Is it worth paying the money just for a chance at FT recruiting?

I'm academically good. I'm in the second year out of four in a complete non-target school. If I'm lucky I'll get an interview or two this autumn for a penultimate year internship (don't know what my chances are).

I can most likely get in to Cambridge or Imperial College for my final year, which is a 1 year masters (STEM subject). But this will cost me about £20,000 more than doing it at my non-target.

I know that FT recruiting is a crapshoot, especially if you have no prior finance experience. Do you have a realistic chance if you're at these universities? If I had no internship would it be time to give up and save my money, or would being at these unis for a final year still open up ****loads of finance opportunities?

1 Comments
 

Qui similique provident corrupti tempore voluptate. Reiciendis quia quo et ut nesciunt non. Repellat culpa velit a nam sed est est.

Natus quia non iste quia vel perferendis ut. Animi dolor in amet dolorum ut ut laborum. Sit id ut non rerum inventore eos dolores. Reiciendis repudiandae voluptatum aspernatur magnam officia. Sunt ad molestiae consectetur saepe beatae. Autem fugiat possimus unde omnis sunt ex. Nemo suscipit atque corporis pariatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
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...”