How hard is it to place into UMM/MF PE from a BB firm?

I would imagine everyone who wants to from GS/MS would place into MF/UMM PE, but how about people in slightly lower BBs

How many in the average analyst class at BAML, Barclays, CS, etc place into MF or UMM PE?

Region
15 Comments
 

Agreed on this. I would say I know a lot of people from Barclays/CS who were able to place at top tier MFs.

Also, I made this point on another post, but people get a distorted view by just counting alumni at funds because usually the types of people at a Barclays/CS are less type A than a GS/MS kid. Meaning a higher % of the analysts at a firm like GS will recruit/want to do PE.

For example, about half of my group (Barc/CS) didn’t recruit because they don’t want PE, and everyone who did was able to land a MF role.

 
Most Helpful

Think this year was a bit of an anomaly because of how unprepared everyone was, so many candidates at mid-tier BBs were getting a lot more looks than usual (usually in the "second batch" after the funds found out their primary candidates weren't ready). Not sure what the above poster is talking about but there's a huge difference between getting looks/interviews and converting to offers because things like pedigree and diversity matter even after securing the initial interview. Some anecdotal experience – even at "top" groups at mid-tier BBs, only 0-2 per class per group place into MF/UMM excluding female / diversity. One of my closest friends at BAML/CS/Citi/Barc "top" group (with very strong undergrad, gpa and test scores) struggled oncycle last year and had to go through a grueling few months of off-cycle. At groups like those, you probably have a higher expected value targeting elite MM firms (if you're risk averse) such as Audax, Genstar, LG, etc. Some of my female friends who were in those same groups were getting interviews / offers basically everywhere they wanted with much worse background and deal experience. It's also not true that GS/MS/JPM can automatically secure those seats if they want, not sure where that notion came from.

 

Aut nam nisi repellat voluptate reprehenderit. Quibusdam necessitatibus aut assumenda consequuntur cupiditate delectus iusto. Vitae voluptas reiciendis nesciunt quo reprehenderit eum neque. Vero minima et non facere laudantium consequatur adipisci.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
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...”