If you don't know where you want to be placed then I'd probably take BAML over Barclays. Across the board I'd say that it has better groups when comparing side by side. That said, BAML has some solid groups in M&A, Sponsors, and LevFin while Barclays has tops in NatRes and P&U so if you have a strong preference for one of those groups I'd take the respective bank.

I don't know much about Guggenheim because the opinions seem to be really polarized.

 

BAML sponsors - least work for good exits (very efficient 2 year program)

BAML M&A - work a lot, good exits as well

BAML LevFin - this group still has some good exits but i think you would prefer sponsors

BAML REGL - probably best REIB group on the street? If you want to do REPE at MF this is group to be in IMO

Barclays Power - probably best exits of this group set, idk how much these guys work, but very good HH pedigree

Barclays NatRes - from my experience, very overrated, would need someone who works in this group / knows Barx/Leh to comment if they still exit well or even have a lot of work coming their way, Barx has missed a lot of really big nat res deals in the last 2 - 3 years

Barclays TMT - a very solid group overall, and better than people give it credit for. Insane culture, in a good way

Barclays HC - i think they just lost a bunch of people, but used to be pretty good

Gugg - bad exits in general, but they do work on a handful of big accounts; just not a great rep with HHs as far as i know

EDIT:

Because you are a summer and have no job security, thinking about return offer % might also be helpful. In the last couple of years, BAML has been returning anywhere between 45% to 75% of their summer interns on a group by group basis, and many groups have been on that lower end (particularly 2 years ago). From my understanding, some of the people who got cut were actually good candidates, and so if you are concerned about job security would take Barx over BAML. Barx probably 60 - 75% return offer rate if not higher for some groups. Gugg idk about return offer rate

 

Wow thanks for this. Very helpful. I've seen some pretty bad things about Barclays TMT (sweatshop, no deals, bad exits) lol but there are a ton of trolls on WSO I guess.

Yeah definitely, those groups at BAML and Barclays would be the dream, but everyone is probably going for them so the odds are definitely against me.

And will keep the return offer rate in mind. Thanks!

 

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