Do you have to go to the top 20 universities to be a investment banker?

lol so even sociology/social policy/government/history is fine?

Yes.

If I retierd at 28 I dont think I would spend my life doing degrees! lol, I would rather just party and enjoy life...

I think this thread has confused me. Is a degree in Mathematics from Imperial College London enough to secure an interview at an IB for a Quant Analyst role, along with relevant work experience?

I don't even know much about this and I'm pretty sure the answer will be "yes, as long as your degree result is competitive, and you have good ECs."

I want to do Economics at the Royal Holloway. Is it good enough?
Sorry for going to the stereotype.

I was thinkinng the exact samething, except i'm gonna decline royal holloway and go Queen Mary.... Any chances in Ib anyone for me ????????

Hmm.. I didn't think ECs would make a huge difference, seeing as all you need to be good at to do Quant Analysis is Mathematics and programming. What kinds of ECs do you mean?

what would set me up better for IB or a job in finance?
Imperial or UCL both for chemical engineering?
does imperial have better links than UCL or vica versa.

Virtually indistinguishable. You'll be above 90% of other candidates anyway.

hmmm tough choice + imperial workload is said to be 'intense'

hmmm tough choice + imperial workload is said to be 'intense'

That sounds great! Is the Mathematics course as intense as those at Cambridge and Oxford?

simply put....no

you need to go to to a target uni to be within a shout....

however if you have work exp, solid ECs and a solid degree (1st IMO), there is no reason you wouldn't have a chance....

but then there is also the issue of UCAS point filters....as many will not even look at you if you have less than about 300 point...

My friend is at RBS IBD from QMUL.

wats EC'S?

:O Are you being serious ?
What did your friend study at QMUL? I'm planning on doing Economics, plus how long ago was this?
Plus do you think the table below is reliable because i do have offers from City and Royal Holloway, but I find QMUL more internationally recognised.
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7795578&postcount=1

Yes why is this so hard to believe.

Last year a good friend of mine was interning at Goldman from London Met.

Every year several people from non-target universities break into top banks either through contacts, referrals or having very good applications i.e. top grades, good work experience and extra-curriculars.

The people who BADLY want the internships/grad offers and go the extra mile tend to get there in the end.

Likelihood is it was back office. University bias doesnt apply so much to middle and back office positions, pretty much "anyone" with a respectable degree can get a back office job.