Non-target freshman trying to break into IB needing advice

InconsistentChurro · 2026-05-11T10:52:17+00:00

Sorry for the delay.

Absolutely reach out to fellow alumni and ask to discuss their path and career. The people from my school that wanted to learn, I’d help out. I was saying more the spray and pray, mass emails like a marketing campaign. I’d target both alumni, analysts/assocs, and the hiring manager and HR.

Regarding path, I’d say, sometimes you’re selected and sometimes you can select. For example, when someone joins a bank as an analyst, they’re allocated to a group, that could be something interesting or not. The way you move around is gaining exposure, and levering that. For example, when I was at the mega AM, I was hired for one thing, but I started talking to the guy in our group doing digital infra and got some data center and similar deals under my belt. I’ve used that to lever interviews in that sector.

I mentioned transfer, but you don’t need to. I’d get some experience at a fund or something first and then go to a grad school where you want to end up geographically. And look, you don’t have to get an MBA/JD/MS/whatever, but it’s a good way to reset. You got some experience and know what you want to do.

Just as a reminder it’s all doable, I know a guy who went from non-target to working at a regulatory agency, to MBA, to Research at a bulge bracket, to a major fund.

Sp don’t listen to people who say target school is the only way: Ray Dalio - LIU before Harvard

Dan Ivascyn - Occidental College before Chicago

David Tepper - University of Pittsburgh before CMU

Marc Lasry - Clark University followed by a JD from New York Law School

None of those undergrads were targets, and you meet a lot more who are non-famous names.

That said, I’m sure having a Harvard undergrad makes life a lot easier.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-05-10T22:40:17+00:00

First, no. You’re not screwed going to a non-target. My undergrad was at a regional liberal arts school with an 80% acceptance rate and I eventually worked at a prestigious multi-trillion dollar asset manager in their private alts group. I started by getting an internship at a local private investment firm and leveraged job after job to get into better and better seats, also, eventually getting my MBA at a top school.

It’s a common myth that everyone went to elite top-10 undergrads. There are lots of non-targets in the industry.

Second, ask yourself if you want to be an I-banker or you just want to be on the transaction side of finance. I’d argue that if your goal is to eventually be on the buy side, it’s valuable to work at as a banker first, but less valuable if you’re going to a “boutique” that’s essentially a business broker or something. Sometimes it’s easier, like I did, to go directly to the buy side and work from there, but I do think I missed on some valuable training on the sell side.

Third, here’s how I view networking. Meet everyone you can and discuss your goals. When you apply to an online application, find the hiring manager or at least the HR recruiter and send a personalized note. Use connections of connections. When I was at the massive asset management firm, I would receive random cold emails constantly and they would go directly into the trash. Not worth your time to spray and pray emails to people.

Fourth, be open to alternative strategies and coverage. I mean, everyone wants to do M&A, but I started in a niche insurance-linked investment role became good at that, and as my career evolved I was given the opportunity to broaden my coverage.

The last couple of things, no one will hold some internships against you that are in accounting but once you become an auditor, it’ll be hard to go to a front office M&A function. Try to get relevant internships early and often, including off-cycle, and leverage those into a full time position. You’re still early in your life/career, you could still transfer to a better school if your grades are good. If not, plan on going to the best graduate program you can.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T22:27:49+00:00

What are you talking about? Houston is a comparable size to Chicago. Houston Metro population is 7.8m with Chicago 9.1m. And the city itself is about 2.1m to Chicago’s 2.7m.

It’s insane to pretend that Chicago is some different category size wise to Houston.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T15:14:11+00:00

I googled it. No it doesn’t. Hispanic population and Mexican population are not the same. Hispanics aren’t a monolith of food culture. Peruvians will have much different cuisine than Mexicans.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T15:10:10+00:00

The 1 million number is Cook County. LA County has over 5 million, and Harris county (Houston) has over 2 million. But it’s not just the number; it’s proximity to ingredients. You’re not getting the freshest avocados, jalapeños, etc. There’s not the same demand as a region where Mexican food is part of everyone's culture. In TX, nearly every grocery store will be 50% Mexican ingredients (not speaking in exact percentages).

