84 Comments
 

Full-time MBA hopefully from a Top 10 school. Then the former analyst can use that MBA to go back to ibanking as an associate, or can try to join a PE, HF or VC firm.

 

Doesn't the average full time MBA student have 4ish years of experience? I know the number at Penn was 4.9 years for one of their recent entering classes.

 

I guess the average ages go up because of the fact that majority of the people in the business program wont be all bankers and for other occupations its usually better to spend some more time gaining experience (+ the dough to pay for B school)... LIke I particularly know a person who went did consulting with McKinsey for 5 years....went to B school ....eventually became a partner and now is a CEO....so I guess the career paths differ from person to person..

 

Do investment banks support analysts going back to business schools, for example, tuition reimbursement or accommodation for persons pursuing part time MBA programs?

 

.... How could a investment bank support someone pursuing a part-time MBA program? You can't go to school part-time and work as an investment banker.

 

i heard the same as tirekicker as well as depending on firm. boutiques and mids try to disprove 2 and done culture with allowing people if the group permits to do night school

 

How on earth can you get an MBA through night school and have that MBA respected on mainstream Wall Street?

Yes, I know Stern does this, and they may be the single respected MBA program for night/weekend/EMBA grads. Other than that, though, you might as well be taking classes online from Phoenix University, right? Or am I mistaken?

 

Yeah, I'm thinking Stern is your one shot at a night MBA that could potentially be respected on Wall Street.

We just got my fiance's app to Stern for early decision (hoping to cop a free place for us both to live in Manhattan with his scholarship, which is worth more than he can earn in the workforce). This is solely because (A) it is in Manhattan and (B) by default, it has a respected finance program because New York financiers attend it.

 

Yeah, but I can't live up by Columbia. I refuse to take subways and the commute would kill me. Stern is just a way to get us low-cost or free housing; his MBA would just be a kicker.

 

What do you all think about Boston College's night school? I know someone who is hoping to go there part time in order to switch into VC.

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Most have a "general breakdown" far before the end of two years...

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

In my analyst class (Summer '07 to Summer '09), the breakout was roughly as follows. Note that I worked at a regional MM firm doing M&A.

30% Corporate 25% PE 20% Stayed at Bank 5% Small Start Up 20% Unemployed / Burnt Out & Not Looking

The year prior to my year, it was pretty much 90% PE / 10% Stayed at Bank. From what I've heard from the analyst class below mine, this year was another extremely tough year for PE recruiting, with the majority of analysts still looking for a job or reverting to a 3rd year.

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corporate development at a big company

S&T if for example you worked in lev fin and want to trade high yield

marketing at a big company

 

I think it's very possible to get in if you had those quantitative stats, ASSUMING you also had outstanding extracurriculars throughout college and you can craft very compelling essays to make up for your relatively few years of work experience.

 

That makes sense for Kellogg, as Northwestern is known for preferring candidates with more experience for their law school as well.

 

Yea, Kellogg and Tuck are well known for favoring the more experienced crowd. Harvard and Stanford really love the young-20s.

I do know a few MBB guys who got into K after 2 years in consulting, but K is also better known for consulting than for finance.

 

I know it can be done at Chicago, though 2 years is not much experience. As soulmeetsbody says, the key is in crafting your story about your life and work experiences, since most of the people you'll be competing with will be older. The grades and GMAT are fine, but all the top schools reject more people than they accept with top grades and gmat scores. Its all about the essays.

 

Yes, it is possible, but you'll need some strong extracurricular accomplishments in college (assuming you have the typical IB analyst hours where you have no time to do anything outside of work).

Alex Chu

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

From everything I've heard in training, business school is less of a necessity if you are moving vertically within your firm - - so would you consider being an associate? If so, your track record should out weigh.

By the way, I am in a similar situation. But I'd like to stay in-house, not go to school again.

 
GameTheoryI mean, yes, people are interested in it, but only as an additional datapoint to which you can differentiate candidates if necessary. Generally speaking, if you're good enough GPA wise to get a banking job and you have good deal experience, 3.8 vs. 3.5 won't matter much.

To be honest, I don't even think we verify GPA.

An official transcript should suffice for verifying GPA; post-offer, I think this is a pretty standard requirement.

Agree with your point that GPA is really more of a hurdle for candidates than it is any real differentiating factor.

 
anon101as an aside, how did you get in with a 3.5

did you go to a top target? networking?...?

I think a quick glance at her user name and her sig will tell you a lot.

Just kidding...it's food for thought though. LOL.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

anon - i PMed you.

"I have a head for business and a bod for sin. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"I have a head for business and a bod for sin. Is there anything wrong with that?"
 

workingirl, you'll be fine - your GPA isn't exceptional, but it's not bad enough for it to be an issue if any recruiter asks a few years down the line. And it won't be an issue either should you decide to apply to a top b-school so long as your GMAT is strong (700+, 720+ to be safe if you're applying in a few years).

Alex Chu

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

The "standard" path (if there is such a thing) is usually 2 years IBD, then 2 years PE, then business school.

If you're starting off at a true boutique, then the structure seems generally a bit looser, which means that if you're a good performer, you won't necessarily get forced out after 2-3 years. Why don't you see if you like banking first, then decide where to go from there?

Anyway, when I was networking, it seemed that a lot of senior bankers didn't necessarily start off in banking or even stayed with banking (if they started off as an analyst). Lots have taken detours through corporate development, start-ups, non-profits, the military, and whatever other "non-traditional" paths there may be, so there's no one ideal route to a career, rather, just do what you think is right for you.

Just make sure to ace the GMAT and your interviews if you do decide to go get your MBA :)

 

I am in the same position - graduating in May and beginning at a BB in late summer. When is the best time to take the GMAT if I am thinking 2 yrs of IBD, 2 yrs of PE then BSchool?

I know there are changes occurring to the test in early June

 
jbt073I am in the same position - graduating in May and beginning at a BB in late summer. When is the best time to take the GMAT if I am thinking 2 yrs of IBD, 2 yrs of PE then BSchool?

I know there are changes occurring to the test in early June

I'm in the same boat.. going to try and take it during the semester sometime.

I definitely don't want to wait until after the changes

 
jbt073I am in the same position - graduating in May and beginning at a BB in late summer. When is the best time to take the GMAT if I am thinking 2 yrs of IBD, 2 yrs of PE then BSchool?

I know there are changes occurring to the test in early June

The best time to take it is before you start working.
 

I agree with above, it really is up to you where you want to go. If you are at a smaller boutique, you should first see if you like the culture/deal flow/people at the firm before you decide to jump ship. If you go in there with the mindset of really doing well and being a great analyst, as long as your keep your personal integrity in tact and work hard...exit opportunities should come easy.

XX
 

What is more advisable coming from a boutique?

2 more years at a MM --> low/mid level PE --> MBA

or just go straight to low/mid level PE --> MBA?

If I do a 2-3 year stint at a boutique I'm waiting to hear back from I would like to possibly do a stint abroad in HK before PE or MBA.

My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
 

VC. Corporate Development. Corporate Finance. Investment Management. Business School.

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 

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