MS Computer Science to IB?
So to simplify this, my goal is to break into IBD. Since I came from a no name school here are the choices I have to get for my masters to break into IBD.
Stats
No name school: GPA sub 3.0 gpa
major: liberal arts
offers to
Rutgers Masters in finance (still non-target)
Fordham Masters in Global Finance (is this at least semi target? I saw on Lazard's site they recruited here for Asset Management but not IBD :\ )
NYU Masters in Computer Science
Tulane Masters in Finance (havent received an offer yet, but high chance i won't get in so discount this)
OR
I can take classes at Columbia certificate program and improve GPA to get into Columbia MS Operations Research. I've seen this done multiple times on Linkedin. Problem here is I have barely seen any of them actually end up getting into IBD (except one girl in RBC) and I will have to shell out 30k in pre-classes and another 60k on masters. Money isn't really an issue, but I would prefer not to spend so much. (2 years to complete including with post bac classes to get in)
My Current experience
So I graduated a couple of months ago, and although I have a liberal arts degree I have been working just recently as a software developer/engineer for a startup (pretty decent money, but i want to do IBD). I was thinking that If i go into NYU's 2 year MS CS program I will be able to still work full time the first year (classes at night) while trying to get recruited for IBD in possibly TMT group.
Problem
Now although I thought my initial idea of entering NYU's MS CS program felt better than the rest of the programs as Rutgers and Fordham are essentially non-targets (and Tulane I am almost certain I won't be accepted too) it is still MS CS and not MSF. ALSO i checked on linkedin and saw no one from NYU MSCS get into IBD, now this could be because they don't want to do IBD and want to work at google/facebook etc. or that it is not possible.
Question
Have you seen anyone break into IBD after a MSCS? and how can i leverage my possible software developer/engineer experience and possible masters to get an internship if I have never seen it done on linkedin. ALSO is getting a masters at Rutgers or Fordham better in that it is MSF? Is Columbia worth it, or is the quant nature of the masters going to pigeon hole me into operations or risk management rather than IBD.
TL;DR: Low GPA non target guy with about 8-9 months Software Dev experience at startup not sure whether to choose MSF at Fordham/Rutgers/ Tulane(possibly wont get it) OR do a MS computer science at NYU OR MS Operations Research at columbia (90k) to break into IBD
PreMBAGrind, none of these degrees position you for a spot in IB, and I would suggest not enrolling in them if IB is your goal. Your best bet would be to start reaching out to boutiques and trying to get an analyst position there. After you have worked at a boutique for a year, then try lateraling to a larger bank if that is what you want. I typed up a lateraling guide here that you might find useful when that time comes around.
Your background is already very non-traditional, and adding an unrelated graduate degree to that will only add to that. At this point, you need to get some IB experience, hence my suggestion to try getting a spot at a boutique. I hope that helps. Good luck.
Thank you, I just read your thread about breaking in as a lateral. Do you have any suggestions in what I can bring to the table for a boutique IB as a software dev? VBA, R? My only knowledge for modeling is through youtube videos and self teaching, I have no deal experience (obviously).
Do you think it would be possible (in your honest opinion) to construct a story of low gpa liberal arts--->software dev----->IBD?
Thanks again for all the help Sil (SB'd)
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