LA vs SF vs NY offices application competitiveness

As a USC Marshall sophomore, I am currently deciding which office I should apply for the summer internship. Though I like NY the most, I believe, in overall, I would have a higher chance in applying for west coast offices but not applied to all firms. I aint sure about the competitiveness of different offices in terms of specific firms for example like MS/CS/Moelis/GS/PJT/Evercore/Lazard and other boutiques and banks etc. Therefore, I really hope to know more about the difficulty for specific firms maybe through knowing their SA classes, reputation, and your experiences. 

As my top priority is to secure a summer internship in a reputable firm and location is my second preference . Thanks so much for your help.

1 Comments
 

Unde minima laboriosam in minima. Occaecati et qui et eum. Ut quibusdam quia sed. Dignissimos est quod autem nostrum fugiat culpa dicta est. Ducimus ipsa incidunt est non. Aliquam sed molestias fugiat.

Aliquam corrupti facere tenetur quidem. Necessitatibus at impedit quia dolorem dolorum. Ut aspernatur adipisci reprehenderit minima.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

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...”