A 1 year college gap year has turned in 4. Starting at 22 and probably starting IB/Big 4 at 25/26. Will this matter?
Hello,
So I went to U of Dayton in 2018 for a little under a semester. I couldn't stand it and I figured I may as well go to a top university to spend this type of money than dumbass Dayton so I left. Started doing marketing self employed awhile I traveled around with the intent of going back to school in a year or 2. COVID hit, everything was online so I waited again and now here we are. All my friends just graduated and I'm just starting.
Next fall I'm going to Ohio State - Majoring in Finance and Accounting. I'm unsure if I want to do IB or Big 4 accounting but either way, I'm starting my journey in college and hoping to graduate in 3 years.
I'm still doing marketing - making $10k/mo and am a part time "executive assistant" at my Mom's law firm. My intent is to transfer out of OSU to a better school like NYU or UMich.
I guess my big question is will my age matter when I apply for first time analyst roles? Will me entering into IB at 25 or 26 be a deterrent and make me less likely to get the position?
Really unsure what to do.
*Edit. Reason I'm wanting to do this than my marketing is because I want a more professional role. I also hate marketing.
I started freshman year after I completed my military service, I was 22, managed to bag non-IB internships/Big 4 non FAS
I highly doubt banks will care about the gap and especially your age. Just be able to explain the gap in interviews if they ask and that should be totally fine.
For reference, immediately after high school I did 2 years of volunteer work with my church before starting college. Then once in college, I actually deferred graduation a year because I got into IB really late (didn’t have anyone in my family in finance/business…discovered IB end of my sophomore year)
Just signed with a BB (Goldman/JPM/MS) last month for SA 2023…so when I actually start FT in IB, I’ll be 25.
No one batted an eye at me in the recruiting process for being 2-3 years older than most candidates.
BYU alum?
Why would you transfer? You can likely land somewhere from OSU. Transferring could also delay graduating in 3 years. Seems like you're all over the place.
Only reason why I would transfer is to get into a better school with better opportunities. I don't really have to do it, just thought it would be a good idea.
I know I can get good jobs from OSU!
Agree with the above, stay at OSU. It's a fine school to network your way into IB, has decent alum presence, and you'll just waste even more time trying to apply to NYU and UMich (both are extraordinarily selective for business school transfers fyi.. think 2% acceptance rate) not to mention you'll be doubling or tripling your cost of attendance.
Do a search on here for OSU specific tips - programs, clubs, places to target for sophomore internships. Start networking in the fall if you want to do IB. There is a definite path, you're not too late, but map out where you want to go and start getting there.
No one will even notice your age, and if they pick up on your large gap in schooling, say you had some family problems and had to drop out to support yourself on your own, it's now grossing $120k/yr but you want to get into finance instead.
FYI I knew a guy 5 or 6 years ago who was an IB SA at age 35 - he had a minimum wage job up until then and decided to go to college in his 30s. Came back FT as an analyst and killed it. It is never too late and you are in a perfect spot to get it done
Only stay at OSU if you want to stay in the Midwest aka chicago.
Wanted to play junior hockey out of high school to get to the college level, took a three year gap. Best three years of my life and really helped me develop a strong desire to go back to school. Was a 21 year old freshman and will end up being 24 when I start full time. Feels a little weird being older then everyone but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter. If anything it helped me in interviews being able to talk about different experiences. Wouldn’t worry about it, everyone’s story is different. Be proud of yours. Cheers lad.
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