Future undergrad needs advice on college
Hey, I'm a high school senior who was recently admitted to Wharton. I intend to go into finance for a while, but I'm not sure about my long-term plans. I'm a planner and a hardo, but not the annoying type if you know what I mean (although writing this post feels annoying haha). Anyways, I really want to get into a hedge fund (probably Silver Point) or top PE firm out of undergrad. I've heard these kinds of firms only take the top 1 or 2 kids from Wharton each year.
I know every kid accepted to Wharton thinks they're a genius, but I do believe (perhaps to a fault) I can accomplish this with enough fortune and discipline. However, I want to actually enjoy college, and I'm afraid being one of the top students at fucking Wharton and having a good social life (interested in joining a frat) are mutually exclusive. Is it essentially impossible to be in a social frat and all that, at the same time as doing godly enough in academics to get into a top HF, PE, or at least EB?
Now before I get lectured on enjoying being a teenager and all that, yes I know my job isn't my life. I intend on prioritizing my social life and health over getting into some stupid hedge fund, but I still want to explore my career options and shoot high.
Do not refer to yourself as a "hardo."
Also, don't pass up going to Wharton for undergrad. (Unless you're deciding between Wharton and Harvard or whatnot)
Yeah I was joking about the hardo thing, just a little self-deprecating humor to show I'm self-aware about how young I am to be asking these kinds of questions. I just see a lot of high school kids getting flack in these forums so I wanted to get that out of the way.
And I'm set on Wharton.
If you can't get good grades and have a good social life then they probly wont hire you. Being a genius in the classroom while blacking out 3 nights a week are nowhere near mutually exclusive. The number of ivy kids I know who were alcoholics and had 4.0's is pretty surprising. And this wasn't kids majoring in communications or some BS, it was finance, econ, some engineers, comp sci, info sci, etc...
Manage your time well, get good grades, network a lot in ur free time, and most importantly enjoy college u only get to be an undergrad once. People underestimate how important being an enjoyable and interesting person to talk to plays into this process and having fun trains u to do that. Doing all of these things diligently will land u in a good spot.
That’s relieving. I party a little now and am doing fine, I’m just worried about competing with the kids who live in the library. But like you said, social skills are important so I’ll have an advantage there.
i could never trust a man who had his shit together at this age
plz explain further
venmo me a stack
Haha I know it’s a bit much
i had no idea what private equity was in high school, lol.
chill out my dude. maybe try losing that virginity first. your career can wait.
I've been teaching at Wharton for 8 years now and have known at least a dozen students who got the ultra-prestigious buyside jobs out of undergrad.
They all got top grades (A's or A+'s) in every course and made it look effortless (in my course, at least).
They all appeared to be well-adjusted and had extensive engagement outside of schoolwork. I don't remember any frat guys in this group, but at least two sorority gals and several varsity athletes.
Above all they had outstanding social skills. Likable, relatable and never put a foot wrong in interactions with teachers and other students. If they're math geniuses as well, they went to HFs, otherwise to megafund PE.
Overall at Wharton, the people with great social skills tend to get the best jobs out of UG, in my observation. I've known a few "hardos"; they all seem to go into REPE.
That’s interesting, appreciate the insight. Do you mind if I PM you some more specific questions about wharton?
PM away, however I'll need to preserve my incog.
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