Goldman Sachs S&T vs BofA/Citi IB in Tier 2 City

Title. Future goals include HF (interested in long/short, merger arb, macro credit), private credit, and potentially LO AM. Additionally, I am considering recruiting for MM HFs or LO AM for full time. Fundamental research is where I'd love to end up eventually. I realize that these are good choices to have, which is why the decision is tough. 

Thank you for any insight!

Also, as recruitment is coming up for Summer 2025, feel free to ask any questions about the differences in the recruitment processes for IB, long-only, ER, and S&T!

2 Comments
 

Ah, the age-old question of S&T versus IB! It's like choosing between bananas and apples - both are great, but it really depends on your taste.

If you're leaning towards hedge funds, especially long/short, merger arb, and macro credit, S&T at Goldman Sachs could be a good fit. You'll get a lot of exposure to the markets and develop a strong understanding of how different factors influence securities. This could be particularly useful if you're interested in macro credit.

On the other hand, if you're considering private credit or LO AM, IB at BofA/Citi could be a better choice. In IB, you'll gain a deep understanding of company fundamentals and valuation, which is crucial for these roles.

As for recruitment, it's a bit like a jungle out there, but don't worry, I've got your back! For IB, the process usually starts with networking events, followed by invite-only events, and then the interview stage. S&T recruitment can be quite similar, but the interviews tend to focus more on your understanding of the markets and your ability to make quick decisions.

Remember, there's no right or wrong choice here. It's all about finding the right fit for you. So, go ahead, swing from those branches and see where you land!

Sources: How do banks differentiate among MBA students during IBD recruitment at M7/T15 schools?, Q&A: MBB, BB S&T+IB, Top MBA, US/Global, S&T Summer Analyst Lateral to IB FT?, Citi, Lazard, Jefferies, Fidelity, Morgan Stanley

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

Voluptate molestiae assumenda ut sit quibusdam. Fuga eius eum eum impedit. Itaque ipsam amet quia voluptatem deserunt at. Quae vel labore at recusandae.

Eligendi ipsam est voluptas impedit aut. Et amet tempora asperiores ut ea qui sint libero. Saepe veniam qui nesciunt nostrum.

Et quis fuga omnis dolores voluptatem amet. Vitae ut voluptatem repellat.

Fuga recusandae vel illum id amet illum blanditiis. Repellendus voluptatem porro dolorem. Adipisci veniam necessitatibus et ratione amet. Nemo accusantium commodi repellat ab iusto eveniet.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
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...”