I'm from a non-target LAC, with no powerful connections whatsoever, so I figure my chances of landing a IBD SA offer and a FT offer are pretty slim. I'm wondering if it would improve my chances of getting into investment banking if I graduated in three years and then spend one more year to do a finance-related master's at a target school (as opposed to spending 4 years at my current school and try my best to get an offer)?
I have heard that the hiring structure for investment banking is so structured that many banks don't know what to do with master's graduates - to hire them as analysts or associates? I have absolutely no problem with starting as an analyst, but I won't get a chance to tell the banks that if they simply don't consider me for the position.
So my question is do BBs and other banks consider applicants with finance-related master's for IBD analyst class? At least top ones like Princeton's MFin, Columbia's MFE, and Stanford's Master's in Financial Math? Princeton's website has a wealth of information on the recent placement of its MFin graduates, but most of them are trading or research positions.
They tend to hire kids who have masters of finance/stat/engineering/whatever as senior analysts. I've met a bunch of people who have masters in something from princeton, wharton, and other non-targets.
If you can do one of the top ones like Pton, CU, or Stanford, i think it's worth it.
A masters in accounting is good if that is an option. You'll obviously know the financial statements very well and how they flow. As long as you have an interest in banking and can work with excel/powerpoint you should be in good shape. Put it this way, it wont hurt
1Eric, I sort of disagree with your post. IF you have no other options a MACC MIGHT get you where you want to go, but it is not very likely. I received a MACC at a top 10 accounting school and was accepted to and really considered 2 other top 10/15 programs. While some get into IB straight out of these programs, it is very few. Actually, I'm pretty sure more people got into IB out of the undergrad program at my school than the MACC. This could be an anomoly, but it's what I experienced.
I'd look into the placements of any MACC program very closely if you're only going to try to get into IB.
Also, if you want to go the IB route, you better have a very good internship the summer before your MACC.
Yes. One kid in my old group had a masters in finance, so it does happen. However, he was not hired on as a senior analyst like was noted above, he started as a first year with the rest of my class.
Thanks for the replies guys. I guess it's worth a try then.
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