<p>^except it isn’t. Sales and Trading divisions at banks pay six figures (or close like 90K) your first year out of college for 60-65 hours a week. Hedge funds recruiting on the best campuses are the same. I’m a senior at Columbia intending to work in finance/consulting, I worked in finance/consulting over the summer. I also have family and close friends at various divisions and positions on wall street. NYC cost of living is high, but at 100k your first year out of college without a family it is easy to save 10-20K. Your second and third years could be significantly higher. I knew a few third year analysts and first year associates earning close to 200K 3-4 years out of college. NYC or not, that allows for a huge saving or an extravagant living style.</p>
<p>What you give up is job security, you are in a high stress environment, many around you are soulless and highly competitive, you’ve had to be very smart and hardworking to get in in the first place, and often at the start of your career, you do a lot of btch work.</p>