Best Path to Get into IB from Life Sciences? Please HELP!!

I'm a senior at a top 50 university (Illinois Gies, Indiana Kelley, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa.) majored in cell bio got a 4.00 GPA, and am interested in healthcare ib. I know I am very late to the game and regret toying around with ib and not directly majoring in finance. I don't have much internship or career experience. Which path is most viable to get into IB? 

1. consulting entry analyst job-->M7 MBA (Kellogg)-->IB associate? 

2. consulting entry analyst at no-name firm-->M7-->MBB-->IB?

2. consulting entry analyst job -->apply to Vanderbilt MSF program-->IB analyst (Vandy seems to have 50% placement). 

Is there a better option for me or do any of these make any sense?

Was premed, but not interested in more schooling;  

Confident I can do well in GMAT (730ish)-good test taker

9 Comments
 

By hustling do you just mean emailing and cold calling? I don't think I have much credibility given the fact that I haven't taken any finance courses...Have you heard of any success stories with "hustling"?

 

I had a pretty similar background to you in undergrad (biochemistry major and didn't want to do med school). I went the corporate development route and worked at a few biotech startups and that was my pitch, and just spun my story as "i like the strategic and transactional nature of corpdev, but want something faster paced, comprehensive and technical". I then did a one year master's in biotechnology grad program and recruited out of that.

Lot of work, but it's possible. Consulting is a good route as long as it's a good shop, and B-school is a good option as well, but be sure to go straight to banking out of school if that's still what you want to do. I've also seen people break in out of the MSF programs, so I don't think there is "only one way or the highway" path to break in.

 
Most Helpful

serbjr

I'm a senior at a top 50 university (Illinois Gies, Indiana Kelley, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa.) majored in cell bio got a 4.00 GPA, and am interested in healthcare ib. I know I am very late to the game and regret toying around with ib and not directly majoring in finance. I don't have much internship or career experience. Which path is most viable to get into IB? 

  1. consulting entry analyst job-->M7 MBA (Kellogg)-->IB associate? 

  2. consulting entry analyst at no-name firm-->M7-->MBB-->IB?

  3. consulting entry analyst job -->apply to Vanderbilt MSF program-->IB analyst (Vandy seems to have 50% placement). 

Is there a better option for me or do any of these make any sense?

Was premed, but not interested in more schooling;  

Confident I can do well in GMAT (730ish)-good test taker

I started with a Biology BS and graduation and will be matriculating to and EB after my MBA. I would not get too stressed about this. If you decide that business school is the right path, with the proper preparation you have a very good chance odds at breaking into the industry. (And speaking from experience a T15 school will provide looks as well).

However, given that you are still early in your career. You may consider a smaller regional boutique. Do a search for some local shops and email some of the partners for potential openings / internships. Many of these firms have informal opportunities that can get your foot in the door without having to spend six figures on an MBA. Then you can lateral up into an EB or BB firm after a year or two. Seeing how busy juniors are and how active the lateral market is, this option has a high likelihood of success.

 

Aperiam rem porro aliquid corporis consequatur qui illum. Et qui dolorum tempora recusandae. Hic unde ad vitae iusto omnis laudantium.

Eos quae et quia. Officia sequi aut sit ut qui qui vel aut. Ab officiis occaecati eos ea et. Necessitatibus magni totam sunt cum ullam. Vitae debitis ut neque. Enim omnis fuga id et et modi. Quibusdam aliquam unde molestiae omnis.

Optio sapiente voluptatem rerum animi. Harum nobis vel quis qui. Id reiciendis placeat ducimus alias laborum. Quasi inventore et porro nulla vitae. Qui voluptas aliquid quae voluptatem tempora aspernatur possimus. Fuga mollitia distinctio harum architecto corporis culpa id.

Quas nulla est at alias. Rerum autem fuga alias voluptates magni. Quia assumenda laboriosam non at. Doloribus non qui sequi enim fuga omnis. Deleniti officia et facere ipsa qui. Laboriosam aliquid voluptates distinctio ut sapiente reprehenderit nisi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”