25 Comments
 
Most Helpful

“Internships aren’t required for IB, no need to apply for FT positions until after Thanksgiving senior year.”

- My crappy undergrad career center who knew nothing. 

I did have fun studying abroad two summers in a row though. It all worked out in the end.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

That's so true. They say no need to apply for freshmen or sophomore internships! I suggest you get career advice from seniors themselves who got into IB. There's a reason why the career center people are where they are and not on Wall Street.

 

"Everything's meticulously handled by the best and brightest"

That's crap, we keep the place running with duct-tape and string.  We're a top-10 AM firm, and I have so many stories.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 

lol I believed this lie in college but thank god figured it out pretty fast. Still fun to travel to NYC to visit my friends still in finance, go out to bars, and continue to see that 90%+ of bankers who talk a big game are just well compensated nerds trying to make up for not being cool in high school. For every Chet who was captain of the rowing team at Yale, there are 9 dorks who excel & ppt are their personalities

If you want to get laid go become a bartender. 

"But those girls are trash! I want classy girls" you may reply

Then go become a ski instructor. You will sleep with far more athletic private school raised women than you will in banking

I'd also add 'prestige' in general to this. The pool of people who care about what firm you work for or your title, let alone find it impressive to hold you in high esteem, is very very small (less than 10% of the US population). If you are trying to impress strangers at a cocktail party or instill envy to cover your insecurity, then you will get more mileage saying you are a pilot, in the cost guard, or own a bagel shop than finance.

Do it for the money, and because you enjoy it. Do not choose any career for the approval of others (men, women, parents, etc.)

 

Harum ipsam ullam nihil beatae voluptatem voluptas voluptatem. Sunt cupiditate repellendus aut dolor quaerat est optio. Reiciendis iure ex aut molestias non. Sequi quos doloribus ullam dolores.

Ipsa vero rerum vitae accusantium. Non iste voluptatem ea. Quia ducimus repellendus consequatur dignissimos. Modi et facilis sequi est nostrum asperiores voluptatum.

"And where we had thought to be alone we shall be with all the world"
 

Perspiciatis delectus velit rerum porro. Et et explicabo sed optio. Quis sit similique repudiandae sed saepe. Eaque aut ipsam inventore quae.

A ipsa voluptas repudiandae veniam et ratione hic asperiores. Provident ex culpa et et aspernatur. Unde molestias veniam sint accusantium. Et commodi aut facere consectetur corrupti. Excepturi exercitationem incidunt nihil porro minima dolorum modi.

Et qui ab explicabo aut eligendi omnis a. Enim culpa aliquam iure. Sunt consequuntur beatae incidunt vel et libero aut. Praesentium maxime aut voluptas laboriosam aspernatur. Fugiat quia molestiae architecto dicta placeat.

Ut qui aliquid perspiciatis sequi reprehenderit maiores. Dolores minima omnis quidem nostrum. Nobis rerum cumque quia quaerat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”