Target School to Target?
I’ve posted something like this before but mixed reviews: My current college (Williams) is a strong feeder to IB and is solid for PE. However, I realize that’s not necessarily what I want to do in the future. Correct me if I’m wrong, but hedge funds seem more meritocratic and I’ve heard stories (that I obviously can’t confirm to be true nor false) where top analysts/PM of a pod bring 1-10MM. the HF pipeline is really dead here, maybe a handful of alums at Big 4 Pods, maybe DE SHAW? and a few at bridgewater. Question is, should I try to transfer to a school with a stronger HF pipeline (i.e. Columbia UChicago)? I see Columbia has close to 400 alum across Big 4 pods (from Linkedin) and crushes it at Bridgewater. Im maintaining what’s about a 3.8-3.9 gpa and doing well in terms of adding on extracurriculars and my current school’s prestige is obviously amazing. Assuming I get in, Im confident I can get into some clubs (maybe not Lionfund but def some others) and if need be, do a 5th year to get a masters which obviously is impossible here. Thoughts?
1) HF is not PE/IB. Outside of specific graduate opportunities, the school you go to won’t be a “feeder” for anything you do post your first job really - for MMHF anyway
Pods will interview most people that want to work there at some point as long as your background is decent. I would get out of thinking how your school places because that isn’t how the large funds are hiring.
2) Your chances of breaking in out of school are very low (coming from someone that broke into one of the large graduate schemes) so I wouldn’t transfer in an attempt to change this. Too much of a hassle. Try to get into the graduate schemes, if you don’t then get into an IB and move over when you can.
Thanks for the advice and realistic approach!
Bro u need to make some friends and stop thinking abt transferring. Ur literally a freshman at the best LAC for IB. It will be easier for you to get a spot in banking than a lot of kids from targets. Think abt how many NESCAC alumna will also vouch for u
Do 2 yrs at a top group and then just get a job at a HF if u really want it
If u want to do HF straight out Williams will not hold you back. Focus on getting a sophomore internship at like fox haven or something
Get off this site and get a life
Relax it’s a reasonable question
You’ve asked the same question like 5 times already and have gotten the same answer across the board
U do not need to transfer and I do not see why u would want to if you have friends as ur chances to land a spot r not hindered by ur current school
Look, Williams is prestigious in and outside of HF circles. It doesn’t matter whether or not there were kids that went to HFs straight out of school from Williams
Transfer if you really want to (for academic or social reasons). Not because the top HFs haven’t historically taken kids from there. Instead, focus on being the best future HF analyst you can - prioritize learning, getting internship experience / getting experience covering stocks, learn a process, become an expert on modeling. If you do all that, your mindset and goal should be “I will be the first person from Williams to Citadel’s associate program” or whatever
It’s not black and white / firms don’t have a concrete list of where they take candidates from and where they don’t. Just so happens to be that often times, the best kids are found at XYZ schools, and those kids end up getting offers from these HFs
Fair, I don’t like being in such a desolate area and probably wouldn’t like UChicago either. This makes much more sense, but I’d rather be at a place where there is more structure for this kind of stuff.
Also opportunities for going beyond undergrad coursework is minimal unless I study like a year abroad
Let’s not ignore the flip side either: you transfer to UChicago as an Econ major, really struggle to do well there, end the first semester with a 3.5 or a 3.7 - then you get zero looks from the top HF programs…
Versus staying at Williams, building a process, getting reps in, building a reputation for yourself, have a 4.0 GPA, and you get into every HF interview process
Know which one I’m picking (unless you’re an academic genius and can do well at tougher schools - then could make sense to transfer IF you really despise the academic/social scene at Williams). Otherwise not worth it
Wouldn't exactly call a Kamala-loving, weed smoking, skateboard-carrying, Starbucks-drinking liberal school with a 8.5% acceptance rate "prestigious.
Even though I’m not in love with the school,
you’re an idiot if you think Williams isn’t remotely prestigious.
why are you even at Williams, you hardo
just transfer. someone with a proper NESCAC mentality wouldn't even be asking this type of question lol
- NESCAC alum at a HF
Thank you
What?
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