How long does on-cycle last?

Incoming 1st year analyst at a BB and won't be starting my training program until a week later. I feel reasonably prepped (~90%) but wanted to feel 100% before I start to talk to HHs, so I've been holding off on the HH emails so far. Have also just gotten an interview invite for tomorrow morning (despite not submitting any HH interest forms or resume) but will decline it for now.

With on-cycle starting, I was wondering how long the process will last. I've heard anywhere from 48/72 hrs to 2 weeks, so just want to be sure. If it's the later case, I was considering prepping intensely for the next few days then tell the HHs that I want to join on-cycle, albeit a few days late. Would that be worth it or should I just skip on-cycle and do off-cycle?

To be fair, I've always wanted to do on-cycle as I prefer the quick timeline and more simplified modeling tests; I don't want to have to juggle a 1-week take-home LBO modeling case study while working on multiple live deals, and would much prefer paper LBOs / 90min LBOs. I just didn't realize that on-cycle could be this early!? Like many of us haven't even start at our firms yet, not to mention hitting the desk. I also know 100% that I want to do MF/UMM PE, if that matters, for the decision to join/skip on-cycle.

10 Comments
 

This isn’t true, lots of MFs and UMM are still interviewing because the first round of interviewees were trash. I bet they’ll take their time and will be a second on cycle.

 

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