Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how there can be so enough IB jobs for all the economics, math and fnance majors at the Ivies plus all the the engineering and computer science majors who ultimately want to go into IB PLUS all the humanities majors. Plus all the same at the top20 schools. Plus everyone else.

There has to be a limit to these jobs, right? It seems like it's all anyone is aiming for at any top20 school. Yes, I know this is a bit of an exaggeration but not by much.

No, there aren't enough jobs to go around for all the students at T20s who are interested in IB. The recruiting process is very structured and intense at the target schools. You need a very high GPA and you have to attend all the on campus recruiting events, network and do the coffee chats. A lot of people will see the writing on the wall, drop out and go for something else. You really have to be all in to have a shot.

It seems that everyone now is gunning for money-focused careers, even though no one really wants them.

Think about it: why would someone with a passion for art pursue a career in IB? It’s transparently and painfully obvious that the soul here is torn.

Stay with the art and doing something good for yourself and the world.

I don't understand how there can be so enough IB jobs for all the economics, math and fnance majors at the Ivies plus all the the engineering and computer science majors who ultimately want to go into IB PLUS all the humanities majors. Plus all the same at the top20 schools. Plus everyone else.

There has to be a limit to these jobs, right? It seems like it's all anyone is aiming for at any top20 school. Yes, I know this is a bit of an exaggeration but not by much.

Anonymous wrote:Yes yes yes.
But only at HYPSM or Williams.

Not easy nowadays.

Why would an IB firm oe consulting firm want an art history major? Seems like they’d have to teach that person so much more than a math/econ/finance major. With less entry jobs available, why not take a major that makes you more marketable? And then use elective time for a couple art history classes?

Anonymous wrote:Yes yes yes.
But only at HYPSM or Williams.

If you're in 1970.

Anonymous wrote:It used to be the case one can major in art history in a target school (ivy and lac), and still make it to IB and consulting as long as the school brand is strong enough.
In 2025, can one still safely assume this is the case? Can a striver (meaning no connection) still make it by majoring in art history without taking advanced math classes on the side?
If not, what is the exit for these majors at an ivy?

What makes you say this? Do you have stats to back this up? I was a history major at an ivy in the 90s and got zero callbacks with consulting firms despite a good GPA. My friend an Econ major did great.

Yes yes yes.
But only at HYPSM or Williams.

You can totally slide into a position in IB or consulting as an art history major - if your dad is Jamie Dimon or Jeff Bezos or similar.

But other than that, an art history major would be a poor choice for a major for anyone interested in finance. Those days are done.

The money is made on the quant side - so, math and STEM majors. As for client facing hires, no rando unconnected art history major is getting anywhere near that - unless they are bringing a book of wealth themselves.

For IB, major does not matter at an Ivy League school. You do need a strong GPA, 3.7+. You do not need to take any advanced math classes. You do need to take a couple of finance courses or at least self study to be able to effectively answer the IB technical questions. Like the other IB thread says - networking, coffee chats is the key to getting an IB internship, and then you try to get a return offer from that internship.

Maybe hard for IB roles as you compete with fiance, math and econ majors

I was an art history major from a state college (not the flagship one), and I got into management consulting!

Go to Williams if you want a career. It has a university-sized art history department for relatively few majors and impactful career networking opportunities and funding: https://art.williams.edu/faculty-staff/

You can definitely get to consulting, but IB is gonna be a nightmare. Art history is a tough major these days for career outcomes.

It used to be the case one can major in art history in a target school (ivy and lac), and still make it to IB and consulting as long as the school brand is strong enough.
In 2025, can one still safely assume this is the case? Can a striver (meaning no connection) still make it by majoring in art history without taking advanced math classes on the side?
If not, what is the exit for these majors at an ivy?