Anyone else feel like your being pressured into IB

Do any other college juniors/seniors feel like the only route to go right now is IB? The reason i feel pressured is because its so hard to break into PE, HF, VC funds out of undergrad. I understand they want to see you have the experience and work ethic to make it but i just feel like the only option for me right now is IB.
I'm interested more in trading and investments but from my research and intern search, there are very few opportunities for new graduates in sales and trading. If i'm wrong and looking in the wrong place please let me know.
Where does one start their career if i can see myself being in sales and trading? I have an internship this summer in PWM and the guy said ill deal a little with trading and how he invests money. Ive invested my own money for many years and have used simulators online. The past two ib interviews i've been on the interviewer has said, "you belong at a HF" and "sales and trading seems more up your alley"

I have a 3.5 from a non target, top 20 school
So the question is, how to break into S&T out of undergrad without an S&T internship?

 
Best Response

I'm also confused... all the BBs will have S&T summer internships, which would be much more appropriate for you than IB internships given your goal of breaking into S&T. Other than that, you could maybe cold-email/cold-call prop trading firms? It also depends on whether you want to go into sales or trading... maybe PWM would give some good sales experience. Equity research might also be a good start- I did ER last summer and will be doing trading this summer, but I don't know if that's a common path generally speaking.

 
ThaVanBurenBoyz:
If you're at Kelley, you should be in the Investment Management Workshop.

I wasnt aware of the investment management club until after the deadline to apply and the professor who runs it is not a nice guy. I am in the investment banking seminar just so i can learn some stuff and hopefully make some contacts.

I've applied to all the S&T programs but didnt have any luck. Is the entry level position in trading the euqity research position? As for the prop trading places, is it bad to start at one of those places that you put up your own money and they extend you credit to 50:1 or something like that. Ive been told to stear clear of those places as i wont learn as much

 

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