Where the hell do B students go

I've always been gifted academically and good enough socially to make it to a top bank doing IB. I have a brother (overrepresented, straight) that wants to come into finance but I'm hesitant because I have no idea where the B students end up in finance. Even among all the A students that want to go into IB and top finance jobs, many can't make the cut because of how few spots there are. What chance is there for a B student who is average in everything to make it big or just make a 6 figure salary honestly. 

 

At my target, I’ve seen several B students make it into mid/top BBs (non-diversity, no family connections), while some A students failed to make the cut. GPA matters but it’s not the end all be all that you think it is 

 

I was a B student through high school, my older brother was an A student through high school but he's not the smartest either. While he was in college, he taught me how to finesse through school and the athletic recruiting process. I'm not the smartest person but it's not that hard to take the right professors and talk to the right kids and reasonably get a B+/A-. Gotta choose the right schools as well, can't be going to an MIT/UChicago and expect to get a 3.5+ if you aren't considered smart by most. Cmon you gotta be feeding this info to your sibling

 

Why did they get a B? Ask that question first. And A's capture some good data points but miss a lot too.

And what school are we talking here? A B student at MIT is probably pretty smart by any rate.

 

Wow, what a post! Tons of very very rich and successful people were B/C students. Or A students who went to state schools. Lots of A students won't make $100k that easily. Welcome to the real world, sure IB cares, but that is such a small part of the universe. 

Full disclosure, I was one of those A students, but I know that is far from the reason for the career I've had. 

 

What did you do pre b-school? And which tier of b-school did you attend?

 

Wait until you find out people with 2.7's and below are making $125k+ ... Book smart does not equal career intuitiveness nor does it correlate with compensation (most of the time)

If you think finance is the only place to make six figures, you should really educate yourself

 

I would question your social skills if you are describing your self as gifted academically.  People who are smart do not usually feel the need to tell people how smart they are.  

 

Careful with projecting your defeatist mindset onto others; plenty of students go much further in life regardless of their degree. A strong GPA isn't the only measure of success.

 

Non-target here (international student) who started at a mid-tier BB's in its IB team back in 2012. Had a 3.35. 

My room-mate also from Pakistan started at a Big 4 in their Corp Fin department based out of Chi. He was a 2.9.  

 

Pathetic advice

Ramifications cannot be understated eh? Guess that's why you're not even in industry. But hey look at this forum. Turns out you don't even need a good gpa to be successful!

 

High GPA is better no doubt, but it's not a death sentence. 

3.0 GPA student here, work in tech and earn a very nice salary and shut off my laptop around 5:30P-6P and don't check it until the next morning.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

What chance is there for a B student 

Real estate, baby. 

If you actually know how to talk to women, can golf or ride a mountain bike, and aren't a complete weirdo who jerks off to how many hours you spend in an office on a Saturday, there's a spot for you. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I would say that I am a B student. My gpa is ~3.7 

Ok, Simple Jack

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

This thread is literally all the outliers. A large percentage of people with shitty GPAs can't get a start anywhere decent. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I just went through interview loops at 8 different tech firms, not a single one asked my GPA.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

I just went through interview loops at 8 different tech firms, not a single one asked my GPA.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

Well, you're probably an experienced hire. Good experience trumps everything else if you have had a chance to prove yourself. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Thats because they ALWAYS self-select out of the process for competitive finance jobs. There’s a strong correlation between career focus and GPA at the undergrad level, with a significant portion of the B students waiting until semester 2 of senior year to unfuck themselves. I know plenty of people in high finance jobs (myself inc), who were B students but didn’t let that get in the way of them finding their way to competitive finance jobs.

 

Eos aut excepturi soluta ipsam modi. In quis sint impedit sint a eum et. Quae et atque nam tempore consectetur blanditiis nulla. Et eos dignissimos occaecati id magnam.

Rerum mollitia harum voluptate molestiae. Non dolorem molestiae recusandae earum fugit. Blanditiis mollitia ratione ut harum placeat quam qui. Vel corrupti eligendi ipsa velit iure nulla.

Earum sunt qui magni aperiam perspiciatis. Neque odio voluptatibus minus. Ex et numquam error accusamus animi dolor. Eos magni eos dolorum. Quos consequatur numquam est accusantium veritatis est eligendi. Quisquam est ipsam cupiditate voluptatem voluptas rem.

Voluptatem aut numquam fugiat consequatur. Quaerat iste et harum aliquid. Fuga debitis facilis ab quia saepe. Quod possimus laudantium dolorem.

 

Quis pariatur minus enim laborum. Ipsa omnis ut pariatur delectus inventore laudantium. Iure sapiente rerum sunt ea nostrum qui. Praesentium nemo consequatur voluptas adipisci. Consequatur harum rerum aut ullam.

Et ut rerum sit rem sint voluptatem aut. Et asperiores blanditiis ea alias.

Et cum tempore fuga cupiditate dolor quam porro. Natus cupiditate provident impedit mollitia dolores. Architecto ea et facere exercitationem dolor. Sed ut omnis sapiente ex ullam nobis repellendus.

Nesciunt quos odit ipsum sit hic. Ut neque ea ea ea doloribus ad ex quae. Et facilis sit sequi voluptatibus voluptatem. Atque quis est ut earum consequatur. Voluptatem dolores amet aut officia excepturi quia quibusdam nemo.

 

Autem ut mollitia voluptatem sit modi est. Rerum saepe molestiae tenetur libero aliquam distinctio eveniet quod. Praesentium est ex voluptates consequatur. Reprehenderit voluptatem quis possimus omnis ut quasi ea. Iure praesentium qui vel magnam sunt molestias ut.

Quisquam consectetur id voluptatem maiores. Aliquam exercitationem provident quia aliquam. Laudantium earum voluptatem sapiente qui sunt qui necessitatibus distinctio. Tenetur quos aliquam accusamus quos et eos consequatur.

Accusamus et nulla laborum est. Tempora optio a pariatur enim. Ipsa omnis vel ut rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”