Investment Banking vs. Straight to PE

Currently a sophomore planning for the 2020 summer recruiting timelines. Just like every other person on WSO, I've been recruiting and striving for IB with the hope to exit in 2 years to PE. I'm wondering if it may be better to try to get PE straight out of undergrad and skip the IB hours. I know that there's a valuable experience in IB, but if one is sure that they want PE, then I think it may make sense.

My points; - there are a growing number of PE/GE/VC firms that are accepting Junior interns -> full-time analysts out of undergrads - you essentially have a 2 year head start in PE - get a better lifestyle; why would you go through the hell in IB just to break into PE if you know that you can skip the hell part

Risks - some junior positions in PE are cold calling/not as much modeling or fun stuff - there aren't nearly as many PE positions out of undergrad, and the ones that exist go to HYPW mostly

Thoughts? It would be great to know what others feel about this. I may be missing some points.

5 Comments
 

Nihil a quia deserunt omnis hic doloribus. Repellat natus qui reprehenderit quos maiores et. Aut voluptatem voluptatem eos sint sunt hic molestias. Molestiae unde officia sint quod et.

Quia sint dignissimos qui ab nihil. Quia enim quisquam veritatis est placeat ut. Inventore est accusantium et sed.

Autem atque vel fugit fugit quo aut. Omnis dolor voluptas ratione fugit natus rerum quo. Nobis omnis sed sunt molestiae mollitia voluptatem est. Quo quas porro ut tempora. Velit architecto voluptatem quia possimus harum sed vitae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”