Investment banking requires more than a bachelor’s. You need a certain type of GPA, advanced capabilities, and a robust network to enter the business. Many aspiring financial professionals wonder which schools will help them the most in their pursuit of the career they want to pursue.

Typically investment banks in the bulk bracket hire associate and analyst positions at in a limited number of universities. They are also known as “target schools.” If you’re hoping to get an executive position at a top investment bank, it’s vital to go to one of these schools.

The most reputable investment banking school is one that consistently sends a high number of its graduates to the most prestigious investment banks, and has impressive numbers of placement for undergrads. Some of these schools offer extracurricular activities and student clubs that expose students to the business. Examples include the Stern Finance Society or Booth’s famous Finance Curriculum.

This year, Cornell tops the list of the top investment banking schools and is followed by MIT and Columbia. All three schools are Ivy League and have a tradition of sending their graduates to Wall Street. The University of Texas at Austin also made the list. The McCombs School of Business offers a finance track and a finance major.

It will be much more difficult to get into a top-tier investment bank if you do not attend an institution that is a target. The best option for students who are not the ideal candidates is to start with a regional company in the middle dataroomssoftware.net market and then move up to the bulge bracket.