International student with 3-year STEM OPT – Is breaking into Wall Street IB still realistic?
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some honest advice on my career path.
I’m an international student graduating from Columbia University with a one-year STEM Master’s in Climate and Society, which gives me 3 years of STEM OPT. My undergraduate degree is in Financial Engineering, but it was completed outside the U.S.
Before coming to Columbia, I worked in China in Investment Banking and Private Equity, and I also have experience in fundamental equity research at a hedge fund.
My long-term goal is to break into Wall Street, ideally Investment Banking. If I have a chance to join a larger firm (BB/EB), I would definitely prefer that over a smaller platform.
Given my background, I’d really appreciate some advice:
1. Is IB still a realistic path for someone with my profile?
2. If not, what roles would give me the best chance of eventually getting into a top investment firm? (Equity Research, Corporate Banking, Valuation, PE, Asset Management, Consulting, etc.)
3. Would you continue focusing almost exclusively on IB recruiting, or broaden applications significantly?
4. Has anyone here successfully broken into IB from a non-business master’s program with prior finance experience?
I’d really appreciate any honest feedback. Thanks!
Why even do a masters in that if your end goal is American IB? I see it only really being "useful" in consulting from that list, otherwise you'll be banking purely on uni brand.
Fair point. My undergrad was in Financial Engineering, and I had IB/PE/HF experience before Columbia. I mainly came for the Columbia network and STEM OPT. Do you think BB/EB IB is still realistic with that background? Any advice could help!
jobs in America should go to Americans
Skill issue
I broke into this industry successfully.. I don’t think a single job in IB at the junior/mid/senior level should go to foreigners and I think Americans should prioritize the economic wellbeing of other Americans.
So by that logic, should every American working in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Dubai also give up their jobs to locals? Global finance has never worked that way
ah yes, all the Americans getting hired for entry-level finance jobs out of undergrad in Tokyo, Singapore and Dubai…
Skill issue/2
Completely cooked. Don’t bother trying.
Should have done an MBA instead of whatever useless masters program you chose.
Thanks for the advice. If traditional front-office finance roles aren’t realistic given my background, are there other career paths or roles you think I should target instead?
Given your smug responses to my fellow citizens, you should probably just head back to China
Thankfully you don’t have a chance. Also get the fuck out of this country, we don’t need people like you
Telling an international student to “get out of this country” says far more about you than it does about my chances
Alright buddy, lmk when you get an offer then. Cash cow masters are useless for IB recruiting
Do you feel superior to other people because your parent decided to immigrate to this country 50 years ago instead of now?
I have seen international students with non-finance masters from target universities land into IB.
But I would caveat that they broke in during the 2021 hiring period and landed at no name boutiques.
I have also seen kids with non finance undergrads from Ivies break into corp dev roles at a roll up.
So technically possible but odds are against you
Thank you so much for sharing this ! I really appreciate the honest and nuanced perspective. It’s helpful to know that it’s technically possible, even if the odds are challenging in the current market. I’ll keep my expectations realistic and continue exploring boutiques and corp dev roles as well. Thanks again!
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