Non-Ivy Graduate - Best Opportunities For Career Growth?

I know this is a topic that's been posted before, but as a very recent graduate from Cal Poly SLO, I'm trying to gauge what's the most realistic path for me in finance. I had a 3.2 GPA out of undergrad while being a student-athlete, and didn't have time to pursue finance internships because of that commitment during the summer. Basically my question is, what career path(s) in the buy or sell side of finance should I focus on if I want the most room for growth and highest pay down the road?

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