hihi, just to share, i am an SMU student about to graduate. I dont personally know of anyone whos got a >10k job but i do know a few ( arnd 10) who are say 7 or 8k. These people are almost surely in top 2-3% in SMU and tend to be either doing ib in big foreign banks or consulting in top tier consultancy firms. Most of these people have earned it though; the average or even "above average" smu student has no chance at these jobs. I would say that the standard "good student" in SMU ( roughly top say 15%, double degree, first class, good internships, probably a scholar etc) going into finance can expect to get at least 4 - 4.5k starting salary. Oh and i only know two people who are joining their fathers big company, it is not common at all.