Are these 'prestigious' jobs like MBB/T2 worth it?
Ive been thinking recently. Based on what I've read from this site or heard from others, Most people who join MBB/T2 end up staying there for 2-5 years, maybe getting an M7 MBA along the way. They sacrifice a lot in their 20's due to the work hours and stress of succeeding at a top school and their firms. But at the end of the day, unless they make partner, they usually end up at corporations side-by-side with people who took a more 'normal' or less prestigious route, going to a state school and working 9-5 throughout. If that's the case, then is all the effort (top undergrad --> 60 hrs/week at MBB --> M7 --> MBB -->...) even worth it? I feel like there is so much buzz/hype around consulting but they all end up exiting to similar caliber/salary roles that they could've gotten without the stress that comes with the M7/MBB life. Am I missing something here?
Speed. That's what you're missing. If you spend 5 years at MBB you can exit to Director level at a F500 organization. If you spend 5 years at a F500 you might still be a Sr. Analyst. It could take you closer to 15 years to make Director on that trajectory. That's the difference.