Need Help: MIT MFIN or work then MBA?

Hi, I am about to graduate from my university.

Recently got MIT MFIN and fixed income strategy intern at an IB.

I do not know whether I should go to MFIN first or try to get full time offer after the intern, and then go for MBA? I do not mind spending time doing both, but they are just too expensive....

I know MFIN or MBA really depends on your career choice. Right now I am quite interested in research/strategy and portfolio mgt. But I do not know whether things will change over the years,and I do see a lot of ppl working in AM have MBA.

Thanks for help!

5 Comments
 
Best Response

Here's what you do. You take the MFIN offer and you take the internship. You work over the summer, and try to get a full time offer. If you like what you're doing in your internship, and they make you a full-time offer to start immediately, do it. Otherwise, go to MIT. It's a great program, and this way, you'll have some work experience on your CV.

Even if you do get a full-time offer to start immediately, you should try to defer your MIT admission for a year or two. There is no assurance that you'll ever get in again. And this way, if things are going badly in a year, or you don't like what you're doing, or you need a master's degree to advance in your field (which is pretty much required in fixed income strategy), you have an easy out to a great program.

If you want to be a portfolio manager, an MFIN from MIT trumps an MBA from anywhere. MBA programs do not teach half as much finance theory as MIT's MFIN program.

 
brotherbearHere's what you do. You take the MFIN offer and you take the internship. You work over the summer, and try to get a full time offer. If you like what you're doing in your internship, and they make you a full-time offer to start immediately, do it. Otherwise, go to MIT. It's a great program, and this way, you'll have some work experience on your CV.

Even if you do get a full-time offer to start immediately, you should try to defer your MIT admission for a year or two. There is no assurance that you'll ever get in again. And this way, if things are going badly in a year, or you don't like what you're doing, or you need a master's degree to advance in your field (which is pretty much required in fixed income strategy), you have an easy out to a great program.

If you want to be a portfolio manager, an MFIN from MIT trumps an MBA from anywhere. MBA programs do not teach half as much finance theory as MIT's MFIN program.

I disagree with your last paragraph. Master's programs in finance tend to be heavily geared towards those who want to do trading, quant strategies, algorithmic trading, etc. For investment management, fundamental research, etc., an MBA from a top school (HBS/Wharton/Booth/Stanford/Columbia) goes further in terms of allowing one to break into the field. For example, at a place like wharton or booth, you will have access to most of the elite buyside firms through on-campus recruiting and company presentations.

 
Brady4MVP
brotherbearHere's what you do. You take the MFIN offer and you take the internship. You work over the summer, and try to get a full time offer. If you like what you're doing in your internship, and they make you a full-time offer to start immediately, do it. Otherwise, go to MIT. It's a great program, and this way, you'll have some work experience on your CV.

Even if you do get a full-time offer to start immediately, you should try to defer your MIT admission for a year or two. There is no assurance that you'll ever get in again. And this way, if things are going badly in a year, or you don't like what you're doing, or you need a master's degree to advance in your field (which is pretty much required in fixed income strategy), you have an easy out to a great program.

If you want to be a portfolio manager, an MFIN from MIT trumps an MBA from anywhere. MBA programs do not teach half as much finance theory as MIT's MFIN program.

I disagree with your last paragraph. Master's programs in finance tend to be heavily geared towards those who want to do trading, quant strategies, algorithmic trading, etc. For investment management, fundamental research, etc., an MBA from a top school (HBS/Wharton/Booth/Stanford/Columbia) goes further in terms of allowing one to break into the field. For example, at a place like wharton or booth, you will have access to most of the elite buyside firms through on-campus recruiting and company presentations.

You can learn fundamentals at MIT MFIN... Don't know much about Princeton MFIN though.

 

Error rerum dolorum ut voluptas veniam iure perspiciatis. Non autem dolorem sit tempore. Neque natus expedita autem mollitia. Natus amet est animi consequatur.

Accusamus natus ut voluptatem quia aut id quas. Laborum reprehenderit sint non qui sunt sequi ut. Voluptate suscipit dolor rerum atque et est et. Odio consequatur sit voluptas voluptates quia. Voluptatibus nobis fugiat minima dolor. Voluptate aspernatur necessitatibus nisi iusto commodi necessitatibus.

Quas vel odit est consequatur perspiciatis adipisci. Cumque vitae suscipit illum inventore in rem eaque. Sit necessitatibus aut quae voluptatum laborum aut. Occaecati ut consequatur ea voluptatibus sit. Ut et voluptatem aut fuga reiciendis asperiores qui. Qui maiores quam atque molestias dolorum molestias. Accusamus sed ut vero omnis ullam quidem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (68) $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

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...”