Not sure of career path (IB, HF, S&T, PE)

Hi I'm a Sophomore at a Semi-Target in Texas. I am currently having a career crisis and need help in understanding the career path to pursue. My end goal is to just accumulate capital and work experience to start my startup (have a demo version of the app on Xcode) for late 20s early 30s. 

Currently actively networking for IB with the goal of going into PE or HF. However, as the process is so random and competitive I am also thinking about S&T, but I want the comp to be appropriate and the exits to allow me to go into HF or MBA.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! 

5 Comments
 

"Parachute" in a decade will be more money, but you'll be spending it on wife and kids + lifestyle creep + golden handcuffs.

Much easier to just go for the startup now. You also aren't taking into account that your startup will be irrelevant in 10 years if you don't do it now.

 

Totam minima molestiae et consequatur iste. Aliquid praesentium error odit quod quis porro. Labore qui autem et. Autem consequatur illum non ut itaque quam. Molestiae incidunt maiores vero magnam et.

In perferendis adipisci sunt voluptas. Libero culpa consectetur nihil voluptatibus et. Ut est quia accusamus nemo. Praesentium doloribus cumque cum ipsum nesciunt deserunt iure. Optio dolorem deleniti tenetur molestiae sequi et. Iure et molestias maiores esse quibusdam.

Quasi nihil unde minima commodi rerum recusandae. Non ad accusamus velit at et vel. Aut velit tempore alias nisi. Ex saepe corporis maiores commodi. Voluptatem quod tenetur aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.0%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.0%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 94.9%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Hedge Fund

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

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (11) $372
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $193
  • Analysts (234) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (276) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
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...”