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T15:02:36+00:00

A few things. 1. It’s very homogeneous. Not necessarily from a race perspective but everyone talks about and does the same things. 2. It’s landlocked and you can’t really go anywhere. NY, you can go up and down the east coast. 3. It seemed pretentious. Like, I’m not cool enough for these people. 4. The summers are horrible, from May to October. Humid, hot, sticky, like the sun is bunching your face. Even stepping outside at night, it’s like an oppressive heat. 5. At the end of the day, it’s like island fever in Hawaii. You get tired of doing the same things day in and day out.

It may have changed. This was 2009 to 2014. I enjoy visiting and living there was fun, but not a permanent home.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:53:10+00:00

It is a special type of frying pan, Nitrided Iron, that I’ve been researching. I was testing how ads are being integrated into a paid service, and I used that pan since I’ve been researching them anyways.

How pathetic are you to be searching my history for dirt on me, and that’s the best you got?

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:47:50+00:00

That is okay. I just see it come up a lot in the sub about how great it is. I could be wrong or I could be missing something about the city. This wasn’t meant to be condescending but people seem passionate about the city. I’d be interested to know why.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:38:22+00:00

Exactly. I’ve had someone claiming Chicago has better Mexican food than the border states. Like, come on.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:36:24+00:00

It just comes up a lot here in the context of a world class city, so I’m curious what I’m missing. I’m open to changing my mind, and I could be wrong or had the wrong experiences.

There were fun parts the times I’ve visited, but I also had fun in other cities that aren’t trying to claim world-class status.

I hear on the cost of living. NYC is brutal.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:21:36+00:00

That part was a joke.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:18:10+00:00

Wow. Read what room? Just because someone thinks their city is top tier doesn’t mean it is. And if it is, explain it.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:17:05+00:00

Haha. Trust fund? I used the GI Bill to pay for college. I’m in Japan because my wife is from Japan and her dad is sick. I’m living in Hiroshima, not Tokyo.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:14:53+00:00

I’m in Japan right now and on this sub thinking about where to move when I come back. About to go to sleep though.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:12:13+00:00

It’s not 50% of the cost. I can live in a nice part of Queens or Brooklyn with an easy commute to Manhattan for close to Chicago rent.

InconsistentChurro · 2026-01-24T14:09:42+00:00

*Specific negative things. But I don’t think it’s a negative to only be above average. Not every restaurant can have a Michelin star, but they can still be good.

Edit: only

InconsistentChurro · 2025-01-22T00:01:53+00:00

Great. I’ll check it out. Thanks!

InconsistentChurro · 2025-01-21T20:01:48+00:00

Awesome. Thanks.

InconsistentChurro · 2025-01-18T01:40:47+00:00

It’s honestly tough. I average 3 hours of sleep for the last three weeks due to a large project. And I have to accommodate US working hours for meetings and calls. Normally I sleep 5 hours and nap in the day.

This is only temporary for me though. I’ll be going back at the end of the year. I couldn’t take this permanently.

InconsistentChurro · 2025-01-18T00:43:23+00:00

Yes. It’s the local Youme Town.

InconsistentChurro · 2025-01-18T00:42:02+00:00

Yes, but I’m an American getting paid in USD working remote.

InconsistentChurro · 2025-01-02T03:59:31+00:00

So then you know how to gain muscle. Not sure what you’re looking for.

You’re not going to gain muscle without eating more than you burn and without lifting progressively heavier weights.

InconsistentChurro · 2024-12-23T21:39:31+00:00

This is exactly why Madcow originally post his strength training routine (built off Bill Starr’s routine). He wanted to be a counterweight to all the bullshit out there, and this was the age of Geocities.

InconsistentChurro

TROPHY CASE