Banking/Living in San Francisco

Don't think this topic has been addressed in awhile so I'd thought I'd ask....

I'm moving to SF in June as a 3rd Year Analyst at a MM firm. I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions or comments as it relates to living, the different districts, where not to live, lifestyle, pricing, etc. Right now I was thinking of looking in the Financial, Mission, SoMa and Marina Districts. Office is in the FD. Was hoping to get some color and make a more educated apartment decision before I head out there. All comments are appreciated. Thanks.

 

Depends what your budget is. With roommates you are likely looking at $1700+ (for a single room) in those areas. If you want a studio or 1 BR its going to be like $2500 range. All good areas tho, and with banking salary you can afford it. There are cheaper deals to be had in Sunset or Richmond but those areas are not as happening.

 

If you can get a roommate those 2 bedroom high rises are completely worth the money. They're in the 2000-2500 per month range but holy crap...the amenities (think building gym, doorman, package concierge, etc). Feels like you live in a hotel for 2500 a month.

 

People really seem to enjoy living in the Marina and Pac Heights. Have friends who live in SoMa and some love it some hate it... it works really well for couples who have one person working in SF and one commuting down. Never really understood the whole Sunset thing, why not just move down Peninsula?? Once you have kids come talk to me and I can give you actual advice...

 

In my opinion, you should go with Cal.

Cal has, arguably, the best EECS program in the nation (with Cal Tech and MIT). They are HEAVILY recruited into banking and consulting, so long as the GPA is even the slightest bit over 3.0

...especially if you want to work in the San Francisco area...

I almost forgot - if you're from California, Cal is a LOT cheaper.

*****The one program that UC Berkeley does NOT offer that you mentioned Columbia offers is "financial engineering."

That said, Operations Research and Haas both offer F.E. type classes.

Good luck, +Hammy

 

Columbia in engineering/sciences/math etc. Berkeley is one of the most prestigious schools in that field and Columbia is no way by any means as prestigious as Berkeley. especially in engineering. If you want to get into tech/live in norcal/study engineering why is it that choosing columbia would even cross your mind.

Berkeley especially the EECS program is very hard though. Columbia would be MUCH easier. I know some people in that program and I hear it is just brutal. Columbia would be a breeze though you should keep that in mind.

I could see someone having a potential problem choosing bewteen Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech, MIT. but if you get into any of those 4 schools it is pointless trying to compare them with others becuase they are in a league of their own for what you are trying to do.

 

If you're completely confident in your intelligence and absolutely positive you can perform well doing EE at Berkeley, that is the place to go. However, if you are just looking for the easiest route to banking, Columbia would be the better choice, as you would have a much easier time getting top grades.

Here's how I look at it: Avg. Columbia students > Avg. Berkeley students Top Berkeley students > Top Columbia students

 

Just saw the part that you want to go to SF after undergrad - Berkeley has the largest alumni network of any school in that city, so if you do well there, your options would be as good as anyone's. And especially if you want to go the VC route at some point, Berkeley's EE program would be looked upon far more highly than anything you could do at Columbia.

 

If you are sure that you want to go into the finance industry, you should also look into IEOR at Berkeley. Students with IEOR degrees place very well due to the major's focus on quantitative modeling and analysis. If you are doing EECS, you can also double in IEOR or business (Haas), which would make you a very attractive candidate for all those fields you mentioned. Like what other people have said, if you just want a high GPA and an easy route to the banking world, then Columbia might be better.

 

Berkeley EECS major here. Really depends on what you want to do. As others have said already, if your ultimate goal is to do banking in NY, Columbia is the hands down choice (lots of cal students in SF in banking, much harder to get to NY from here though).

I'll also say that if you want to do consulting, particularly at Bain, BCG or McKinsey, I would also recommend going to Columbia. The consulting firms, for whatever reason, just like the ivies A LOT more than Berkeley. We place ok at Bain, not so much at BCG, and almost not at all at McKinsey.

If you want a tech background and then go into banking and ultimately want to work in the bay area, Berkeley is the way to go. If you want to work in tech somehow, Berkeley is ALSO the way to go. Even if you're not an EECS major, the EECS program here is so strong and you're so close to the silicon valley this is where you'll want to be.

As someone said earlier though, IEOR would also be a good option. It is MUCH easier to get good grades in that program, but still provides you the "technical" background. If you do decide to do EECS, I would recommend that you gauge very closely your first year to see if you can handle it, as someone who really wishes he did that himself. It gets much harder after the first year so yeah...if you don't have a 3.5+ after your first year I would recommend you get out at the end of the year.

