I have several options, and have narrowed down to GS, MS and Allen, eliminating UBS, Citi and JPM.
So, GS vs MS vs Allen...which one would you choose?
GS - Enough said. Baller but has bad public perception.
MS - On par with GS. Great reputation and exit opps.
Allen - Small but prestigious. Top guys are very well connected.
Advices? Thanks!
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I would go with GS. Allen & Co is very prestigious but if you want to go into PE/HF later on I think GS is the way to go. For Business school I have no idea, Allen & Co might be seen as more unique and thus "better" but frankly I don't know. Either way congrats on the offers
Are they the GS/MS tech offices?
Chances are, I won't get into GS/MS TMT. I will more likely be placed in the GS natural resources group b/c I know a lot of ppl there and some other group in MS. So I'm comparing non TMT groups in GS/MS vs Allen.
Btw, I made the right choice to choose Allen over Citi/UBS/etc right?
I personally wouldn't have eliminated Citi and JPM. But you're not going to go wrong either way.
Either way, all are great places to work. What you need to consider is your long term career goals, industry interests, and the people that work at each shop. If you're really interested in tech or media, Allen is an incredible place to be (as is GS TMT, but you said you didn't think you could get in). If you're not sure what you want to do, go with either GS or MS just for the widely known brand value, it really doesn't matter which - make your decision on your probable group placement, as well as your feelings about the people at each place.
Flip a coin and move on. All 3 are amazing.
If this was Allen vs. Moelis vs. Greenhill vs. Lazard vs Blackstone M&A, it would be Allen hands down.
But its Allen vs GS vs MS. Toss a coin. You're splitting hairs.
Damn dude, that's very impressive. Just go where you feel you'll be the happiest working.
If you want to work in IDM then yes, Allen kills in that space
Allen & Co. is pretty exotic and baller... If you're interested in that space it could be a sick place to start. I'd normally say GS by default, but natural res doesn't seem (to me, at least) like that interesting a group...
You've got a lot of wonderful choices... you can't really go wrong.
If you like the space, which it seems you might, since you mentioned GS TMT, then go with Allen.
If you would choose GS TMT over anything else, then call GS and ask them what group they would put you in because you have a lot of options and need clarity on that in order to make a more informed decision. They might be too bureaucratic to give you an answer, and if this rubs you the wrong way, then I'd also recommend Allen because they are smaller and you won't have to deal with a lot of the BS you have to when you work at a big firm.
Dude,
I'm going to just say go Allen & Co. Although your options are good, Allen and Co. is by far the best name on the list you have. I'll take all the flak right now, but even if you are not interested in the TMT Space, getting a Gig at Allen and Co. will help you much more in the long run that you would expect. Disregard what everyone is saying about the PE/HF world, but Allen and Co. will put you in with the top firms, moreso than GS would, particularly if your focus was TMT. In the TMT world, Allen is where its at, over any other firm. Hell, their Sun Valley Conference is widely respected as the biggest tech conference there is without any CES/Apple WWDC type major reveal panache to it.
I would take Allen & Co if I were you. I think it's the better deal over all the other shops. A big name is good, but a specialized name is better.
This is based off Warren Buffet's book, The Snowball, but chances are, if you do choose Allen, you'll have to do a ton of extra grunt work serving all the attendees of the Sunvalley Conference and as an analyst, I doubt you'd be able to really network in those events. I don't know anyone in Allen but based off how the book briefly described it, it didn't sound fun for the analysts.
First year analysts/summer analysts don't get to attend Sun Valley.
Awesome choices,
Can I ask a lil info on your background?
It could be noted that last year ('09) Allen had one first year analyst, and he lateralled for his second year to GS.
He's not in GS IBD though.
Its also important to note, however, that the full-time conversion rate is extremely low at Allen. Since they are only a ~30 person team, they won't take on all summer analysts.
Holy shit. Those are some amazing offers.
You must be a Wharton kid with a 3.98 GPA double majoring in finance and computer engineering who's had 3 BB front office internships since fresh, soph, junior summers. If I'm wrong, please tell us your background omg
Curious as to what you chose. I will be working at Allen&Co. Are you interning or full-time?
SA or FT?
If FT, Allen would like for you to stay around longer than the traditional 2 years, so if you're looking to move to PE, GS/MS might be the better choice.
But, the guys from Allen were some of the brightest I met all around, and at the MD level there reputations and connections are pretty fucking cool.
Curious as well. Where did you end up going?
I chose GS.
Don't want to go to Allen because 1. Its "official" program is relatively new. And past interns say that they didn't have much to do. 2. Not many alums from Allen are in PE/HF as they make you stay in IB for the long-term. 3. Conversion rate is really low. So going to Allen will either fuck me over for FT as I won't get a return offer or fuck me over for PE recruiting if I do go there FT.
Oh, I'm aware of that fact. Someone has to mind the store while everyone else is off playing hooky. Just because you don't get to attend doesn't mean the conference is still nothing. When you have your firm's name attached to the biggest NON-TRADESHOW (CES/Apple WWDC are both trade shows at heart) sector conference and your firm is sponsoring it, that's a big deal is all I'm saying.
True. But I heard their deal flow is very good, no?
Before this gets any further, I'm not gonna turn this into an Allen bashing thread (as someone who threw monkey shit at me was obviously pissed at my comment). Allen is top-notch in TMT IB. That is undisputed.
Its just not right for me.
Respect. Just wondering how the deal flow compares: Allen vs GS?
On an absolute basis, I would think GS has more just because its bigger (Allen has a 30 man team). However, in terms of deal experience for analysts/associates, I would say its pretty close (this is my guess, so take it with a grain of salt as I don't have hard stats. However, if you look at the league tables, Allen is pretty high for a firm with only 30 bankers...).
.
^ One of the best, and imo most accurate, posts I've read on WSO. SB to you
^agreed, HarvardEcon has it spot on, and some of the points can be extrapolated to more general circumstances as well
Excellent post HarvardEcon! SB +1
Can we please get your background? Congrats on your offers (and making your decision), those are all amazing.
Sorry, I do not wish to release my credentials.
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