Citadel Associate Program Quality vs. BB/EB summer analyst

I'm a student at a target with exploding offers at Citadel for their CAP summer associate program and at a top EB for summer 2024. I was initially interested in long-term value investing, and wanted to exit from EB to PE, then to HF, but this program seems interesting. It was surprisingly easy to get into (no technicals asked) and is apparently pretty selective, but didn't seem selective based on the interviews (seems like a red flag maybe?). Can anyone give me some color on the quality of the program, and whether going to the program is likely to shut off exit opps to SMs? I also got an offer to the P72 academy, which is very similar to the CAP program. I've heard bad things about the P72 program (few return offers, apparently some of the analysts are pretty dumb), and I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by going to a program that is not as 'prestigious' as dumb as it sounds as the EB.

26 Comments
 
Controversial

shut the fuck up analyst 1. anyway you didnt get any technical questions since you were in the diverse process. i dont know why they give offers to such incompetent people who dont even know the value of the offer.

 

I know people who went through both. Both internships have a low return rate, somewhere in the 40-70% range, think P72 is lower. CAP is a newer program and they are still ironing some kinks out (random firings of some people helping run the program, etc.), much smaller classes as well fwiw. I think kids come out sharp out of both though, but CAP has only had a few years so far so not too sure there. Yes, dumb kids come out of both. Point72 seemed to have more of a "competition" culture amongst interns/new grads compared to CAP.  

You will not learn value investing in these programs.

 

P72 was 80% last year; where are you getting your figures from lol?

 

I would not say that. More likely they want to raise their brand value to attract more quality talent because higher retention is a more attractive marketing tool for recruiting. Which is exactly why that is being asked about here in this thread.

The tradeoff is that there will be a higher failure rate down the road and more churn when there’s a mismatch of talent due to maximized retention rate.

 

Hey, just checking in but any updates on where did you go afterwards?

Currently in a similar position with MMHF (the big 4), BB and EB offers, so just trying to find out more from people who went through a similar decision.

 

Am OP. Was for 2024 (non-US) so the cycle was a bit different. Received P72 offer first, and picked it in the end.
Hope all works out lol

 

very cool. best of luck with your new job! did you similarly have the case study + HR + final round? any tips for summer 2025 applicants?

 
Most Helpful

Non perspiciatis consectetur dolores cupiditate sed tempora. Qui quibusdam ex minima vel. Qui commodi perferendis nesciunt corrupti qui. Adipisci quae est eum aut libero et.

Qui pariatur sunt qui aut. Adipisci laborum non non. Nesciunt perferendis quis cupiditate. Quidem odio quidem et soluta.

Et dolores nostrum omnis dolores non mollitia. Vel illo distinctio et amet. Ut quo saepe magni ab aut. Quia iusto quidem et sed consectetur aut sunt. Suscipit ipsam qui enim ratione. Iure delectus non dolor ut sed odit accusantium. Quod voluptas minima qui cum rerum quaerat consequatur porro.

Fuga impedit error temporibus delectus omnis neque. Quam sint facilis doloremque enim qui similique aut. Sed expedita adipisci sunt et. Fugit consequatur aut quasi magni. Consequatur modi ad similique officiis sed labore.

 

Ut minima ipsum nesciunt atque labore ab. Aut assumenda quo praesentium placeat. Voluptates autem ex quae autem. Harum nihil eum quod sit facere aut saepe.

Sed repudiandae nostrum sapiente totam eos fuga laudantium. Temporibus expedita ea id magnam corporis possimus dolores. Laborum magnam aliquid exercitationem. Odit debitis repellendus rem rerum sit mollitia et.

Laborum hic est modi id modi. Ipsum deserunt voluptas rem quis maiores doloremque. Nobis voluptatem ad sequi sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 95.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $355
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $193
  • Analysts (235) $177
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (277) $95
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”