What now? - An Intern's Reflections

For a while, this forum has peddled the 2 + 2 route. 2 years at GS or MS, then MFPE, then the promise land--L/S equities. Well those funds are getting blown up left and right. I interned at a pretty prominent one and was hoping to go back next summer, but the odds of that are pretty low. 

So my question--what now? I don't want to be a career banker/PE guy. Maybe working at a podshop, but your odds of losing your job there are high. I'm at a HYPSM school studying computer science and could probably raise money for a startup--maybe the move is to start a SaaS company and ride the next tech bull run for the next few years? 

So in summary: what should I do? If you were a student interested in tech and investing, what would you pursue given the current macro environment? 

Comments (8)

  • Analyst 1 in IB - CB
2mo 

If you are so smart in HYSP, aren't you the top1%?

Why are you asking idiots here

  • 1
  • 2
Most Helpful
2mo 
[email protected], what's your opinion? Comment below:

Because being intelligent isn't necessarily a proxy for life experience. There are older people on this forum who have a better understanding of the feasibility of different paths given a richer career. Yeesh.

  • 2
  • Investment Manager in HF - Other
2mo 
Intern in HF - Other

For a while, this forum has peddled the 2 + 2 route. 2 years at GS or MS, then MFPE, then the promise land--L/S equities. Well those funds are getting blown up left and right. I interned at a pretty prominent one and was hoping to go back next summer, but the odds of that are pretty low. 

So my question--what now? I don't want to be a career banker/PE guy. Maybe working at a podshop, but your odds of losing your job there are high. I'm at a HYPSM school studying computer science and could probably raise money for a startup--maybe the move is to start a SaaS company and ride the next tech bull run for the next few years? 

So in summary: what should I do? If you were a student interested in tech and investing, what would you pursue given the current macro environment? 

Starting and then running a business is very different than investing (especially shorter term investing like HFs will do). I would figure that out first. Do you like to build things? Fundraise? Etc? A startup is an incredible tough thing to be successful at (even joining one). 

If investing, I'd go for systematic or quant like funds. Mixes the math/CS background with investing in a way that would probably interest you. Not sure why L/S (especially the more discretionary stuff) interests everyone. 

  • Intern in HF - Other
2mo 

The thing is, I have 2 separate interests. I totally get that startups and running a company is very different from L/S investing. But I've tried both in various capacities and loved each of them, and would like to have a career where I give both of them a shot. 

2mo 
monkey0114, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Is it really that easy for HYSPM students to just "think" of a random startup idea and get funding?

  • Anonymous Monkey's picture
  • Anonymous Monkey
  • Rank: Chimp
2mo 
Anonymous Monkey, what's your opinion? Comment below:

yea they just make pretty slides and get someone from stanford on their "dev" team and poof they have a startup

2mo 
monkey0114, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Guess we still have a while to go until the market bottoms

  • 1
2mo 
Isaiah_53_5 💎🙌💎🙌💎, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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