I am a senior at a non-target school with a high GPA, internships at a boutique M&A consulting company and the Wealth Management division of the old Merrill Lynch, a D1 varsity athlete, and have extremely good leadership experience. However, minus 2 random interviews at good firms that didn't go as well as they needed to, I've gotten very few interviews in general, and only at small IB boutiques. While I am still going through the process and have not yet received an offer, if I was offered a position at one of the places I've interviewed for example, a boutique bank based in TX which is opening an office up in Boston, would I be better taking that or trying to get into a masters program at Duke, UVA, or one of the London schools (as has been discussed in other threads)?
From someone with perspective, do these masters really help you? After all, I'd be interviewing next September with no real masters GPA to show that I'm bright, just simply the promise of being in the program. Is experience/exit opportunities at a small boutique better than a masters? Also, while we're on it, are there any ways to work your way in the back door? For example, one firm I've heard of has a 3-6 month long Fall internship program for graduates, after which there is the potential that you will be asked to stay on, are there any other ways like this to get your foot in the door?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
i think if you can get the offer and work that and then in the future spend that would-be MSF money on going to a top tier b school and get into a BB if thats what you desire in the end...
I would take whatever IB job comes your way. I feel experience at a Boutique is more hands on and you can learn more and have more face time with experienced professionals.
I personally feel a MSF is more valuable than an MBA because you are actually focusing on one topic and getting a better and advanced understanding it. MBA's are really expensive, but banks and consulting firms require them. It is the name of the game.
Thanks, I appreciate the advice. One other point I'd like to make (not in relation to your post, Nefarious), is that I'm not interested in the bang for your buck of choosing a MsF, MsM, or MsComm over an MBA. If getting one of these generally year long degrees will potentially give me a realistic opportunity to get into a prestigious boutique (i.e.: Centerview, Lazard, Evercore, etc.) or a BB, I would rather take out a loan, most of which I would make back in a year or two when you take into consideration how much more these firms will probably pay than a small boutique.
Does anyone have firsthand knowledge of the job placement of any of these programs?
"back doors" into IB through non-traditional graduate programs (Originally Posted: 04/23/2010)
I was curious to know if people could share their knowledge on "backdoor" programs... that don't have the admission obstacles/bars that traditional MBA programs have, yet still they still offer reasonable network/recruiting opportunities. ...perhaps a engineering, economics, international development....whatever. but theres seems to be a few unpopular/unknown programs that are featured at schools with good reputations, and still give students the opportunities they desire in front office roles. If anybody has experiences, thoughts, or perhaps know of friends in such programs, please share.
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