How toxic is WSO?

I signed IBDFT at a “mid-tier” BB (M&A) ... although I am proud to have landed an offer given my upbringing, I can’t help but feel like it isn’t enough.

Ik generally people would love to just break into IB, but WSO makes it seem like the only ppl who succeed are those at top BB/EB..

Is everything in here truly overstated or is there a rationale as to why there is so much emphasis on getting into the top 3 banks and those banks only..

 
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WSO definitely fosters an elitist culture that makes you want to do everything even if you don't really want to do it. It fosters that competitive atmosphere that if you're not at Goldman, you're not good enough. Even then people are like oh that guy works in a bad group at Goldman so he's trash... It's so hard to break into banking and you're 100% right, even then people will try to bash you because you're at a "mid-tier" bank.

Also Private Equity isn't the "golden land" for many people. The hours are still brutal and it's just more and more recruiting, which is more and more stress. Forget all this "prestige" bullshit. Do what makes you happy, you're clearly an outstanding individual to break into banking. Fuck spending the next few years of your life thinking if you should try to get into a "higher-tier" bank and instead enjoy your life.

There's a reason whenever someone posts a "ranking" post it gets a ton of monkey shit, because we're trying to move away from the difference between working at Morgan Stanley vs Goldman Sachs, cause they are all incredible banks already.

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If a mid tier bank is good enough for you then you should be happy bro. Everyone has different goals and if you always look to compare yourself to someone else then you will always end up unhappy

 

Log of this app and ask your friends how many people have a job offer paying 100k all in for 2021. I'm pretty sure that you'll have some friends with offers making less than your base salary, some friends that didn't get a return offer and have to rerecruit, and some friends panicking with no idea of what they're gonna do. You're privileged to be in the position you're in.

I think that once you get a FT offer this website becomes more of a disservice for the reason that you mentioned - you feel like you're not doing enough.

 

Honestly, where you should be happy about ending up also relates to your previous status in life. A low class white male working at CVP is pretty extraordinary, but a black woman with a family income of 500k making it to a top BB is much less special (if at all, but MS me for that I guess). Some kids have literal MDs as parents and have been being prepped for a finance career since they were 10, with tutoring sessions and private sports practices, while others get the short end of the stick and get worse test scores and grades, leading to worse schools, a worse work ethic, and worse placements.

 

Honestly, the difference is just marginal.

Most people on here want IB > PE just because others want the same thing.

Same reason people here die for GS IB, because it is referenced SO much that it has become the sole objective for many. Saw a thread earlier where someone was deciding between offers and referred to BofA as a "mediocre brand name". So out of touch with reality and how the world works.

I bet you go around asking interns why they want PE and 70% won't be able to give you a reason. But because it is the path that is worshiped here, it is what most people feel they should do.

Congrats on your offer. Being able to do IB at ANY level is amazing. Should be proud to be where you are, especially given the current climate. Good luck, really.

 

Let me put things into perspective. You go online. You look for finance info on a forum. The forum gives you a lot of info and allows you to post thoughts. Other people can also post their thoughts. Some thoughts are elitist. You read these elitist thoughts. You feel your current role is shit because of this. And now suddenly it's the forum's fault you feel inadequate!!??

What are you, 10!!?? Grow up kid, learn to use your brain

 

I’m willing to bet a majority of the elitism is driven by 1) interns 2) people who have not interned yet and 3) 1st year analysts.

Basically people who are industry virgins. Ive been in the industry over a decade and I’ve never seen veterans having dick swing contests about the firm or industry they work in.

As an example, no one uses the term “EBs”

 

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