WashU or Penn State?

I’ve posted on here before asking for advice, I was told with my 3.6 GPA online at penn state as an adult student I would not have a chance to break into IB or as a transfer to washu, even though I’m in the Intrieri Student managed fund and networking my TITS off. Long story short, I applied to WashU through their adult learners program and was accepted, the only minor issue in my eyes is that I can only do Economics not a proper finance degree (they do not offer a specific finance degree courses in this program). I know this is still a degree that can be applied in IB, at this point I feel lost and torn between what I should do. I’m serious about breaking into the field. The economics program is taught by professors from Olin on campus.

With WASHU I can attend evening and weekend courses in person since I live locally, with Penn State I have flexibility of working it around my schedule easier. Cost difference isn’t an issue. Before anyone asks or assumes, this program is the same as attending WashU undergraduate the traditional way and produces the same degree, just tailored timing wise to working adults.

I’ve seen that multiple banks have visited WashU within the last couple of years, Lazard Goldman JP Morgan etc (I’m sure they still do but couldn’t find much data online other than from 2018-2020). I know that networking is a big part of breaking into the field and going in person to this T20 would likely give me an edge.

No I cannot move to go to a higher end target school, I’m firmly planted in St. Louis until I graduate and secure an offer. This is the best I can do where I am at currently in life. Might get my MBA in the future from a top school assuming my grades and career takes me there.

Thoughts?

 

UPDATE: Got my acceptance letter yesterday into WashU. To every 20-21 year old on here who said they wouldn’t accept a 3.5 GPA can lick my logcutter. They respected the hell out of my profession and my GPA while working 50+ hours a week 7 years out of HS. I know it’s not a full target school, but I know for a fact that this will give me a much higher opportunity To get my foot in the door somewhere in Chicago.

 

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