Career Choice Decision : End goal MBA

Hi WSO Members,

Wanted your opinion on a career choice I am in the process of making.

A little background, state school grad, UTC rotational program grad. Planning to apply to MBA school Aug 2013.

I have the option of joining the UTC internal audit program and just interviewed at a small consulting group, E&Y(advisory), Fannie Mae (Finance Analyst), and Dell (Finance Analyst).

Just based 100% on my job selection - which one do you think would be the best path to a top 5 MBA school ?

1) Should I just stick with the UTC internal Audit group

or

2) Should I jump ship and get another company/ experience under my belt? and if so, would E&Y advisory, or a Financial analyst position at FM or Dell be best?

ALSO, i know an MBA application is much more than Jobs had, but still I am asking for your opinion to make the best next step decision - that will aid in my ST goal of MBA school.

Thanks,

 
Best Response
manas100:
have a few not 100% sure...... but i have heard the best strategy is to make a solid entrance application, and worry about the rest once youre in.

I would wholly disagree...in fact, the adcoms at any good school will too. I actually had one from a Top 15 program tell people to lie about what they want to do if they are unsure. He basically said pick something and writing a convincing essay/answer to the short term goals question and then recruit wherever you want once you get in...but don't tell people in your application/essay that you are unsure.

I was visiting Darden recently and one of the prospective students also visiting flat out told one of the current students that he wants to get into business school and then figure out what he wants to do. I thought the guy's jaw was going to hit the floor.

If you have good scores and interview well and write good applications, then yeah, you can get in without a real plan, but I would caution you against it. After all, why even go to business school to begin with? And that's literally a question you have to answer for practically every business school.

Honestly though, you need to do some soul searching and figure out why/how b-school would even be useful. Granted you don't have to go just because you applied, but choosing a career path based on what school you might be able to get into though have no clue why you would even need/want to go back to school is just a silly exercise in futility.

You need to figure out what the end game is and then walk back through the best choices and employers and schools that can be used to get there.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Provident quae ad et qui voluptatem est amet. Molestiae corporis quasi rerum iusto sit neque rerum. Dolor aperiam eveniet eos praesentium nobis eum laudantium.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (85) $262
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (65) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (198) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
pudding's picture
pudding
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”