Is MBA prestige worth it?

Im graduating from a semi-target school and going into a large MM bank FT (debt advisory) this summer. I have hopes of lateraling to elite boutiques in either M&A or Rx groups. I know that won’t be easy at all, especially considering the limited alumni network in some of the more prestigious banks. My ultimate goal is to end up in a large private equity/credit firm. I’ve seen people take this route before, but I’m not sure if working my ass off (and paying) for a top 5 MBA is worth the return. Is it possible to skip the MBA and still follow my ideal career progression? Will networking and technical skill be enough to get into a very prestigious firm?

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