I lack prestige

I was fortunate enough to have signed an investment banking SA, but I have been thinking, and I realized I am never going to be in that top echelon of people within finance based on where I did my undergrad. I went to a state school that you definitely have never heard of before. It really annoys me because I want to be prestigious, but I know the fact that I studied at a nontarget will always hang above my head

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I was genuinely not trying to troll on this post. I know it sounds kind of ridiculous but I've heard that your UG follows you years into your career

 
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Really don't think you're right here. While you won't have the prestige of your school to flash around in professional or social situations, if you can make it to a good firm and grow thereafter, the school aspect fades away. There are several examples of people with non-prestigious backgrounds who have made it to the upper-echelons of finance, as you put it. Be good at your work and be a beast with regards to your people skills and you'll find that you can propel yourself to the heights you seek. Sure it's harder than starting as the Harvard or Yale guy but it's 100% doable.

As a non-target I'm not naïve or oblivious to the challenges one faces with growing into more senior roles in the finance crowd but you'll find that most people worth a damn don't care about where you came from.

 

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