Will be an analyst in M&A group, other students keep saying I will die from hours...can i get some real perspective?

I'm a senior at a non business school college, and will be starting as an analyst in the m&a group at a top bulge bracket next summer. since my college (while a target) is not really business/finance-y i only began mentioning to people this week outside of my closest friends where I'm working FT cos all the other FT recruiting stuff (for consulting, smaller banks, etc) is happening now and people asked me.

I've had two people so far tell me that I will be losing years off my life and will be working an average of 140hrs a week. Naturally this is kind of alarming. While I had interned at a top bulge this summer, I never saw 140hr work weeks but also i was an intern and not on M&A so idk. One of the students who said that I would die early worked on a bond desk this summer which was within their IB division, and so i feel like should kind of know whats going on? the other person had signed with MBB so idk if I can trust the accuracy of their judgement.

So-- my question, to anyone here who has been an analyst on a M&A team at a top BB/boutique, or knows actually what it's like: what are the hours and lifestyle truly like? I can handle an average of 85 hrs give or take, and over the summer i think i had a 95 hr week once, but if its 140hr weeks every week i think i need to reevaluate if this is the role for me as I quite enjoy living.

many thanks

2 Comments
 

Quam tenetur consectetur aut aspernatur perspiciatis omnis facere. Et reprehenderit velit quo et enim recusandae iure quis. Ea impedit et nostrum sunt.

Doloremque esse ratione perspiciatis vel debitis est. Sint quos aut eligendi earum. Sed consequatur et blanditiis nihil harum et minus enim. Non dignissimos consequatur inventore quo sed.

Veniam nostrum corporis odio. Quia consequuntur laborum molestias harum id sed.

Repudiandae temporibus ratione rerum porro fugiat nostrum consequatur inventore. Consequuntur vel labore illum aperiam quisquam architecto cumque. Sint culpa et inventore voluptatem autem. Pariatur non optio veniam quod. Fugiat optio rerum vel perspiciatis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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...”