joining a top M&A shop in London. Will a 2.1 affect my progression?

Got a very very high 2.1 from a top 5 uk university (Oxbridge UCL LSE). Going to a top bank in M&A(GS/PJT/JPM etc).

My fear is that peers, recruiters (in PE) and clients may look down on me and it may affect my progression. Many of the people I see in top positions (PE associates) have firsts from top universities.

Am I being paranoid or is there a marginal chance that my grades will be a minor hindrance. If so, where would it be? And how can I mitigate this?

Thanks

6 Comments
 

Idk how you think this industry works but people aren't going around asking you what degree class you got to silently judge you. Anyone who does that is a loser that will quickly be ostracized themselves.

Will some random person (recruiter/MD or whatever) maybe think very slightly worse of you, ceteris paribus, versus someone with a first? Sure, maybe. The same way you would, given two otherwise equal options, judge anything. 

What should you do to mitigate it? Nothing.

 

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