Post-MBA HF Pivot in 2025
Hi everyone, just looking to get some advice on my situation heading into this year’s MBA application cycle.
For background (ignore job title on here), I’m three years out of undergrad, and by the time I’d start an MBA program it would be four years total work experience. I’ve been at a decent MMIB the entire time working across their private capital advisory division. My first year was in secondaries advisory and the last two have been in the private fund placement team. Interestingly i've had a great experience and made significantly above market IB comp but I’ve realized I don’t want to be on the fundraising side long term and for a multitude of other reasons, I’m considering pursuing an MBA.
Before this I did multiple M&A internships at boutique IB shops while in school, alongside a small equity research internship, but never went deep into public markets at the time. I took the OG GMAT (just before the Focus came out) and scored decently well (740), so I should be competitive for most M7 programs outside of H/S. I’ll target the rest of the M7 plus whatever T15 programs make sense.
Long term I’m interested in being in a public markets buyside seat. LO is appealing but a L/S shop would be very exciting. I know places like Elliott who have structured MBA programs are out of reach given my background, but I’ve seen people land SM L/S roles at funds in the $500m–$5b AUM range out of schools like Columbia (Value Investing Program), Wharton, Booth and even some T15s like Tuck or Yale etc. I’m curious what the actual pipeline looks like for those kinds of roles. Is it mostly networking-driven, or is there a semi-structured recruiting path?
Also, do I realistically need Wharton/Columbia VIP to be competitive for HF roles or can Columbia/Booth/any select T15s open similar doors ? How does someone like me with no real equity research/S&T/heavy M&A background position for MBA hedge fund recruiting?
MM platforms or tier 1 SM shops are ofc interesting but given my profile, moreso curious to learn about recruiting pipelines from these programs into SM shops in the aformentioned $500m–$5b range across either equity and credit.
Any perspective is appreciated.
To pivot into hedge funds post-MBA, especially targeting SM L/S funds in the $500M–$5B AUM range, here’s what you need to know based on the most helpful WSO content:
1. Target Schools and Programs
2. Recruiting Pipeline
3. Positioning Yourself
4. Do You Need Wharton/Columbia VIP?
5. Target Funds
6. Networking Tips
In summary, while Wharton and Columbia VIP provide the most direct paths, other M7 and select T15 programs can also lead to SM L/S roles with the right strategy. Focus on networking, building a strong investment track record during your MBA, and leveraging alumni connections to break into the hedge fund space.
Sources: Join startup HF or pursue MBA? Seeking advice.., Q&A: I’ve held Pre-MBA MM LBO, Growth Equity and Venture Capital investment roles for funds with $500M+ AUM to $5B+ AUM, Q&A: HF out of undergrad, ~5 years later, How are Booth, Kellogg, and Columbia for Post-MBA PE?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/going-from-mm-investment-bank-to-mega-fund?customgpt=1
Bump
Ultra f*ing bump. Any color on this but for an international as well would be tremendously appreciated
tbh... MBA is kind of meaningless for public equities especially l/s and pods. Are you actively working on ideas and writing up pitches? I think that goes a long way. Have you been applying for public equities/ ER gigs alrdy? Getting any job xp on resume will go a long way. Leveraging any contacts you alrdy have would be a big help. If you can't get any traction then MBA can be your (very costly) reset switch to start over again but shouldnt be your focus or first option
The group he's in, private capital advisory, only places well into secondaries PE and IR. He isn't going to get looks for L/S or pods out of that.
Yeah pretty much the feedback I’ve gotten
Have been prepping pitches etc and explored the lateral market, overall has been very dry. Have had fruitful feedback from a few mentors who say that given my somewhat niche background/team (secondaries/fundraising), that perhaps an MBA would help me position me from a clean slate (if you will). Agree that an MBA can be an expensive ‘mistake’ but for me I’m not only considering it for public buy side, but also for the other professional opportunities it can provide me. Only that L/S or LO would be my ideal short & long term landing spot
"I’ve seen people land SM L/S roles at funds in the $500m–$5b AUM range out of schools like Columbia (Value Investing Program), Wharton, Booth and even some T15s like Tuck or Yale etc."
Did these people have pre-MBA investing experience, or say IBD experience in a coverage group, M&A, RX, or lev fin?
I ask because just from my own network, the only people I know who were able to land roles like that without pre-MBA investing experience or experience in one of those groups went to CBS and did their VIP. Like the gulf is huge for outcomes at schools aside from CBS. Their VIP and the pipeline for recruiting into those roles, especially for those without pre-MBA finance experience, is amazing.
Aside from that you're looking at a huge uphill battle, but think it'll just come down to pure ranking at that point, and by that I mean just going to the best business school you can get into. Although after M7 and say Tuck & Yale, I'd ask yourself if you seriously want to commit to that path because I don't see a way into it if not at one of those schools.
Thanks. Makes sense. Realistically I won't attend an MBA unless its M7 + likely Tuck/Yale/Stern anyways. Of the profiles that landed at said HF, certainly a good # of those ppl come from a coverage/M&A/RX/PE background, but also saw some who seemingly came from less relevant backgrounds (Consulting, Tech, some IB adjacent positions like credit risk at a bank etc).
Consulting & an IBD adjacent position like credit risk still involve some degree of fundamental analysis into a company or a industry, so I wouldn't be too surprised people can land a HF position out of a T15 MBA after doing that before business school. It's probably an easier "sell" actually than private capital advisory. Regardless, I would speak to those people who did consulting, tech or credit risk beforehand for some advice.
But also, I just noticed that you only have 3 years of experience. Truthfully you don't think you'd be able to lateral into anything sell side equity research related and try the business school angle in say 2028? You'd only be 6 years of school then, and you'd have an easier story to tell/would be a very strong candidate for post-MBA LO positions (which are the real partner/senior management track positions at these funds), and an even more decent candidate for those HFs of the AUM you mentioned.
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