Rothschild Gap Programme 2011

Yeah me haha.

I need to choose between uni, KPMG and Roths. It is very tough... I've narrowed it down to KPMG or Roths I think

How about you?

Other than than the 6 firms mentioned, does anyone know of any other companies that offer a gap year programme - doesn't have to be finance, but starting in summer 2012?

KPMG is very similar to Deloitte's application process.

For Rothschild:
-A single application form (including a covering letter and CV).
-A single interview.
-You are then either given an offer or rejected.

Though that makes it sound a lot easier you have to bear in my mind that your chance of passing the 'application form' stage is significantly lower with Rothschild than it is with Deloitte/KPMG. I would estimate that Rothschild only interviewed 20 people (for 8 positions).

KPMG is very similar to Deloitte's application process.

For Rothschild:
-A single application form (including a covering letter and CV).
-A single interview.
-You are then either given an offer or rejected.

Though that makes it sound a lot easier you have to bear in my mind that your chance of passing the 'application form' stage is significantly lower with Rothschild than it is with Deloitte/KPMG. I would estimate that Rothschild only interviewed 20 people (for 8 positions).

The KPMG application process is actually
-application form
-online tests (numerical/verbal)
-first interview
-offer/rejection

Deloitte is more thorough

Well done on getting an offer!

Do you mind me asking what your academics are like and what else you had to boost your application? (I'm hoping to apply next year and want an idea of how well qualified successful applicants are) Thank you

Thank you

As you may already know their minimum requirements are B's in GCSE English and Math. ABB at A levels. If you have these predicted you pretty much stand an equal chance as long as you meet their eight competencies which will be asked about at the interview.
Personally, I got 7A*s 1A and 2Bs IGCSEs (incuding a B in English and A* in Math)
I had 5As and AS and predicted 2A* and 2As in Physics, Maths, Further maths and Chemistry (lol don't think I'm getting that at this very moment -.- )
Know about KPMG and know the market/competitors/recent news.

That should get you through

It's too early haha. You can either take a chance and tell them you want to apply for deferred entry (ie take a gap year) or just apply for normal entry in 2012 and then phone your uni afterwards to defer it after you get your offer (which is what I did).

Rothschild, I start next month. Not sure when exactly though haha

Rothschild doesn't negatively impact chances at an alternate career like the scholarship schemes do so I like the flexibility. The others offer guaranteed work experience throughout university which seems good on the surface.

However, they seem to lock you in to do the work experience in the time where you would normally be doing internships elsewhere, and in finance it's very difficult to secure a graduate position at a top firm or bank without an internship in that specific field, and in many places at that very firm. As I have no intention of going into accountancy or consultancy, the other schemes would only have limited my choices in the future.

Of course if you want to work for these firms when you graduate, their scholarship schemes are without a doubt the best thing you can do to boost your chances.


I'm not saying Rothschild offers the best internship, just the one that was best for me. If you want to go into accountancy or consultancy, then I would thoroughly recommend the Deloitte Scholars Scheme as the 'best'. If you want to go into IB, experience at an IB would be far better than at an Auditor.

Plus Rothschild's office is closer to my home so I can knock about 30 mins off the commute each way

What happens if you want to do a spring week and a summer internship in your first year?

Ah like you say then it's nice to hear different view points. I was told most of this by a teacher at my school with experience in the field. I do stand by my point though that the prime factor in your decision should be based on choosing something as similar as possible to what you want to do when you graduate. Personally, the places I want to get internships at during uni would have clashed and (fingers crossed) would last most, if not all, of the summer. So again, take your personal situation into account. I would not be able to pursue other interests if I had confirmed placements, but others might.

It'll be far easier to break into the prestigious IBD sector from an IB background, even if it is a boutique. Remember, IB is far more elitist than Auditing and I was told that it's easier to transition from IB to other areas of finance rather than the other way around, due to the outdated albeit traditional respect that this area holds in the job market. This is assuming you want to go into IB, otherwise you can ignore the subtle advantages, I'm sure it's otherwise just nitpicking.

I found a great website a while back that showed how to get a place at the top positions and compared all the different hierarchies and levels of elitism but I just can't remember it :/ I've been searching for it again for over a year now haha.

There are plenty of opportunities to do summer internships in the first year if outside of BB firms. So I can't see how you would fit in 4 weeks at Deloitte if you wanted to do a spring week and a summer internship in your first year.

It's like twisted said, if you want to go down the accountancy route go with Deloitte, Rothschild would probably be better for the IB route.

Yeah I agree to a certain extent.

But for me personally, I'd hate to miss out on an 8 week summer internship at an investment firm just because I have to do a couple of weeks at Deloitte filling out tax forms.