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The truth about Top 5/10 unis etc

Once again on this site, everyone's wrong about what uni you need to get into IB - on one hand people like Drogue seem to think if you're not from a top 5 uni you have no way in hell, whereas other idiots seem to think uni doesn't matter, the individual counts (what a load of sh*t!).

I have seen the CV books of new graduates at several leading investment banks - it's normal for each bank to distribute a "facebook" like this, and for peers at other places to swap them for excellent networking opportunities.

For decent (ie GS, Citi, MS, ML, UBS, DB, BarCap, Lehman) banks in the FRONT OFFICE (the highest earners, the people who actually make the primary profit), easily the majority of British grads studied at either LSE or Oxbridge. Then each bank/division combo will have a small handful from places like Warwick, Imperial, UCL, Nottingham, Bristol. You will occasionally get 1 star candidate from somewhere like Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, but this is quite rare.

For the MIDDLE OFFICE, unis around the top 7-15 are a lot more prominent - namely Sheffield, Edinburgh, Loughborough, Leeds, Durham, St Andrews etc.

For the BACK OFFICE, any idiot can get in pretty much. Operations is monkey work that a 14 year old kid can do, so they accept candidates from almost any uni, including the better ex-polytechnics.

Reply 1

jeffreyweingard

3

Could you give me an idea of the subjects people did? How are arts graduates represented in the decent banks?

Reply 2

Big4Monkey

OP

jeffreyweingard

Could you give me an idea of the subjects people did? How are arts graduates represented in the decent banks?

Sure. The advertising bull**** that "It doesn't matter what degree you did" is complete nonsense.
Fixed income - Mostly economics/finance and related, plus mathematical subjects (such as Physics for example)
IBD - A bit more mixed, some arts students, lots again of Economics though
Middle Office - Ditto
Tech - Mostly Computer Science
Ops - Largely people with accounting/finance/econ degrees from worse unis.

Overall arts grads aren't that well represented, there's single-numbers in each bank/division/year.

Reply 3

max_e_muscle

2

Would you say that a Management degree from Nottingham would have enough mathmatical/financial elements to it for either front or middle office?

Reply 4

Big4Monkey

OP

It's not a question of whether there is "enough" sufficient element. Most of IB is not that difficult, much of it sub A-level. The fact of the matter is that with Management at Nottingham it'll be extremely difficult to get into front office, and still fairly challenging to get into middle.

Reply 5

rafabenitez

LOL 4 posts and negative rep already. I hope all investment bankers arent like you.

Reply 6

bluefuture

5

President ben, who is sure to post on this, believes Oxbridge candidates are at an disadvantage to UCL, LSE and City graduates.
I strongly disagree. The brightest and most ambitious generally go to Oxbridge. The banks know this, and i know many people in the city who agree with me on this.

To get into the best roles, the four best are Oxbridge, LSE or Imperial.

Reply 7

max_e_muscle

2

ssssb1

LOL 4 posts and negative rep already. I hope all investment bankers arent like you.

Its because he quite rightly (in my opinion) had a go at this *****ing stupid girl who has something against people who want to make money.

Reply 8

Anne Auraque

2

People are entitled to their opinion. Why not reason with them, rather than insult them?

Also the fact that he has put his salary in his signature. What is the old adage about people who tell you how much they earn?

Reply 9

rafabenitez

ashley710

Its because he quite rightly (in my opinion) had a go at this *****ing stupid girl who has something against people who want to make money.

Yeah he's giving some decent information, especially seeing as he works as a trader, but he does seem like an arrogant *******. So it might not just be because of the argument with the girl - even I disagree with the 40k thing.

Reply 10

Oakes

2

CitigroupTrader

Sure. The advertising bullsh*t that "It doesn't matter what degree you did" is complete nonsense.
Fixed income - Mostly economics/finance and related, plus mathematical subjects (such as Physics for example)
IBD - A bit more mixed, some arts students, lots again of Economics though
Middle Office - Ditto
Tech - Mostly Computer Science
Ops - Largely people with accounting/finance/econ degrees from worse unis.

Overall arts grads aren't that well represented, there's single-numbers in each bank/division/year.

I am going to read law at Oxford. Do i have any chance at IB (assuming that i get 1st class)?

Reply 11

Racist

CitigroupTrader - Check your PM...

Reply 12

Drogue

19

CitigroupTrader

Once again on this site, everyone's wrong about what uni you need to get into IB - on one hand people like Drogue seem to think if you're not from a top 5 uni you have no way in hell, whereas other idiots seem to think uni doesn't matter, the individual counts (what a load of sh*t!).

I have seen the CV books of new graduates at several leading investment banks - it's normal for each bank to distribute a "facebook" like this, and for peers at other places to swap them for excellent networking opportunities.

For decent (ie GS, Citi, MS, ML, UBS, DB, BarCap, Lehman) banks in the FRONT OFFICE (the highest earners, the people who actually make the primary profit), easily the majority of British grads studied at either LSE or Oxbridge. Then each bank/division combo will have a small handful from places like Warwick, Imperial, UCL, Nottingham, Bristol. You will occasionally get 1 star candidate from somewhere like Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, but this is quite rare.
What's different between that and anything I've put. As I said, to get into front office at a bulge bracket, you pretty much have to be at a top 6 or an utterly amazing, one off candidate. And as you said, the majority come from LSE and Oxbridge, with a handful from Warwick, Imp, UCL, Nottingham and Bristol. Which is even harsher than what I've written.

As I pointed out before, I wasn't talking about back office, and was specific about at the top banks.

Reply 13

Drogue

19

ssssb1

LOL 4 posts and negative rep already. I hope all investment bankers arent like you.

They're not - look at Chassez's posts. I've met many nice IBers, though I do know a couple of people who enjoy the view of their intestines like our dear thread starter.

Reply 14

rafabenitez

Drogue

They're not - look at Chassez's posts. I've met many nice IBers, though I do know a couple of people who enjoy the view of their intestines like our dear thread starter.

Yeah, lol. If i get into trading I wont be having that attitude.

Reply 15

Big4Monkey

OP

Oakes

I am going to read law at Oxford. Do i have any chance at IB (assuming that i get 1st class)?

Yes, always Oxbridge lawyers in IB - particularly M&A where solicitors and bankers will be working together anyway.

As for "rep", I'm not 12, I don't give a flying ***** what people on the internet think of me, it's irrelevant. I'm here to provide advice, but speak my mind, not wrap stuff up in cotton wool.

Reply 16

jovialtom

2

Anne Auraque

Also the fact that he has put his salary in his signature. What is the old adage about people who tell you how much they earn?

haha i only just noticed that! what a ****!

Reply 17

Big4Monkey

OP

Anne Auraque

Also the fact that he has put his salary in his signature. What is the old adage about people who tell you how much they earn?

What is the old adage about people who ask,

yelwalkietalkie

How much do you earn a year?

I've put that in my sig more to annoy the communist f-wits amongst us.

Reply 18

fubu

1

Investment and retail banking, equities, trading, derivatives... enter the bitchy and elitist world of high finance.

Reply 19

Lady_Muck

14

Yeah, but lets be honest about this......As long his face was a ok, I definitely would!

A chap with arrogance, intelligence and a good city job. Ideal hubby material :biggrin:

So remember arrogance is good! Women like it.

Anyway, I'm so not suited to this kind of thread.

The truth about Top 5/10 unis etc

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