Is trading a harder or easier field to break into than ibanking?

Currently I go to a non-target with a 3.5 gpa entering my junior year...i have had a stock brokerage internship, accounting experience and UBS Operations or Merill Lynch PWM this fall....for me to break into trading....i realize that my chances at ibanking at a BB are going to be hard/impossible with many more candidates at ivy league schools with higher GPA's....do i have a better chance of breaking into ibanking or trading based on what I have done so far? ...any suggestions/comments/feedback GREATLY appreciated

 
Best Response

Decide what you want to do first! Even before I answer the question, I strongly believe that you should enter something depending on whether you like it or not, rather than based on what is easier / more diffucult to get into.

As to the actual answer to your question, the chances of your getting into trading are just as slim as getting into banking coz there are an equal number of confused kids from ivies you are thinking just like you are and will hit on both places just to have a bank's name labeled on their backside - along with that of their ivy.

If you REALLY want to do banking, then go spend a couple of good and productive years doing something else somewhere, get into a top b-school, do well there and come back as an associate. For all you know, you might make it to an associate faster than these people will (I know people who have done that.) Agreed - you will miss out on big money for 2 years but if you have what is takes to be a good banker, in your 25-30 year career you will easily out-earn those who are not so good across their 28-33 year long careers.

 

Thanks. Any tips on getting into I banking from a non-target? Not necessarily BB but maybe boutiques?

We spend a lot of time making the unimportant measurable while the important remains immeasurable
 

Beatae temporibus consequuntur eos soluta. Sapiente non ipsum aut expedita voluptas. Illo commodi nisi molestiae dolore non voluptatem. Ipsam eos ut non nam.

Ut eveniet pariatur asperiores et est voluptatem et. Cupiditate sed ad nobis ducimus qui veniam odit. Sed nihil aut at doloremque cumque distinctio. Blanditiis magni recusandae magni id modi nemo itaque. Magnam incidunt et impedit ea et quia et. Dolorum labore numquam aut sunt. Porro recusandae sequi dolores.

We spend a lot of time making the unimportant measurable while the important remains immeasurable

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 18 98.3%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 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

May 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

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”