Hello. I am an HYP reject (or HYP waitlist, I should say--waitlisted at 7/10 of the schools I applied to) and I've been thinking about how this reduces some of my career opportunities. Specifically, like a large percentage of HYP undergrads (I believe the Princeton figure was around 40%) I have an interest in pursuing a career in finance such as investment banking or consulting. I recognize this goal is frowned upon by some as greedy, unidealistic, etc. but it seems to my admittedly cynical eyes that if the supposedly superior ivory tower graduates are flocking so willingly toward such careers, there is no reason why an SEC student such as myself should not have the same aspirations.
My question to the board is whether the relatively easy recruitment that HYP undergrads have access to is also available to graduate students pursuing appropriate degrees such as mathematics, economics, and the like. I ask because it seems feasible for me to work hard during my undergrad years at my current school toward admission in a Masters program at an HYP-level school and then leverage that degree toward my financial career aspirations. I recognize that just as admission to Ivy League undergraduate schools was no guarantee, graduate programs are equally, if not more, selective.
Thoughts? If anyone has web resources on this topic (graduate school recruitment into NYC finance careers) I would appreciate being pointed in that direction as well. The "future career" section of Princeton University's website, for example, seem mainly targeted at undergraduate students, and a search "careers for math graduate students" (and other formulations) usually leads to trade associations for Math PhDs and the like. Thanks for any information and assistance.
Appendix: What I am not interested in is how I should simply be happy with a lesser salary, find consolation in the fine arts, not be a class-climbing bourgeois, or the like.
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