MBB vs. Bridgewater FT

Anyone have thoughts on what might be the better opportunity? MBB would be in NYC. Interested broadly in a career in finance but have heard interesting things about Bwater culture and non-compete. Hate to ask, but which opportunity would you say is more 'prestigious'?

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The prestige difference between Bwater and MBB doesn’t really matter here since they are such different career paths.

I promise you no one will ever think you’re “un-prestigious” for working at McKinsey or Bwater.

What you really need to ask is do you want to be at a macro HF or doing consulting. Those are such incredibly different paths that’s it’s really hard to even compare. MBB would provide you broader optionality (including PE) but if you want to do macro HF Bwater is one of the best names there is.

If I were you I’d start researching macro HF (since it’s more niche and therefore easier to diligence)  and see if you’d like to make a career in that space and if not then start looking into MBB

 

If I were you, I would be cautious about bridgewater. No job security and very possible you don’t do well enough in their macro classes to be let in as an investment associate. Also, as a junior, you’ll be working in such niche macro research areas without understanding of the overall strategy you’re kinda fucked if you try to exit or get fired

I’d take MBB - much more optionality.

 

I highly doubt you went through Bridgewater process entirely and still hesitate about joining a MBB.

 

Not OP but at most Ivys people going through MBB and Bwater process simultaneously is pretty common (source: bunch of my friends at my Ivy did and a few got cross offered)

At UG recruiting level Bwater makes its recruitment a more “general are you smart” thing similar to MBB vs a typical HF/finance recruiting process. I remember when they came on campus they told us you don’t really need any finance background for it.

 

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