Advice on Entering Investment Banking

Hello All,

I'm looking for some advice and guidance on my next steps; I'm looking to enter investment banking as an analyst. I graduated in 2017 from the University of Pittsburgh with a BSBA in Finance and began working for Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor. However, I wasn't crazy about the cold calling aspect and wanted to begin working with clients immediately. I left Merrill after 1 year to join a startup strategy & design firm where I now act as a business strategist and consultant.

I've been there for a year now, but I want to enter investment banking to learn more about the nature of corporate transactions. Plus, it's a great opportunity to further develop my skills in building complex models and valuations, which I really like doing.

My ultimate goal would be to work in PE, though I understand that is very rarely a starting point. Part of what I enjoy doing now as a strategist is assisting clients with business management decisions, but I'd like to be a part of actually implementing them at some point in the future.

I don't really know where to start; I've been told not to waste my time applying to jobs in the field and instead to pursue an MBA. That would be fine, but I can't afford to go to a top institution right now. Any advice would be appreciated.