Chip on shoulder: how to prepare for PE associate position?

So I got really screwed on 2 super live deals right before recruiting (5am+ nights for the 3 weeks before and during on-cycle). Ended up barely prepping, overestimating how prepared I was from prepping months before. On-cycle came and after striking out early, I got a UMM / large MM offer - definitely happy to have an exit, but truth be told I had the weakest placement amongst my group’s analyst class (one of those “top groups”) and the fund was outside my Top 15 choices.

I’m using this as a chip on my shoulder for my remaining year in banking. I’d like advice from juniors in PE on how to most effectively use my remaining time in IB, as well as with any free time I may have. I may also prep for B-School (take the GMAT, etc.), shooting for H/S (doable from where I landed, although not guaranteed, and solid pipeline to H) so any advice on how to juggle that with banking would be great!

Our staffing model is messed up, where 2nd years can coast on 60 hours a week, while first years get screwed and legitimately get grinded 90+ hours on average, so hoping this year gives me more opportunity to step back and think like an investor when doing my work. Fwiw, I landed at a shop where there are a lot of alumni from my school / BB IB group, and I have some personal connections from school (including with 1 influential senior), so I think I have a chance at VP promote if I crush it (obviously not a guarantee, and I’d take the promote in a heartbeat). Thanks!

 

Get a 750+ on the GMAT and enjoy your free time. Rest up so that you can grind hard at your new firm if you want to dazzle them and get a VP promote / solid rec for school. At the same time, make sure you leave your group with people saying "he worked hard up until the end - great guy and nice to be around". If you are really interested in bschool go start a non profit or get spun up early with an admissions coach (it is never too early).

 

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