Sophomore at Target, thinking about 2019 PE SA

Bain would fit you the most but it's not realistic to rely on just one firm. You can try the other funds that recruit SAs at Penn, like SLP/BX/Apollo but most of the SAs I knew at those shops had some hardcore finance experience/knowledge for their age, and most had done like 1-2 SAs at decent banking groups.

If you're at Strategy& soph summer, then I think a doable route to FT PE would be to do a top banking group junior summer and then leverage that for FT PE. But still, aim for a MF next summer, there's no harm aiming high - you never know what could happen. Just don't slack on your IBD apps because that is the most likely way this is happening.

I would say unless if you intern at GS IB as a sophomore, your chances will be really low and you'd have to network. Keep in mind 90% of GS IB sophomore intern will possibly recruit for buy-side summer opportunities too.

I'd focus on recruiting everywhere but be realistic and understand that getting into IB in a top group is difficult in itself and that is what you should be focused on if you want PE to be a possibility

I'd imagine that you would interview well at Vista Equity Partners--they focus pretty heavily on operational improvements and recruit from Penn for SA. Downside (perhaps) is that you'll only be doing software and you'll be in Austin, not NYC. Golden Gate (very consultant friendly) has hired straight out of undergrad in the past, not sure if that was one-off though.

Others that come to mind as good fits are some of the middle-market funds that recruit at Penn--look into Audax and Altamont specifically.

With that being sad, I agree with the above comment--focus on IB also as it's easy to get burned if you shoot solely for a single sector.