Prep On Cycle or Travel
Hey guys,
Incoming analyst in a group that historically places umm/mf (mid bulge top group). I’m home right now after graduation and am debating. Do I travel with my buddies from school for two weeks or use that time to prep for on cycle? Would love to hear from some of you that placed and if it is worth it. On one hand, a book like “Die with Zero” by Bill Perkins emphasizes how delayed gratification is overemphasized and he wishes he traveled while he was 20. On the other hand, I think of the butterfly effect phenomenon and think that landing at a top shop could have compounding effects on my career. Would really appreciate any advice. I also need to find an apartment in NYC and travel would hurt that search.
This might be your last chance to travel/freely hang with your buddies for the next two years — would def go for it
What I did was travel for a few weeks after the end of my senior year and prep after. I ended up getting a UMM PE offer that I am pretty happy with, so I think it can work out. I would say go for the travel and just be ready to put your nose down and study after traveling for a while.
Did you do PF or WSO to prep? Current senior and have no idea how to prep
PF all day. It’s the way to go
Can you PM me? Would much appreciate the opportunity to ask you a couple questions on the process.
Please ask questions here, I would guess other people have similar questions and want to helpful to as many people as possible.
For any college juniors heading into their IB internships now that are reading this - study during your spring semester of senior year.
What are some good resources? WSO course and PF?
See my post here: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/pe-recruiting-prep…
Definitely travel. Take a week or so after that and grind for oncycle, but this is your last chance to all travel together
Graduated 3 weeks ago, have been traveling since the day after I graduated haha! Bank is upset bc they want me to take licenses ( SIE and Series) before start date and I declined due to traveling. They said it’s gonna delay me getting the desk I said I’m fine with that.
This might be last time you get to travel freely, don’t get hung up on work
Those exams are easy AF and the person telling you to worry about them is no doubt some compliance/HR person not a banker. Would be crazy to skip anything fun for those.
Travel. So many spots are held off-cycle now it really makes no difference vs on-cycle. Just realize you will have to take time to prep a bit while working which is a commitment.
I respectfully disagree with the “last chance to travel” comments. I think it’s a dangerous limiting belief that if you don’t do XYZ thing when you’re young you’ll miss your chance. Maybe that’s the case for most people, but strive to be better than that. Assume that there will be future opportunities to travel because you’re going to be successful and in a position to demand that time when it makes sense. With that assumption, you don’t travel at a unique time when it could cost you a big opportunity that only comes around at that particular time.
Go outside man I’m begging you
Sorry I like to help people when I can.
The guy who needs better ways to spend his time is the one who goes on WSO to insult others.
As someone who didn't travel and chose to stay home and study - please go travel.
Target, top BB - prepped like crazy, got deep in multiple oncycle processes, and didn't end up placing during the first week of madness. A few months later on the desk and ended up signing NY MF.
Outcome may have been the same either way and I missed out on traveling with my best friends. Maybe I am jaded already but nearly a year on the desk and have great regrets. Trust me you will not get that time or opportunity back. Everyone is busy, clocking crazy hours, and tough to see them these days. I don't think a few weeks of prep is going to change much outcome-wise so take the travel.
Really appreciate the advice. Any shot I can pm you?
How did you prep LBOs and case studies?
Graduated during CV-19 so didn't get the chance to travel, but ended up being a blessing in disguised. Used the time to prep for on-cycle + knock out deferred MBA applications instead, and while it absolutely sucked in the moment, was the best choice I ever made. Landed MF PE seat in NYC on-cycle from my BB team, and got in to H/S MBA. Might have still happened if I had travelled for a few months, but odds most certainly would have been lower.
At the end of the day - just depends on how badly you want it. If the difference between MM vs. UMM vs. MF or SF vs. NYC PE doesn't matter to you, then would definitely travel. If you'd be just as happy in Mainsail Partners SF as you would be in Blackstone PE NYC, then definitely go travel and have as much fun as possible in the near-term.
Can you PM me? Would really appreciate the opportunity to ask you a couple questions.
did you take the gmat while still in school?
Travel. Go as hard as you can for those few weeks and do as much dumb shit as you can. This is your last chance.
This is your last chance to touch grass and get laid. When you’re on your death bed, you’re going to wish you went on that trip with your boys. Don’t be a geed.
As someone who went through this process last year, I honestly regret not having taken the time to travel with friends/ family, given how many opportunities there are off-cycle
I picked travel and did not regret at all. By the way, they’re not mutually exclusive. I’m sure you’ll have some down time where you can crack open a laptop or iPad and do some light reading on sectors of interest or reading through a couple guides of FAQ. When I traveled, I had a lot of time commuting by train or air in between locations that I utilized, which helped me lay some groundwork before I did more intense prep after my travel. Ended up with great offer and knowing that I spent as much time as I could relaxing before starting a job as tough as IB.
Can you PM me? Would love to ask you a couple of questions about your experience
On-cycle is highly overhyped these days. Participation (by both firms and candidates) is down ~70-80% vs. the last year it was on a semi-sane timeline (March 2021). Lot of funds/HHs now run a "off-on cycle" in November, and I haven't heard of a single MF that doesn't hold at least one spot for off-cycle.
For the love of God, please, go travel/do something fun with the brief window of time you have between grad and starting. I promise you, you are in a good group at a good bank (yes, even a "mid" BB is a fantastic role out of undergrad) – you will be ok. Take the time you have to do something you won't have a chance to do over the next couple of years.
Travel and don’t look back. This job is ass and I think about quitting every day.
Can’t agree more. Can’t imagine signing myself up for 2 years of PE after IB
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