What do you need to get into reputable shops

Incoming analyst next year at GS/MS/JPM, group has good exits (Carlyle, Warburg etc). I come from a non target school, 3.2 gpa (compsci minor that is why), also have not the best SAT score. Will I be able to go into a reputable shop with those stats, despite my background i thought i made it since i made it to banking. I am thinking about taking my gmat to and doing well to offset my past. 

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Pretty unlikely to land MF with a 3.2 from a non target, sorry to say. HHs care less about SAT every year, but some will ask. If you can get a ridiculous GMAT score that will help offset the SAT score (I'd offer it instead of the SAT score lol), but that's easier said than done. At the end of the day it's you and 99 other top group analysts, most of whom have sterling backgrounds (top GPA, good school, involvement, etc). No one has deals to talk about, so there is a lot of weight on rankable attributes from your resume.

I would be as well prepped as possible. Have your story 100% down, be stone-cold good on technicals, do some model cases as you have time in the next year so you're ready to go if oncycle goes early again. Your GPA will keep you out of some processes, just the way it is, so make sure you don't fall out of any more by not being prepared.

Realistically, I think your MF chances are slim unless you have some amazing hook on your resume (i.e. D1 athlete with accolades). I would think long and hard about your oncycle goals, if you tell the HHs "Yeah I want MF buyout" but your background isn't up to par you are kind of wasting your shot at oncycle. If MM or UMM would be of interest to you, I'd consider being open to those and you can always lateral up to MF later on.

 

Appreciate this a lot! Yea I don't mind MM or UMM as long as it is a reputable shop and can lead me to career growth or opportunities to lateral to MF. The only differentiator I would have is my background i.e immigrant, poor, etc, and the things I have achieved. But since I am graduating early I will start preparing soon, and take my gmat and see what I can get. But thank you for this! 

I pretty much achieved what i wanted in terms of banking, for from your experience recruiting for PE or the people you have seen recruit for PE what do they look for that stands out to them in terms of the fund itself? and to start studying for PE stuff what's the best way you think i should go about (LBO paper LBO) but  for banking there was the 400 guide and the youtube videos, for PE where do i go lol. 

 

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