 

Yeah man. I'm assuming you didn't just stumble upon the site and decide to rant about not getting a job. Full time positions at tons of firms whether they are banks or not are wrapping up. Hit up alumni list and start emailing and reaching out.

 
Status_Quo:
What school? There aren't really Tier 1 West Coast schools outside of the 2 you listed.

This. Only other school I could imagine is Cal Tech, or maybe Claremont.

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 
westernbird:
Hey guys, new to the forums. I've been applying to firms, all types, since November and am graduating in May. I'd like to get into IB but have recently broadened by focus as I've had considerable trouble getting even an interview. I don't know if it's the region (SF compared to Wall Street), my university (a well-known Tier 1 on West Coast), or my resume. It's harder than I ever thought and wanted some pointers from anyone who had any kind of advice. If it helps, I've had an IB analyst intern position at a small firm, HSBC internship, plus 3 other relevant internships. But I'm also competing against Berkeley and Stanford kids out here.

Reread your thread, it seems like you go to USC considering the May graduation. SC really doesn't have much brand equity outside of LA, and even there it's going to be ultra competitive, with lots of Marshall kids vying for a limited number of positions.

http://ayainsight.co/ Curating the best advice and making it actionable.
 

yea outside of Cal, Caltech, Stanford, Claremont, and maybe UCLA/USC there are no schools that get recruited by wall street. i assumed that by "tier 1" you were referring to US News and World Report rankings for top 50 undergraduate schools, which would include Davis, Irvine, and Santa Barbara. if you do indeed go to one of the last three mentioned, you will have a very hard time getting banking interviews without crazy networking, as they are neither recruited at by wall street, nor do they have a relatively strong network like USC.

Money Never Sleeps? More like Money Never SUCKS amirite?!?!?!?
 

Be prepared to live by the moto: Spend you salary, save your bonus.

Great place to be, awful place to save. Otherwise, welcome! Would suggest Marina/PH for the community aspect, or SOMA for the more downtown-y vibe. Although partying anywhere outside of SOMA is a pain in the ass if you live in that area; just an FYI.

 
Best Response

I'd avoid Soma, it's dirty and has nothing to do during the day. The only things it offers are nightclubs and proximity to work. Look in the Marina, Cow Hollow, Pac Heights, Russian Hill, or North Beach. With roommates you'll be looking at $1,500 to $1,700 for a decent place in a two or three bedroom.

Also, a few bucket list/must do items: Alcatraz tour (the one on audio). Sounds super cheesy, but the ferry ride out there alone is worth it. Ferry to Sam's in Tiberon or Bar Bocce in Sausalito on a nice day for some good food and beer Hike/camp in Muir Woods/Mt Tam Outside Lands this August El Faralito, Little Chihuahua, and Nopalito for Mexican food Nopa, Flour+Water, Beretta, the Grove, Rosa's, b Patisserie, Causwells, turkey sandwich from Arguello Supermarket.. just to name a few of my favorite restaurants/food stops Try Philz at least once Margaritas at Tacolicious, a drink at Top of the Mark during the holidays, a show at the Mezz, or whiskey at Marengo

Man, I left sf a year ago and am getting nostalgic listing those out. You're going to work hard, but definitely take time to get out and enjoy what the city/bay area in general have to offer.

 

Also - for those lunches where you're completely crushed from A) an awful week/limited sleep or B) A bender of a weekend, check out Senior Sisig. Philipino/Mexican fusion california burrito. Proof there may actually be a god.

Best. Burrito. Ever.

(Also Curry Up Now of you are feeling some indian fusion)

 

There are some absolutely absurd posts in here IMO. SOMA is dog shit and those high rises are a rip off. Marina is fun to go out in, but commuting to and from Fidi sucks ass. Russian Hill, North Beach and Nob Hill should be where you are looking (in that order). If you are willing to go all the way to the Marina, I would say go the opposite direction to the Mission. Can take bart down to Montgomery (way better than Muni busses, but still shit), better bars and restaurants and closer to Dolores.

Also those who are saying spend your base and bank your bonus are also ridiculous. Rent has plummeted over the past couple years and finding a roommate is the way to go. Pregame before you go out, eat your free meals at work, take your free ubers from work and you will easily save plenty of the base. Feel free to PM me. These clowns sound like a bunch of transplants who have wouldn't know their way around SF if their life depended on it

 

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