LSE, you won't get rejected for lack of an economics A-level. You list your A-levels but as long as they are good grades, they won't care too much

I've firmed Southampton for Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering.

By the general atmosphere in this thread, I'm guessing you guys think my chances are approaching 0.

Will be back here in 4-5 years to say just how i'm doing.

I see that you've got an offer (a lower one too) from Warwick. May I ask what is it that made you choose Southampton over Warwick, particularly if you're aiming to get into IB?

I am in a bit of a pickle and I have consulted some members on this boards but the more input you get the better I suppose.

I currently hold offers from Imperial (MSc Finance), Warwick (MSc Finance) and Cass (MSc Investment Management).

I am a foreign student, graduating from a BSc in Finance with a first, top 2% of my class, vice president of my unis investment fund and a tutor in corporate finance. I also work part-time as an accountant.

Now I decided to do a MSc and if I had the money I'd probably pick Imperial. However I wont be able to afford it and as I used to live in London before (2 years) I am eager to go back to re-visit all my friends etc hence Warwick is probably out of the question. Now would I be completely screwed if I'd go for the Cass course (assuming I do well in it ofcourse)? The tuition fee is still rather high so I dont want to throw my money at a doomed project so to speak.

As I foreign student I would appriciate your help.

oh also, my long term goal is to join the buy-side (i.e. blackrock etc) as an investment manager but I wouldent mind a couple of years in IB working as an analyst or something similar.

Thanks!

Hey,

thanks for taking the time to help me out. I didnt even know I could apply for jobs (as in a proper job as an analyst) with just a BSc? This excludes internships of course.

In Norway (where I'm from) you basically need a Master to do anything relevant.

Would I have a decent chance at getting a job, i.e. not an internship, at an IB?

I am a foreign student so I cant really comment on the choices as it would only be speculation from my part. However the "top 20 uni" comment which keeps popping up on these forums like 10 times everyday is getting rather old.

I got -alot- of friends in the field of finance working both in FO roles, advisory roles and mgmt roles in both London, US and Scandinavia, and the majority of them did not attend LSE/Oxbdrige/Imperial/Warwick (Im from Sweden). So guess what - as long as you have excellent grades, internships and good extracurricular you will get the recruiters attention, no matter what these ignorant kids on these boards keep telling you. Your profile is impressive and with the MSc from Imperial you will get the additional upshot or the brandname (which makes it easier but by no means guarantees you a FO position).

None of the schools in Norway/Sweden (which is what Im basing this on) is close to LSE/Oxbridge rankings yet people still manage to get FO roles so dont take these people too seriously. It will be easier with a brand name on your cv, but its no guarantee that you land the job.

Also, I hope you accept the Imperial offer, I am also going to do the MSc Finance at Imperial 2011/2012!

I am a foreign student so I cant really comment on the choices as it would only be speculation from my part. However the "top 20 uni" comment which keeps popping up on these forums like 10 times everyday is getting rather old.

I got -alot- of friends in the field of finance working both in FO roles, advisory roles and mgmt roles in both London, US and Scandinavia, and the majority of them did not attend LSE/Oxbdrige/Imperial/Warwick (Im from Sweden). So guess what - as long as you have excellent grades, internships and good extracurricular you will get the recruiters attention, no matter what these ignorant kids on these boards keep telling you. Your profile is impressive and with the MSc from Imperial you will get the additional upshot or the brandname (which makes it easier but by no means guarantees you a FO position).

None of the schools in Norway/Sweden (which is what Im basing this on) is close to LSE/Oxbridge rankings yet people still manage to get FO roles so dont take these people too seriously. It will be easier with a brand name on your cv, but its no guarantee that you land the job.

Also, I hope you accept the Imperial offer, I am also going to do the MSc Finance at Imperial 2011/2012!