How much harder is it for East coast targets to go to west coast firms compared to West coast targets? Is it smarter to go to a semi target for the west coast (UCSB, UW UCSD,etc) for West coast firms?
| +253 | Investment Banks Ranked By Your Divorced Blue Collared Uncle | 23 | 3h |
| +148 | UBS Exits 2026 | 39 | 1d |
| +96 | Work life balance = highly overrated | 38 | 3h |
| +74 | Congrats on the ROs. I Still Don’t Know Which One You Were | 8 | 2d |
| +42 | Did not get a return offer due to headcount, but happy to move on. | 8 | 2d |
| +40 | IB RO Discussion | 8 | 1d |
| +34 | I don’t think investment banking is the way for me anymore | 29 | 2h |
| +30 | Case studies in banking interviews? | 3 | 2h |
| +29 | Getting a BB job just for brand name? | 5 | 1d |
| +29 | Lied about bonus to future employer | 17 | 1d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
For top west coast groups that are comparable to their NY counterparts (GS TMT SF/MS Menlo/Qatalyst) you need to go to a top west coast school or top east coast school. For other groups, just comes down to how well you network. For MMs in SF, any of those schools you mentioned should suffice given you have a strong academic profile and are familiar with technicals for the tech industry. LA is a different animal but the top LA groups (Moelis, HL RX, CS) tend to be more pedigree focused with top west/east coast targets. Again, you may need to network more from non target east coast and west coast schools but should be fine if at a target. Just have a good why Tech/LA from East coast
Thanks for the info. Would you know if the west coast bankers are also more pedigree focused when you network with them?
Networking is a numbers game, man. Regardless of target or not, just need to get lucky and hopefully the analyst is having a good day and willing to talk. One email won’t do, probably multiple. Take it from a guy who probably sent over 200 emails lol.
Thanks for the details!
Optio illo laborum vero eaque laboriosam non. Laudantium tempore corporis praesentium neque ab est. Est rem laudantium magni est. Sit sunt tempore facilis modi.
Enim laborum dolores non culpa mollitia quaerat. Ut et quisquam pariatur alias et. Sunt quo facilis molestias reprehenderit id. Repellendus totam et tempore quas mollitia pariatur.
Suscipit ullam ipsa perspiciatis ipsam. Ducimus iure qui et quaerat nobis cupiditate. Quia eveniet necessitatibus placeat perspiciatis necessitatibus. Delectus id ut non est aut et ut qui.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...