Wells Fargo vs Cowen

I am an MBA from a core school. I have two offers for a summer associate position within IBD: Wells Fargo Generalist vs Cowen Industrials A&D. Both positions are for NYC.

I need help deciding, noting that I am interested in potentially re-recruiting after the summer for a BB. I also want to keep my options open after I take a FT offer. My desired exit ops are MM PE or a Corp Fin role.

Please list the bank and your rationale.

 
Best Response

It'll be my first year in a core b-school this fall. If I were in your shoes, I would choose WF NY because WF has a strong brand even thought they're more of a commercial bank. Other companies (F500, etc.) might not know what Cowen is and it's fair to say WF is starting to get bundled up with other BB's because of their balance sheet driven deals. If it were a choice betwee WF and some top MM's then that would be another discussion.

WF probably also has a better training program as well. Just don't rate Cowen up there yet. To me it's in the Piper Jaffray, Lincoln, Duff camp and not the HW, Blair, HL camp.

 

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