Fighting the Good Fight -- for too long?

Can't tell if this is a troll post. If it is, well done.

Your 3.3 isn't horrible - I got into b-school with a lower GPA than you - and I know some people who went the "vagabond" route and got in.

Honestly though, I think you've missed the bus for banking - I do know a few people in my class in their mid 30s from nonprofit/government jobs who rebranded themselves and got post-MBA associate positions at bulge brackets, but they had exceptional pre-MBA work experience. But finance isn't the only thing out there - there are plenty of people from nonprofit backgrounds who rebrand themselves and get six figure jobs in consulting or at big tech companies.

But before you take on some more debt, if you have any close friends (or used to be close) in industries you might want to work at, forget about your hang ups and just hit them up for career advice. I remember reading some research that showed that friendships that have gone dormant are the most powerful for networking, since these people run in different circles and have been exposed to different ideas and opportunities, but are still willing to go the extra mile to help you.

And if you do decide bschool is right for you, try to find more "manager" type roles in your field like the administrative side of TFA or a charter school. And lose the whole superiority and above it all attitude. Networking isn't going to work if you are just barely suppressing your contempt and bitterness towards people's livelihoods.

You want some more $. Some routes other than finance: Go to grad school in education administration. You'll have more salary and do something that probably aligns with your personal values. Try to get into education corporation like Apollo group (might need just business experience like waterboy suggested or possibly MBA). You might have some issues with for-profit education but they way non-profit institutes charge students isn't exactly charity either....

So far all you have is, "I'm a poor teacher, hire me so I can be rich like you."

Good luck with that.

You say you are smart:

1. What is your IQ ? Almost anywhere in the world you can get tested (for about $40)...

You say you are smart, then answer this one simple question:

2. What's the first rule of finance ? If you don't know (or have it wrong) I'll let SirTrades answer it...

Good luck !

Assuming not a troll, you were a relatively average guy who "made it all the way to college" (like millions do each year) just to realize the whole "system" is "unfair/unjust" or some shit. So you felt you didn't need to work hard & build a career and that your natural "intellect" would carry you through life? Work on your pitch.

^^Agreed. There is such a thing as usable intelligence. I think.

Natural intellect?? Really?

I think we know the problem.

Welcome to WSO.

I'll probably get flamed for saying this but here goes:

I think you have almost zero chance of making a productive switch to finance at 32 with no experience and no (meaningful) educational background in finance / economics (it's cool that you read the paper, but that doesn't count for much to be honest). Besides the fact that you are not qualified, you have the emotional and physical baggage of being older (why would I hire a 32 year old when I can hire a 22 year old that I can terrorize and abuse for the same or less money?), a lot of people in finance aren't going to want to hire some kind of Occupy Wall Street burn out -- whether you actually fit that stereotype or not, accept that people will judge you.

That said, I think you could be an excellent candidate for a rebranding via MBA. I almost never suggest MBAs to people because I think they're largely a waste of time, but in your case, I think if you could get into a top school you would have a chance to make the switch, albeit likely starting out late and near the bottom.

By the way, everyone in this business is smart -- I have yet to meet anyone that I wouldn't consider significantly above average intelligence in the investing business. Corporate managers, that's a different story, but in investing, everyone's a killer.

For having so much "natural intelligence" and being a "target graduate", you come across as being super snobby and entirely devoid of common sense (the basics). If you want to switch careers, ask your friends for help or get a top MBA...that's what they're for, and that's what like half of all those TFA kids do. However, if your only motivation for entering the "soul-less capitalist world" of finance is dollars and cents, and you hate doing "meaningless tasks", if you do enter, you're in for a rude awakening.

Also do you actually have any legitimate reasons for pursuing finance in particular? There are plenty of careers out there, and fit is crucial. What about political consulting/research/journalism, like working for The Hill for example, or a think tank. Seems like you would enjoy something like that a lot more, and I'm guessing it pays better than being a grade school teacher.

have you considered applying to ops?

So you're basically a libtard who realized what he loves money? You get no sympathy from me.

A "finance" job you could probably get right now is probably something sales-oriented/commissions based. If I were you, I would take something like that. You could then look for other finance work and be applying to B school.

School administrators make some good money and still get the cushy benefits and work/life balance. Why not get a masters degree so that you can become an administrator?

IdealistStill:

I went to a target school, met an outside political radical my sophomore year -- got suspended because I thought I was invincible -- came back a year late, and failed a few classes before I graduating with a liberal arts degree. (3.34 in the end)

This was 9 years ago now. Since then I have taught in inner city schools, run some grassroots political campaigns, did a brief accounting stint where I learned some Excel -- but I never took any classes on economics then or since.

I started reading the FT for political education (know your enemy) a year ago, and now I am finally looking back at my peers from university and high school -- and many are setup with MBAs at investment banks.

Since, evidently, the revolution has not occured, and I'll need more money than a school teacher's salary -- is it still possible to make a late entry into banking with a gap-filled primarily-teaching resume and a BA from one of the best universities?

