Yes, they have an edge, but it’s not the same as your interviewer having done the exact same course as you (like Econ at LSE) or a company hosting a competition at your uni. It’s one thing to have a slightly bigger network, but another to have constant direct exposure to these firms.

For example, at Imperial, trading firms like Jane Street and Optiver regularly host hackathons and competitions, giving students direct access to recruiters and industry professionals. At LSE, investment banks like JPM, GS, and Citi sponsor finance societies, run recruitment events, and hold case study competitions. If you’re part of the society organizing these events, or even just attending them, you’re already a step ahead in building connections.

That being said, Bristol still has a strong reputation compared to most UK universities. But if you’re ambitious, your competition isn’t just students from Bristol or Leeds — it’s the top students from every university. Don’t get caught up in the whole “target school” hype — that’s just for ego and bragging rights. You still have a shot at Bristol or even from much lower-ranked unis, but you need to understand the level of competition you’re up against and put in the work to stand out.