Sophomore: Exploding Offer from Mid-Tier BB?

1) How did you get an SA offer as a sophomore thinking CS is a mid-tier BB? Take a look around bro. 2) Ask the other firms that are "better" than CS for an accelerated process. If they say no, then take what you have.

Disclaimer: I don't work at CS nor have I ever. All I know is that CS employees weren't staring at their computer screens in '08 thinking, "damn my firm might have to sell this very screen to stay liquid bc of some stupid ape traders impulsive decisions."

Accept the offer regardless of whether you want to keep interviewing with other firms or not. I'd argue any BB after you sophomore year will set up you pretty well for next summer's recruitment.

If CS is top tier, then what's mid-tier? Bottom-tier?

Take it. Any BB IBD internship as a sophomore will set you up to get an offer wherever you want as a junior. Turning it down to interview with GS/MS/JPM is a needless risk, especially as all firms only take a handful of sophomores.

I'd say JPM, GS, CS, then MS is top-tier and, to an extent, Lazard.

The rest I don't really care. MS is falling and falling fast. Outside of healthcare and tech, where have they been? They are losing business and relationships left and right. Personally, I'm in the business for the long-term and being at a bank like JPM or CS is great for the long-term.

GS is like playing for the Yankees. One, the firm might collapse at any time bc its run by a bunch of traders. Two, there is intense competition at every level. In my opinion, GS is still bringing in the top talent, so they will stay for a while. But talent is increasingly going to JPM and CS and I can totally see why.

All I can say is, I'm still scared shitless from '08 when I got my offer and I was checking headlines everyday to make sure the firm was still going to be there in the summer for me to start. At JPM or CS you don't have to worry about that.

Obvious troll.

Those are dece points. If you are in IB for the exit ops + prestige then there is NO QUESTION that GS and MS are the best. Absolutely they are dominant players in the market, I am just commenting on MS losing market share in all coverages except healthcare and tech (where they are actually taking share).

Again, I'm in IB for the long-run, not a lemming looking to follow the track (Ivy -> IB -> PE). I started at a firm reliant totally only trading revenues and had my pick of all the best exit ops as a result. However, at a more senior level (where you are a glorified project manager) its best to be at a full-service BB - like JPM / CS. Its arguable that GS and MS are full-service since they have great trading support that helps land big IPOs (FB) but there is a reason GS lost Ford business to JPM. I know that's just one example, but that was GS's first, marquee name when you think back to the days of Sidney Weinberg and John Whitehead and to think they lost that legacy business says a lot about how they are unable to meet all of their clients' needs. 'Nuf said.

Back to OP - As a sophomore you are in a great position. I'd say try to accelerate the process at GS / MS / JPM if you can. They are always receptive to superstar candidates. If not, then fine. Work at the CS-level firm then next year you interview for GS / MS and say "look, I have this job. I know I love banking. But, I now want to work at GS bc reason x, y, z." Hope I actually helped and you could glean some insights from this "trolling".