MIT Freshman seeking career advice
Hi everyone, I'm a freshman at MIT majoring in economics looking for advice on how to structure my career.
My goal out of undergrad would be a job at a Venture Capital Fund, Fundamental L/S Equities Hedge Fund, or an Activist Fund (am aware that this is very unlikely). I am not at all interested in anything quant or systematic trading related.
Given that jobs at reputable VCs / L/S HFs / Activist Funds are very difficult right out of undergrad, I was wondering if it would be best for me to try and recruit for investment banking instead and then attempt to pivot to one of the three after 1-2 years.
Would you guys recommend that I grind IB technicals and apply for only IB (and maybe consulting) roles come sophomore spring, or would it be better for me to gun for a job in VC/HF/Activist and apply for those instead. I also thought about applying for IB/Consulting and VC/HF/Activist roles but it may be too difficult to prepare for all of the interviews and technicals, etc.
Also, what internships should I aim for during freshman and sophomore summer?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Hey there, future finance whiz! Based on the most helpful WSO content, it seems like you're on the right track with your thinking.
Venture Capital, L/S Hedge Funds, and Activist Funds are indeed challenging to break into straight out of undergrad. So, your idea of starting in investment banking and then making a pivot after gaining some experience is a common and often successful path.
As for your question about whether to focus solely on IB or to also apply for VC/HF/Activist roles, it really depends on your capacity. Preparing for interviews and technicals in all these areas can be quite demanding. However, if you feel you can handle it, why not? It could give you a broader perspective and more options.
Regarding internships, as a freshman and sophomore, you might want to consider internships that provide a solid foundation in finance. This could be in investment banking, private equity, or even in a finance role within a larger corporation. These experiences can give you a good grounding in the basics and make you more attractive to future employers.
Remember, the journey to high finance is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, learn as much as you can, and don't forget to enjoy the ride!
Sources: 5 Steps To Becoming A Rockstar Freshman (Undergrad Advice), Looking for 8 Mentees to place into internships/FT for IBD/Trading/Big 4 Ad/MBB Consulting, Just started realizing the necessities as a sophomore. Hoping for advice.
IB/VC/L/S HF all have a lot of overlap in technicals. Consulting is the only path that really requires extra prep, given case interviews. Would focus on just getting IB technicals down and do a bit of extra prep for any PE/VC cases. Few activist or L/S funds recruit out of undergrad, so really focus on landing a solid BB/EB role if that's what you want to do long term.
Switch to CS and join a HFT firm.
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