Graduate Programs and Career Advice

Hi folks,

Needed some advice on best next steps to build a career in IB/PE/VC and which Graduate masters programs to target from some of you more experienced people in here.

Some background on me:

Indian, Graduated from a top 10 engineering college in 2022 in my home country with decent grades

Decided to switch to finance after developing an interest in Economics and Banking by watching too much YT XD. (COVID + Engg student = no finance internships during grad)

Post grad., got into a large Financial Service Companies (Acuity types) and got opp. to work deal collateral and financial modelling for one of the biggest PE firms.

Switched to front office roles with a stint at a VC fund as Analyst and then presently Analyst (FO role) at a smaller boutique IB shop working on Small and Mid tier company fundraising.

All in all have worked 20 months in total with each stint averaging 6-7 months and latest but have had good exposure to large number of sectors and deals although smaller ones. Also got pretty solid with Accounting, Corporate Finance and modelling in the process.

Looking to break into BB/EB/PE and change base to US:

Reasons - larger exposure to front office BB/EB roles and large deals + Shitty Analyst-Associate level pay (~$10-15K) in India which isn't helping save for a top tier MBA either

and so decided to apply for STEM MSF programs this year instead of sweating it out for 4-5 years and applying for a good MBA (also MBA = not STEM = more H1B issues)

Genuinely wondering if this will be effective and pondering on chances of employment in IB/PE with my credentials and background post MSF considering i have read a lot on this forum Post Graduate hiring for IB is mostly through Target MBA programs.

Program suggestions also welcome but ig Test scores and essays will decide that. Targeting the top generalist finance ones.

Thanks!!