Dilemma - Second year undergrad

If you want to do the kind of stuff on "the buy side" that would be useful to have an M&A background for but don't want to do M&A why would you think that you would like the buyside...

Whatever your decision may be, keep this in mind: there are people out there who would kill for an opportunity like the one you've received.

First, you need to lose the self-righteous attitude. Even if you're top of your class at Harvard, and George Soros is your grandpa, always show humility.

Edit: Just saw you are attending school in the UK, which explains a lot.

Sophomore with a GS/MS IB SA? Do you know the Queen?

spelling and grammar are key...

Honestly what are your expectations for being at an HF? There may still be modeling and you are still going to be low man on the totem pole. Put in your two years and sack up.

network with alumni and see if they'll give you a chance to interview for FT HF positions?

Yes, I have been thinking about that. But when exactly should I do so? After my internship next summer, or perhaps before or during?

depends what target ur at in the uk, at lse you can part-time intern at hf during ur studies then start straight at a hf, first decide what fund strategy u want.

u say all ur friends did in m and a was model in excel, wtf exactly do you think you are going to be doing at a hf?

i think right now u dont rly have much of an idea of the hf world or how to get there but just like the sound of hfs so not sure on your prospects of skipping M&A

M&A from a BB is good regardless of what your plans are. Your resume will get an extra look with that type of experience.

Well, like most people I have never interned at a HF before, so I can't really speak from experience. However, I am passionate about the markets and from what I have read and heard from others who have actually had experience working at a fund it seems like it fits my preferences much more than M&A.

I like the concept of being challenged, sourcing ideas and taking an active role in the markets. I am also aware of the fact that some of the work at a fund can be quite similar to that in M&A, especially on a junior level. Yet, there are some funds out there that encourage idea sourcing and developing your investment style at a very early stage of your career. I am most certainly not an expert, but then again I believe that my motives for wanting to work at a fund are valid. I mean, tons of people from banking move to the buy side in hope of better hours and pay. At least thats what a ton of analysts told me over a pint of beer.

Its really difficult to choose an investment style when you do not really have much of a basis for comparison. Long/short equity funds sound quite appealing to me from what I have read, as do funds focusing on distressed debt.

I might try to contact funds in the city and try to work at one of them part-time in order to gain more of an insight. Thanks for that suggestion Leveredarb

take the job that you can, buyside is not easy to get into, but you will be running your luck real hard if you decline an M&A FT based on a summer intenrship hoping this will get you into a good HF.

Sitting in a top M&A (as much as you hate it) will position you best for HF roles in 12-18 months from there on. My two cents!

dude also you realize that the kind of hedge fund you want to go after if you "love the markets" is totally different and requires a totally different skillset and experience than the "buy side" that people obsess over jumping to on these boards...