Sep 29, 2026

Keep recruiting or reset with a UK masters?

Sophomore summer I interned at a boutique IB in NYC, and this past summer I did IB at Deloitte. I don’t really want to stay in the Big 4 route.

I’m a CS + Econ double major (3.5 GPA) at a non-target, graduating next spring. Also did a search fund internship.

I’m international, so the visa situation makes US recruiting even tougher. I also follow the AI/startup/SF scene closely and have been targeting tech-focused groups.

At this point, is it worth continuing to spam FT applications?

The other option is a Master’s in Finance at a UK target and using it as a reset for London IB recruiting.

Anyone been in a similar spot? Keep pushing for US FT or take the UK master’s route?

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“ulian gave me a clear, realistic plan for breaking into IB from a non-target school. He broke my prep into 50% technicals, 40% behaviorals and 10% networking, and explained why I should be interview-ready before doing heavy coffee chats instead of networking first. That changed how I'm spending my time. He pointed me to the WSO courses and the 400-question guide with short daily drills, and I've already started working through them. He also helped me see my coaching business as a real differentiator instead of something unrelated to finance, and told me to build 7 strong "why hire me" stories, which led me to book a 7 Stories session with him. His advice on my sophomore summer was practical: any finance-adjacent role with transaction exposure is a win. He was encouraging and easy to talk to, and he explained the recruiting timeline clearly. The one thing that would make it even better is a short written checklist of next steps at the end of the session, so I can track progress before our next meeting.”

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“John was amazing, he was great at explaining things and had a very positive vibe. He had talked about his life at evermore and how he had switched from Evercore to Carlyle. He then told me how to network more effectively and how to be a better candidate as a whole. He had said that when you are having a coffee chat not to talk as much about their day to day because that is all they are talking about usually. He said to try and connect about their interests and their hobbies because that is something that they would like to talk about.”

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6 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

24d

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to consider:

US Recruiting Challenges:
- As an international student, the visa situation adds a significant hurdle for US full-time (FT) recruiting. Many firms are hesitant to sponsor visas, especially for non-target candidates.
- Your background (CS + Econ, boutique IB, Deloitte IB, search fund experience) is solid, but the non-target school and 3.5 GPA might make it harder to stand out in the competitive US market.
UK Master's as a Reset:
- A Master's in Finance at a UK target (e.g., LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial) can provide a strong reset for your career.
- London IB recruiting is more open to master's students, and networking is less emphasized compared to the US.
- Post-Brexit, international students in the UK benefit from a 2-year post-study work visa, making it easier to secure a job and transition to a work-sponsored visa.
- London offers opportunities in tech-focused groups, and the cost of living is generally lower than NYC.
Key Considerations:
- If you’re passionate about staying in the US and have the bandwidth to continue applying, you could keep pushing for FT roles. However, given the visa challenges and your timeline (graduating next spring), this path is uncertain.
- The UK master's route offers a clearer path to reset your recruiting efforts, especially if you target top programs with strong placement records in IB.
Advice from Similar Cases:
- Many WSO users in similar situations have found success by pursuing a UK master's, leveraging the brand name and alumni network to break into London IB.
- Others have noted that spamming FT applications in the US without a clear strategy often leads to burnout, especially for internationals.

Recommendation:

If you’re open to relocating and want a more structured path, the UK master's route is a strong option. It aligns well with your timeline, visa needs, and career goals in IB or tech-focused groups. However, if you’re set on staying in the US, focus your FT applications on firms known to sponsor visas and consider networking aggressively with alumni or professionals in tech-focused IB groups.

Sources: MSF Class of 2018, One day to decide: US or UK?

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Intern in ER

23d

London IB makes sense. US experience is seen well. Sponsorship is also much more common (they often bring over europeans from continental target schools like hec escp bocconi). But cohort sizes are smaller so competition is strong.

Aim for LBS. LSE is slightly worse for recruitment at master level.

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Intern in IB - Cov

23d

If you do a master in Europe, make sure it is a target one otherwise it is a waste of time and money. HEC, ESCP, Bocconi, LBS, LSE, Oxford, HSG

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100mn

23d

I’m planning to apply to HEC, LBS, LSE, Bocconi and Imperial. Would you remove any of these or add another target?

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Prospect in IB - Gen

23d

Personal 2c

UK market is very overcrowded with a lot of non performance related requirements embedded into RO considerations these days

I wouldn't try to come to London unless you are completely standout and can interview for a desk that is very technical which no one wants to touch with a barge pole

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EvitaPhamroq9m

21d

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