3 Year Scheme -> Masters/MBA -> IB?

Hi guys,

Haven't had so much luck with graduate applications this year since I don't have any previous experience in finance.

Is it a smart move to go for a 3-year graduate scheme for a mid-sized business covering FP&A, Audit, Tax, and Financial Planning divisions, then studying for an MBA or Masters and getting into IB or PE?

It's definitely the long route but would it even work? Does anyone have any similar experiences or knows what the best thing to do would be?

Otherwise it would be off-cycle internship applications in back office roles for a while then getting a Masters anyways I guess...

Cheers.