What the heck did I get myself into and how can I go from here?
So I posted a lot over the past year over the biggest decision I had to make: transfer to a school in the US or go abroad to the UK.
I took the UK option over Vandy and now I'm at UCL. They admitted three times as many people and I haven't been able to get a spring week anywhere.
IB isn't the only thing I'm looking for, I'd happily settle for something else that could set me up well enough, but I don't know how to go about something else here.
I literally hate myself right now. I had such a good opportunity in the US and I took the UK because of "the experience" or whatever, thinking that UCL was a true target and that getting a finance job would be possible. Now I can't get a CF internship in the US because no one knows what my school is and in the UK I have no opportunities. I feel like I've literally just thrown away my life.
Ok, so how do I solve this... I have some options.
I could go back to my semi-target uni (not Vandy, but an LAC in VA, I have a place there still). I could apply for a different school in the US (but I don't know how successful I would be). I could stay here and take my chances with IB or whatever (I don't even know what else).
Someone who knows about this, please tell me what I should be doing.
I really want the UK to work out, but at this point I'm so worried I won't have a job. Please help.
Honestly mate UCL is a top uni. You could still very easily get an SA next year going to UCL without spring week, chill.
What makes you believe that it would've been easier in the US? There are plenty of folks who post on WSO, reddit and other forums that they have no SA or whatever in the pipeline. London has amazing opportunities. I am sorry nothing worked out so far, but if you work hard I am sure you'll find something. London has pretty much every bank, every brand, every industry you can imagine!
Wishing you best of luck with your applications.
NB: many schools are "overrun" with people who want to ride out the pandemic years with a degree. nothing unique to London.
UCL is a top uni. If you can’t get into a program from there, it isn’t the uni holding you back, it’s you.
I'm already a first year rep at two societies, a writer for two of the school's business newspapers, getting first class marks in classes, and more. Please tell me what I'm supposed to be doing
Maybe consider improving your attitude
Everything you said just makes up a nice CV, which is great, but it's only relevant to go through the screening process. Once you get to the interview, it is just up to you: how likeable you are, how truly interested are you in the job,how good are you with technicals... so maybe you could focus on those things
If you got into Vandy and UCL, you're clearly a smarty kid. Here's the truth, if you can't place into a job from UCL thats not on the school thats 100% on you. Hold yourself accountable and work harder.
How can I work harder? I'm already a first year rep at two societies, a writer for two of the school's business newspapers, getting first class marks in classes..... Literally what am I supposed to work harder at that I haven't already?
This is nothing unique. There are literally hundreds of kids out there who can claim they are doing the same at their respective unis all over Europe. Don’t forget you’re competing with the european targets too
You need brand names on your CV. Many people who’ve got spring weeks that I’ve come across have some kind of work experience at name brand firms (not only banks but also top hedge funds like brevan). Most of them got these through family connections (mostly from at least one parent at a prominent PE/HF/AM firm).
On that note, most spring weekers are either very well off that they got in based on the brand name work experience from their school years, or they got in from some diversity organisations (SEO, Rare, UpReach). I would suggest you sign up for one of these, even you’re a straight white male. I’ve seen straight white males at these orgs who got spring weeks and internships and FT jobs from their partner firms who would’ve ended up with zero offers otherwise. Say you’re bi or gay or something or lie about your parents income.
So tldr either you are very wealthy or you’re ‘diverse’ (aka belong to a diversity org). Otherwise spring week chances are slim.
There could be an issue with your CV. Back when I applied for spring weeks my CV looked like a pile of crap. Also keep in mind that loads of people applying will already have loads of of insight days/work experiences.
If the LAC in VA you are referencing is Washington & Lee, then I would stay at your current school in the UK. I don't know much about the UK but from the posts above, UCL seems like a top school and W&L is a good school, but not a top school in the US.
London IB is far more competitive than NYC
I know. What do I do from here?
I'm no expert but I would stay where you are, keep building up your CV, and apply for summer internships next year as soon as they open.
I was also at a target and I got zero spring weeks in first year, zero summer internships in 2nd year, then finally got summer internship offer in my 3rd (and final) year.
You might just be weird
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