What should I do as a UW student?
I'm a freshman at UW Seattle. I'm trying to get into IB, but I know that I'm going to a non-target in a location that is not ideal.
I'm interested in MF PE as well, and from what I read online, to do it would help the most to work at a BB IB for 2-3 years and perform well.
Do you think I have a reasonable path here I should follow? Should I do something else, then an MBA and try to get into PE or IB after that? Should I try to get into an MM and go the MBA route? Could I get straight into BB from here?
Any ideas on what I should try to do to get in?
Thank you for any help in advance.
It is possible to break into IB from UW, but it's rare, from what I've seen. Networking will definitely be your best friend.
Most UW grads usually go the Big 4 or F500 finance route, there's always some hope there. My two cents, get involved on campus, live life, and shoot for the stars bc you could at least end up in the clouds.
Thanks for the advice. Maybe this is a stupid question, but what is the best way to network?
Start on your campus and talk to all the folks around you, from upperclassmen to those in your graduating class, look at their aspirations and goals, and build those relationships. Try to get ur name out there and share with people your goals to the point where if someone brings up IB to another person, they say, "Oh, 99x88 is looking at IB and would be a great fit for this opportunity, you should connect with them."
There's always the traditional route of finding alumni on LinkedIn and going from there, cold emailing also helps... Google will be ur best friend for more networking strategies.
Think of it like those high school class superlatives imo. The "most likely to break into IB" should go to you by the time you graduate from college.
Join the investment banking accelerator. It's had an excellent placement rate over the past few years (EVR, JPM, GS, PWP, HW, along with local boutiques).
Transfer
I'm at a top BB in NY and we have hired from UW.
You've got to do all the same stuff that anyone at a semi-target / non-target needs to do. Network (a lot), join the clubs, get increasingly relevant internships each summer, do the case competition things, find a way to go to NYC/SF and do coffee chats your junior year.
If you manage to stay on top of of it and get good grades, getting into IB is absolutely possible. Top candidates from a strong state school will always have a path, you just need to make sure you are a standout vs your peers.
I transferred and did IB and now am going in to VC. I’ve seen a surprising number of UW Seattle people at JPM SF and GS, there’s some type of pipeline for sur d
It's not ideal, but it's still possible. Basically the same general advice everyone gives: network well and know your technicals. Even if you're at UW, u should probably prioritize networking since that gives anyone an edge. As for technicals, bunch of resources available online like BIWS, 400qs, capmrecruit, ibvine, etc. Also, have u had any interviews before with what you're aiming at? Technicals allow u to meet the "knowledge" threshold in interviews, but past that, it's about networking. So make sure you work on both sides
Honestly, focus on internships and networking now. BB straight from UW is very tough. Smaller IB or MM → MBA → PE/MF is the practical route. Grades and skills matter most early on.
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