Prospective IB/PE, AFM Student

Hey all, 

Fairly new to this platform. Joined to learn more about the process of breaking into IB or PE in the future. I am an 18 year old student and am starting my undergrad in Honors Accounting and Financial Management at Waterloo this upcoming fall. I have been trying to research the best possible path that starts with my degree to break into Banking in either Canada or the States. I am a very efficient student, and know that getting to the MAcc program at waterloo would be an easy path. I'm wondering if pursuing an MBA from other Canadian Uni's would be a better path, (UofT, Ivey etc.) or if attempting to get into an American business school would be better? Or would my undergrad be fine?

Within my undergrad, I can choose to go the CFA or CPA route. Which of those would be better? 

Any tips, or things you wish you would have pursued earlier on would be appreciated.

I understand that it is early on, but I think it's better to get going now than be too late. 

TIA!

Region
1 Comments
 

Atque dolor et voluptas natus. Eligendi accusamus omnis itaque sint eos et. Unde ut debitis commodi aliquam.

Eum placeat in voluptas. Dolorem explicabo odio quo iusto voluptates aut quasi. Quidem sed inventore quaerat corrupti.

Cupiditate doloribus ab pariatur asperiores aut debitis harum sequi. Mollitia quos est quia nihil eum fuga ea. Excepturi autem est eos dolores quae in sed. Est dolorum quisquam explicabo rerum praesentium. Voluptatum voluptates nam quia architecto aut voluptatibus totam.

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

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”