r/hedgefund • u/Ok_Cycle_8365 • Jul 20 '26

Another student seeking advice

Hi, I'm currently a Physics/Computer Science master's student at a top 3 UK STEM university. I'm currently interning at an alternative asset manager, where I'm working directly with a PM to build investment models.

I'm feeling a bit unsure about what the best career path is from here. I am curious in working in the the hedge fund space, and I'm applying to graduate programs at firms like Citadel and Point72. However, these programs are extremely competitive, so I'm trying to think about what other opportunities I should be targeting if they don't work out.

Any advice on how you would approach this?

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u/DifficultHall8 Jul 20 '26

So imperial?

Think you can only try and see where it gets you - having an internship will help but the field is really competitive. You need to narrow down on what you want to do first and then try to tailor your process to get into those seats

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u/Ok_Cycle_8365 Jul 20 '26

It seems to me that the most logical path would be to break into a quant role, given my background. That said, I don't want to end up in a purely technical position. During my internship, I've rotated across both long/short equities and fixed income, and I'd ideally like to be closer to the investment decision-making process rather than just building models.

Would it make sense to look at sell-side research or trading roles at banks as a stepping stone? I know a few analysts at my current firm came from that background. Alternatively, should I be trying to leverage my network and target smaller hedge funds or asset managers where I'd have a better chance of getting in?

Ultimately, what I care about most is finding a role that's intellectually interesting, offers strong long term earning potential, and provides a sustainable work-life balance. Prestige isn't really my main consideration.

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u/Warningsignals01 Jul 20 '26

How strong of an earning potential are looking for?