It's still a point of pride, or confusion and shame at my own poverty that keeps me from asking my friends and alumni for advice or connections to enter finance.

I'm writing for encouragement, or discouragement -- I felt an obligation to pursue justice outside the system for as long as possible, and, well, I don't even see how to do it anymore and I am stuck working crappy tutoring jobs helping people try to get into the university I attended and then succeed.

Feel free to tear me down, or build me up -- whatever is appropriate, or whimsical to you. I've lived such an unorthodox (or failed life) that I know little where to turn --- I always considered myself above "networking" or even bothering to make money in such a soul-less capitalist world.

But, yes, I am feeling the pain of having a natural intelligence that is quite high, now being ground down in meaningless tasks -- and the critical acumen I developed may never turn into a salary.

I've made a masochism out of reading about your successes, and I don't want to suffer more -- but I fear it is too late -- 32, "target" gradute", Failed Idealist.

Best advice is to start a company and make $$$. It'll be reallllllly tough to break into a high-paying career in finance now (like hedge funds, VC, investment banking), because there are a lot of other people who are hungrier than you and who have a 12 year head-start. The HYP halo persists so you could raise money to start a company, and quite frankly you're still really really young at 32 (I'm 26), so you can do pretty much anything you want in the world - except hedge funds/ibanking/PE, which proportionally isn't really that limiting.

Why ridiculous?

IMO, don't redefine yourself. you are an experienced teacher, how can you spin that I to something useful for bankers/finance? well, you can work part time at some of these education startups. bringing in big data and cloud, and mobile accessibility to education industry is a real thing. and there are many young companies doing so who are backed up by vcs and foundations. also, some like kahn academy are filled with ex consultants and backed by bill gates. try to get into a BD role part time or intern this upcoming summer.

don't try the traditional path, it's an uphill battle and of worth the effort. the opportunity costs and the risk of destroying your teaching career doesn't make sense to me. that way my big mistake In college, I had a big plan based on redefining my goals and skills. I should've just focused on moving up one step at a time. don't get ahead of yourself

steve jobs was a druggie hippie college dropout, so anything is possible. you definitely need some lucky breaks and a clearer path of wherever you want to get to, but i wouldn't rule anything out. even seeing that "pursuit of happyness" movie can be pretty inspirational.

good luck.

I'm really not sure what to say, but good luck.

are you retarded?

IdealistStill:

But, yes, I am feeling the pain of having a natural intelligence that is quite high, now being ground down in meaningless tasks -- and the critical acumen I developed may never turn into a salary.

There's no such thing as 'too late' for anything. You just have a different story that's all. At the end of the day, people want to work with others who they resonate with. There is a senior banker out there who would hear your story and take a chance on you. Maybe they see something of the moral wrestle you are dealing with in themselves, maybe an alumni of your school who realizes people can do lots of things in their life. Play your age as an advantage. There is no such thing as a 22 year old being ahead of you. Because they are 22 years old. Their perspective on everything is just not as deep as yours, simple as that. Don't listen to any twenty something when it comes to making big life choices. You are no different from someone leaving banking in their thirties to go pursue something else. That happens all the time. Just knock on as many doors as you can and have your story tight.

I would give you this advice. Going to HYPS does not guaranteed success and does not mean you are smarter than everyone else. You are problem is that you still think you are smarter than everyone else because you went to a great undergrad but look at half your classmates and I can tell you that a lot of state school kids ( or even high school dropouts) are doing better than a lot of them.

I went to one of the top three school and work in IB / PE and yet my girlfriends inlaw became a car tech and did some good real estate investment when things where good and use profits to open three cat shops and makes more money than I do. Yes he is an exception and got pretty lucky but in the real world he is smarter than you and me.

My advice to you is to stop thinking you are smart and start networking and producing.

Excuse my grammar and spelling, writing on my phone

hell of a troll!

I know your faking, but in case you're not, I'll take the opportunity to insult you.

You are an entitled douche whose parents probably had to much money for your own good.

I hope you fail

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I can't believe you guys are giving this fucking idiot advice. Are you kidding me? He has 0% chance, not to mention he's a complete tool.

I have always believed that "crafting a story" is a bit of an oxymoron. I'd much prefer someone to sit down in an interview room with me and be real: tell me your real story, not some narrative you wound together about why you want to "break in". People are allowed to change their minds about life.

That said, there's no way I would hire you after the "soul-less capitalist" comment. Sounds like you have an entitlement problem and blame your perceived lack of success on "the system" rather than on your poor decisions. What makes you think that your lack of solid career-change options is unjust, given 10+ years of decisions that led your life in an entirely different direction?

You don't sound very intelligent, I'd like to know what you think is soo soulless bout capitalism? You seem to have no idea what you're even saying. When you say enter "banking" do you mean investment banking? What exactly do you find soulless about helping companies and individuals raise capital for business ventures? I don't think you have a grasp on the reality of the financial industry. From your post you sound like a complete loser who has watched one too many Michael moore movies.

If you must work at a bank, go into HR. A lot of what they do like training, counseling, etc is relevant to teaching. I think that is your best bet.