Buy-Side or Sell-Side out of college?

Hey guys I'm a sophomore from a non-target graduating in June 2025. I just recently landed a really good internship at a top PE firm name brand through a diversity program for Summer 2023, and I think this exponentially shot my chances up for bigger name brands on the buy-side such as Blackstone and Carlyle for a junior year internship.

However, I came into finance looking for something in IB, which is obviously still a path I can take for my junior summer, but I'm seriously torn about what to focus my energy on because IB is typically a path for the buy-side, but I think landing something on the buy-side would still be incredibly hard even with this firm on my resume esp since I come from a non-target.

What are your guys' opinions? Am I undervaluing myself or am I being realistic about it?

 

Take whatever you prefer. There is no rule that says you have to go into buy-side straight away, if at all. Some people may just prefer banking, and that could be you. But if your long-term aim is to go to the buy-side, then go. Really it's personal preference. I wouldn't ever go to the buy-side, but that's just me.

 

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