My future in LA (?) (Bakersfield, Berkeley: how much, best schools, university)

[hsw]

Lots of good advice already provided...

Would observe that leading financial firms (investment banks, hedge funds and private equity funds) in US tend to be able to hire top graduates of US' most elite colleges....the list of "acceptable" colleges tends to be short: Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and Yale....

Generally, at colleges like Wharton, the sharpest kids are finance majors and pursue careers in finance, not management or marketing, etc....prob most prefer the intellectual challenges of quantitative analyses/judgments, and finance is far more lucrative at a young age for those who excel...

Within that elite list of colleges, firms tend to pick guys w/highest GPAs in most difficult majors, esp for the most lucrative trading desks....but lots of kids get jobs for various other reasons, e.g., from a powerful family, social skills, diversity, etc...

If one attends a less prestigious college, it becomes far more difficult (though not impossible) to gain jobs at leading firms in most lucrative groups...

LA is not a major financial center for most who are new college grads; most start their careers in Manhattan....after a few yrs, those who excel can figure out how to move to firms in LA (or SiliconValley, which has more financial industry than LA)....many in SiliconValley obtain weekend houses in LA after they earn a few bucks....LA's Westside is one of the world's most enjoyable weekend playgrounds....

If unable to obtain admission to a leading college in US, would suggest attending most respected college in Germany; excel in a difficult course of study; during Summers, figure out how to do internships at London or Frankfurt offices of major NYC-based investment banks, like Goldman....and pursue a post-grad job at an investment bank in NYC....

Many financiers (esp those who enjoy cars and great weather) have always wanted to live/work in LA....unfortunately, nearly all have had to "serve their time" in Manhattan before being able to move to CA....and most live/work in SiliconValley (a very enjoyable place to live, though not as civilized and hedonistic as LA's Westside), as there are fewer lucrative career opportunities for financiers in LA...

[sboilard]

Any IT Profession or Computer Related will get you into the US.
Go to the US Immigration web site for ideas.

[minibrings]

Northeastern is a good University, however its reputation is regional (New England). What it does best is its co-op program where people go to school, then get a job (arranged by the Uni), then return to school. It's business program is good, but not as good of as Harvard and MIT (of course).

The main campus of the University of Missouri is in Columbia, MO. This is the best campus, and its probably best known for its journalism program. The St. Louis campus is not the main campus so will be less known.

In my opinion, you will probably be better in Boston. Northeastern might be able to better help you get a co-op/internship with an American company. I know its not LA but any work experience in the US is very helpful. There are about 5.8 million people in Boston metro area, St. Louis is 2.8 million. And you have easy access to NY from Boston - a good city for an international business career. Massachusetts unemployment rate is 5.3, St. Louis is 6.8 (both are Nov 2008).

You do know the economy in the US is nicht sehr gut/not very good?

Originally Posted by GermanGuy1990

What do you guys think about the university in Boston?
here's the link:
www.northeastern.edu

This university has got a partnership with a German one (Reutlingen). That means that I'll study two years in Reutlingen and afterwards two years in Boston.

Is this combination better than the other one? (Bremen + University of Missouri - St. Louis)

[XodoX]

I'm german myself. I don't really agree on the comment about "local, regional, national" universities. You can get a good job if your grades are good almost anywhere regardless of what College you went to.

If you have nay questions just send me a message on here.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by XodoX

I'm german myself. I don't really agree on the comment about "local, regional, national" universities. You can get a good job if your grades are good almost anywhere regardless of what College you went to.

If you have nay questions just send me a message on here.

yeah? define "good job."

top employers care very much where applicants earn their degrees, and the most competitive won't even consider someone without the proper academic pedigree. the OP is interested in coming from europe to work in international transactions. to be competitive, he will need to do more than graduate with a degree from "any college, USA," especially if he isn't bringing experience or a book of business to the table.

[FreeSpirit2219]

A friendly suggestion...better to stay where you are right now. The economy isn't very good and it wouldn't serve you to get stuck here just now...especially without skills. I don't think that 2010 will be much of a change either.
Oh one more thing, there's a proposal that will take effect...drinking toilet water. Yes, I said it and it's true due to the drought. The family is moving away from California.

[rockonronson]

It really is tough, anywhere in the states to get a worthwhile job without a college degree. If you want to work here, with no degree you can be a waiter, or bar tender, but if you want a quality job, better get a degree. As far as getting a degree here in the states, I'd suggest saving your money and go to school for free back home, something we don't get here.

[GermanGuy1990]

Originally Posted by minibrings

You do know the economy in the US is nicht sehr gut/not very good?

I know / Ich weiß , but it has always been my dream to live in the US.

@Xodox: Cool dass es hier auch deutsche gibt ^^


@FreeSpirit2219: Now I'm unskilled...but I haven't even finished school yet.


To all: I forgot to mention that I'm aiming for the "Master of Business Administration" degree. So, please don't think that I'll try it as an unskilled worker.

[minibrings]

Originally Posted by XodoX

I'm german myself. I don't really agree on the comment about "local, regional, national" universities. You can get a good job if your grades are good almost anywhere regardless of what College you went to.

If you have nay questions just send me a message on here.

I have never shown my grades to any firm, they do not request it, due to privacy laws.

And top firms do not recruit at less well known universities. Goldman Sachs will recruit at Columbia, Wharton, etc. The will NOT recruit at Cal State Bakersfield or Montclair State University, irregardless of your grades.

I went to Columbia and worked for a fortune 50 firm, I can tell you in recruiting we went to specific schools only.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by katenik

yeah? define "good job."

top employers care very much where applicants earn their degrees, and the most competitive won't even consider someone without the proper academic pedigree. the OP is interested in coming from europe to work in international transactions. to be competitive, he will need to do more than graduate with a degree from "any college, USA," especially if he isn't bringing experience or a book of business to the table.

You might be right about that if he had to get a Visa that's 5 k in order to be able to work. I was talking about the regular citizen. I totally disagree that you have to go to Harvard to get a good job. Sorry , but that ain't true...

The median expected salary for a typical Portfolio Manager in the United States is $100,859, and the median expected salary for a typical Human Resources Director in the United States is $140,996.

These are good jobs. Telling me they all went to a Top 10 College? I don't think so.