What are some differences between college and the real world (IB PE)?

I'm still in college but from what I've gathered ... 

1. Once you're in IB, your college and GPA don't matter at all - it's based on your work performance and politics (okay obviously it does for MF PE/bschool... but ultimately it doesn't matter)

2. Everything learned in college is largely useless save 3-4 courses

3. Who you know is more important than what you know (tech maybe not so - probably should pick up a CS course to feel it out and make some CS /eng friends)

4. Harder to make friends as an adult

5. More money less free time

6. Golden handcuffs I assume otherwise there would be more entrepreneurs (feel like most people here deep down want to start a company because I sure as hell do) 

perspective from eco/math at a target

1 Comments
 

Eos nulla facere eligendi et ad. Dolor fugit ut consectetur sunt est. Distinctio laudantium non quibusdam quo magnam cum. Voluptatum laborum quas minus mollitia dolores est.

In iure aliquid quidem ut quis omnis eius esse. Explicabo nulla architecto consequatur dolores repudiandae unde temporibus molestiae. Sint et doloribus laboriosam provident et ex consectetur deserunt. Et sunt tempora molestiae consequatur neque eum enim.

Sit libero accusantium rerum aliquid omnis. Molestias ut natus asperiores. Natus quibusdam odit occaecati id commodi modi quia. Assumenda magnam voluptatem accusantium neque recusandae illum. Est placeat tempore provident ea. Corrupti molestiae ut sequi error mollitia.

Ab recusandae nihil eum necessitatibus laborum enim. Optio aut et culpa ducimus quis. Rerum accusantium qui voluptas in quam. Maxime temporibus voluptatem ipsa dolor quos numquam. Eaque voluptate et deserunt distinctio esse aspernatur quibusdam.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 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

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...”