Bridgewater Investment Associate Summer Analyst vs Top Elite Boutique (Think: PJT RX, Evr, CVP)

Which opportunity should I take... my end goal is to end up in private equity or at a HF. Even though Bridgewater is a top HF, it seems very specific and IB might preserve my optionality? 

12 Comments
 

Know someone who did a summer at Bridgewater while I did mine at one of the banks you highlighted. Bridgewater is a brutal place to work, the summer program is like being in the most intense, competitive and toxic school environment with 100+ exams over the course of your week. 

You are publicly ranked among your intern class and are evaluated constantly (they will ask people in meetings with you to grade your participation etc.) If you are someone who thrives competing in an intense environment with some of the smartest people in North America take Bridgewater, if you want a more collaborative learning experience go with the EB

Side note - they typically also get you to dramatically different places career wise.

 

First off congrats, both are insanely good offers you shud be rly rly proud. First, if your know exactly sure what the future is for you like maybe you want PE HF VC growth etc then the EB will open any door you want. On the other hand, Bridgewater imo is def more prestigious, comps a lot higher out of ug, but will close off a lot more doors. It’s a very specific type of a macro investing and doing something so specialized out of college will leave you with less optionality but hey who cares when ur making all that money and tbh it’s fucking Bridgewater I’m suee you can make shit happen.

for my own curiosity, cN you talk a bit about how the interview process for Bridgewater was? Like what they asked and stuff 

 

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