M7 MBA to HF w/o finance experience

Hey everyone,

I am considering applying to bschool with the goal of transitioning to a L/S HF (SM or MM) or LO. My background is HYP+T2 Consulting+Data Science in Industry. Based on my stats/background, I am fairly sure I can land at H/S/W/Booth/Columbia (with varying odds obv). 

It seems less talked about, but how possible is it to land an equity HF spot without banking/buyside experience? Does MBA career transition logic apply here? I have little interest in doing banking as I do not like creating slides or doing client work.

I understand I am not going to Viking/Elliot but would some MMs or SMs take a look? Does anyone know a ballpark success rate on this transition?

I could reasonably pitch industry expertise + alt data now and then add finance/modeling knowledge post b-school.

17 Comments
 

That is a helpful datapoint- thank you. I am basing my questions on these threads

1: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/hedge-fund/post-mba-hf-pivot

2: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/hedge-fund/hedge-fund-role-post-m…

This thread implies it's possible from the b schools I listed above, but I want to get more information/confirmation to make sure it's true. More anecdotal data or people at one of these programs would be appreciated.

 

It isn't impossible but think about how expensive it is for a fund, you have no experience and you're looking to compete against people who have established investment records or completed transactions. For the most competitive funds the funnel of applicants often narrows even more when you have an MBA. There are always exceptions but you haven't pitched yourself with enough information here to say much more.

 

Really tough, plan on working at an IB or AM for a few years and trying to transfer in. If they look at 20 sea riots applicants and all of them have years of pre mba finance experience and the same quality MBA how are you getting an interview over the others?

 
Most Helpful

It’s possible. I went to Columbia without buy side/sell side experience and wound up at a large LO. Have multiple friends who wound up at HFs with similar experience to yours. It’s not easy but it is possible. 

Those who landed at the “elite” SMs all had buy side or sell side experience pre MBA. Couple at MMs were a mixed bag of those with and without experience. 

 

Will this pathway also work for International Student without Buy/Sell side experience? What about the big 4 MultiManagers and their Programs like P72 Academy and Citadel Associate Program? Do they recruit from Colombia MBA/Value Investing Program?

 

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