“My mentoring session with Andre was extremely valuable and gave me the clarity and direction I needed at an important stage of my application journey. He was kind, approachable, and generous with his time, creating an atmosphere in which I felt comfortable sharing my experiences, asking questions, and discussing my doubts openly.
One of the most helpful aspects of our conversation was his guidance on how to organize and communicate my personal story. Andre helped me understand how to connect different experiences into a coherent narrative, identify the elements that matter most, and explain their significance more clearly. His perspective was fundamental in helping me see how to present my background with greater confidence, purpose, and authenticity.
I particularly appreciated his advice on what to avoid. He helped me recognize that including every detail does not necessarily make a story stronger, and that being selective can make a message much more effective. Our discussion gave me a clearer understanding of how to avoid unnecessary repetition, keep my narrative focused, and ensure that each part contributes something meaningful to the overall application.
Andre also provided valuable guidance on how to organize the application process itself. He helped me think more clearly about priorities, how to approach the different components, and how to make the work feel more manageable. Having a clearer structure has made a difference to my mindset: instead of seeing the applications as one overwhelming task, I now feel better equipped to approach them through specific, achievable steps.
Another important takeaway was his advice on how to use the coming days effectively. Our conversation helped me understand where to focus my energy, which tasks deserve immediate attention, and how to establish a realistic plan. I left the session with a stronger sense of direction and a better understanding of how to balance thoughtful preparation with consistent progress.
What made the experience positive was the combination of practical guidance and encouragement. Andre offered suggestions in a considerate and constructive way, helping me reflect on my choices while also making me feel supported. His kindness made it easier to engage honestly with the process and to see areas for improvement as opportunities to strengthen my applications.
Overall, this session was fundamental in helping me understand both what I want to communicate and how to move forward. I now have a clearer approach to telling my story, organizing my applications, avoiding common mistakes, and planning the next few days with intention.
I am very grateful for Andre’s support and for the care he brought to our conversation. His advice gave me useful tools, renewed confidence, and a more focused approach to the work ahead. I would highly recommend a session with him to anyone seeking thoughtful guidance, practical direction, and a supportive space to develop their application narrative. The session helped me turn uncertainty into a clearer plan, and I feel much more prepared to make the most of the time ahead and present my experiences in a meaningful and convincing way.”
As a Vandy student, please don’t group us with Tufts and USC
vandy is only better then tufts
I don’t know what happened to Vanderbilt. I’ve met some older alum (35+) who are just hands down some of the smartest people I’ve ever met. The younger graduates and undergrads are dumb as rocks. Went on two dates with vandy girls too…both ridiculously stupid. Safe to say Vanderbilt is no longer the Harvard of the south.
If midwest is Chicago then there should be a decent washu population especially if its Lincoln,Blair or Baird.
As a fellow WashU grad, thank you for carrying water for the whole school on this forum. No, not one of those which is why I can't get WashU undergrads to apply. You guys are driving me nuts... I want to have kids in the pipeline to show favoritism to.
I'm not in WUIB or even on campus yet(gap) but I think if you came to campus or even just told WUIB you're recruiting you'd have atleast some serious applicants. From what I've seen there are a lot of people who ''recruit'' but kinda half-ass it so the number of serious prospects is really low compared to peer schools and almost all of them go for NYC. I know one guy who turned down GS Industrials Chicago for a boutique in NY so you might have to go out of your way to get kids to apply to a midwest MM, I would love the role tho...
-bless and goodluck my guy.
reach out to the finance clubs on those campuses and offer information sessions or just let them know you guys are recruiting - that stuff usually gets email blasted to all the club members and usually reaches the other finance clubs on campus as well. I'd add UMich to your list of schools you should be trying to recruit from as a midwest bank.
also, you have to accept that as an MM bank in the midwest, you're gonna be looked at as a "safety" firm for a lot of those kids from the t25s that are involved in finance clubs etc. I'd rather have the hungry kid from Ohio State than the Northwestern kid who's only there because they couldn't land an NYC offer...
Excellent advice. Not fun to be constantly training new hires because your analysts bolt the second they finish their first year to go to NY. I would prioritize people with local family ties to the area, as well as those who are maybe a bit late to recruiting or don't have the profile to land a top firm.
It's not fun to play second fiddle by giving someone an offer and having every single kid use that offer to accelerate NY or BB/EB Chicago processes (source: been there). Your target hire shouldn't necessarily be the guy with a 3.9 and three prior IB internships, he is more than likely going to maximize his options with larger firms - as he should. Not to pick out Ohio State specifically, but I know some REALLY smart alums from there who are killing it, you may just need to find the diamond in the rough and train them up a bit more.
Do info sessions (even virtual is fine) and meet-and greets at all of your "target" schools. Get a resume drop set up too.
Went to UChicago and at a Chicago-based BB/EB. From my exp, UChicago and Northwestern students almost always go for NYC (unless they’re from Chicago) and consider the Chicago banks as safeties, as the above commenter said.
seconded lol, one of my family friends moms said my northwestern friend cried after not getting any NYC groups and he's from chi
Your family needs new friends.
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