start as goldman analyst or deutsche associate?

I will be graduating with a four year BA/MA. I am under the impression I can leverage this at banks to start as an associate. is this true?

and if so would it be beneficial to step down a little in prestige to start as an associate? I think I can at least leverage an MA and an offer from a goldman or morgan into an associate offer at a bank like deutsche. would it be worth it or is name more important? and this is for trading, so I am leaning toward doing it because prestige matters less than performance. what do you guys think?

 

not sure where you got your information from but I highly doubt you will be able to leverage an undergraduate experience into an associate role. Deutsche Bank or otherwise will not be hiring someone who just finished undergrad as an associate. There has always been a pretty clear system in how this works..... undergrad to analyst to PE/HF or direct hire to associate or to MBA... then to PE/HF/associate......... firms have no incentive to change this system whatsoever. It would cause a lot of anger amongst those who had done it the usual way, and coming straight from undergrad you have less value as an associate as opposed to those coming out of MBA or who have at least done an analyst stint.....

I would check your info

 
big unit:
dude you probably won't have an offer as an analyst OR associate...seriously, what kind of school lets you do a BA/MA in four years?

you should start looking at boutiques/MM

Was that necessary? Dont be a dick dude.

"Oh - the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion?"

"Oh the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion" - Frank Slaughtery 25th Hour.
 
Best Response
big unit:
dude you probably won't have an offer as an analyst OR associate...seriously, what kind of school lets you do a BA/MA in four years?

you should start looking at boutiques/MM

You should question the academic reputation of your school if this is something completely new to your institution. This is not something unheard of... at all, if you attend a top university.

To answer the OP's question: I have personally never heard of anybody pulling this off. Albeit, my friends who have done this type of degree combination were not from Wharton.

Consider this: just because you have an MA does not make you more qualified for an associate position's tasks than any other student coming out of undergrad. It just means you have a different academic experience. Honestly (and no offense in anyway), a BA/MA combo is not impressive enough to woo the I-Banks into offering you an associate interview. A dual degree from Huntsman and Jerome Fisher is MUCH more impressive, in my opinion, than a BA/MA. Don't you agree? Expecting an associate position at a BB with an MA is quite idealistic.

 
big unit:
dude you probably won't have an offer as an analyst OR associate...seriously, what kind of school lets you do a BA/MA in four years?

you should start looking at boutiques/MM

many many schools... and he might have gone in with credits to being with anyways.

 

I would have to agree with most of the above responders, it seems very unlikely that you could leverage your degree/experience into an associate role. As someone mentioned, there are plenty of MBAs (especially now, in this market) that are probably more qualified, at least as far as credentials are concerned, that are fighting tooth-and-nail to get any position at any bank.

At any rate, good luck to you.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
ajel:
You should focus on getting an actual concrete offer rather than inventing hypothetical scenarios with no basis in fact

Spot on. I have a masters and I am starting as an analyst. Out of tons of students in my masters NO one is starting as an associate. The highest I heard of was a girl who was starting as a third year analyst. But she had a degree from Polytechnique before doing her master here in London... And this is only for London, I heard in NY you start as a first year no matter what (sources?)

And you are pretty f...ing arrogant OP, thinking you can get an offer at GS and Deutshe, and that the "lesser" bank will woo you with an associate offer. Deutsher kicks GS' ass in plenty of products especially in trading here in Europe.

You should be happy if you get an internship offer at Wachovia, especially in this current market.


Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend

 

No way.

I have a masters and am an analyst. There are quite a few of us in the same position. The only people who were taken as associates had MBAs and work experience. Our desk also had an intern in an MBA program who came straight from undergrad - he was a summer analyst.

 
anon101:
I think I can at least leverage an MA and an offer from a goldman or morgan into an associate offer at a bank like deutsche.
LOL. Good one. There are a small number of banks where sometimes with an MA you will start as a 2nd Year Analyst. Credit Suisse did that. If you have a PhD at a few places you start as an Associate, but more likely a Senior Analyst and it takes about 1yr till you become an Associate. No way in hell will you start straight off as an Associate with an MA, you'll start as a 1st yr Analyst like people with BAs almost anywhere.
 

arrogant indeed. the difference being an associate and analyst is huge. a slight dip in prestige does not justify the need for a huge jump in seniority.

also, the 4 year ba/ma program at ucla for economics is pretty bull. several students do this each year, and i have not heard of any of them being able to make a huge jump like that just because they took an extra class or two each quarter for the last year or so. half the students in the economics program are probably qualified for this. if it was possible to do that, i am assuming that hoards would be doing so.

 

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