Case Study: Citadel – From Non‑RG to First‑Year Spring Scheme on £0 Prep

hassan2990
Nov 26
2 min read

At a Glance

Cost £0 (TikTok Lives + free posts)
Timeline ~6 weeks (first view → offer)
Profile: First‑year, non‑RG, no finance network
Frameworks: VTMR™, PEAL‑3™, PEAL‑X™, STAR‑3™, BDC™

Before

First‑year non‑RG student with no network, generic motivation, “student‑like” CV, unclear hedge‑fund logic and no structured application strategy.

After

Evidence‑led motivation, quantified CV, firm‑specific PEAL‑X™ logic, STAR‑3™ stories and a disciplined rolling cadence — Citadel Spring Scheme confirmed.

Problem

Non‑RG students assume they cannot compete with targets, but the real blocker is structure, not pedigree. This candidate’s CV lacked numbers and impact; motivation blurred hedge funds, IB and AM; answers leaned on story rather than analysis. There was no clarity on sequencing or timing applications. With no network or brand signalling, vague lines became liabilities. The mission: replace guesswork with a proven system — VTMR™ to quantify every line, PEAL‑3™ + BDC™ to ground hedge‑fund motivation in decision‑making, PEAL‑X™ to build fact‑tight firm logic, and STAR‑3™ to rehearse quantified stories under time pressure — all via free content only.

Solution

VTMR™ CV rebuild → 100% bullets quantified (%/time/scope) → shifted from “student” to operator.
PEAL‑3™ + BDC™ “Why Hedge Funds?” → 3‑phase arc (Began–Developed–Confirmed) → motivation clarity ↑.
PEAL‑X™ “Why Citadel” → 1.0 facts/sentence (public, verifiable) → firm‑fit flagged specific.
STAR‑3™ competencies → measurable results → answers retrievable under pressure.
Rolling cadence → early applications + timed drills → Citadel Spring Scheme secured.

Result

The student self‑reported — with anonymised DM screenshot — that they secured a Citadel First‑Year Spring Scheme using only free ECS content. VTMR™ tightened the CV, PEAL‑3™ clarified motivation, PEAL‑X™ delivered firm‑specific logic, and STAR‑3™ injected measurable outcomes. Their disciplined early‑application strategy enabled them to compete effectively despite being non‑RG and lacking a finance network.

ROI

Metric	Result
Investment	£0
Compensation	N/A (spring scheme)
Pay‑back period	Immediate brand uplift
Lifetime uplift	Early HF pathway; stronger six‑ to seven‑figure long‑term trajectory (qualitative)

Testimonial: “Hassan your advice got me into Citadel 1st year spring scheme… It really is just having a strategy.” — First‑year, non‑RG UK university (anonymised)

Privacy notice: All case studies use fictional names and anonymised details to protect client confidentiality. Where appropriate, and with the client’s consent, we may arrange an introduction for you and your parents after their offer has been secured.