Non-target undergrad + Target grad non-mba = ???

Guys,

I have a top 100 BS (3.75/4.00) and MS (3.5/4.0) both from the same university (non target) in biomedical engineering. Been lurking around the forums for awhile.

Did not know anything about IBD/Consulting until I started at Thompson Reuters in July 2009 as a market data analyst aka data entry IMO. Last year's recruiting was pretty bad so I just took the first job that was offered to me after graduating from my MS.

Recently got admits to these 'target' schools (in order of preference/exit ops): All 1 year programmes

Oxford MFE (32k pounds) Cambridge MPhil Management (16k pounds) LSE MSc Management, Organisation and Govt (20k pounds) Duke MMS (27k pounds)

Was wondering if its worth attending? or stick it out for another 2 years doing menial work? or attend an MBA? I have my life savings of about 15k pounds, and plan to take on a loan for the living expenses from my family. They are supportive in whatever I choose. The thing is I am not sure if I have the ability to fork out $160k (HWS) or 50k Euros/pounds(Ox/Cam/INSEAD).

Is an MBA really necessary to go beyond the associate level in IBD/Consulting? I really do not want an MBA if I plan to go for this as I will probably sound like a tool for having BS MS MFE MBA behind my name/resume.

PS: Plan to work in IBD/Consulting in the UK/EU/Asia.

Fanks, Wannabe-chimp

39 Comments
 

Depends how non target the school is. UC Davis, GA Tech are ranked high and are very respected, but are total non targets because of location. If you get an MS at a Top school (this excludes case western and cornell) like a columbia, then yes no one will really care that much about non target undergrad. Just work hard during your masters because every legit kid gets a 3.8+ GPA in grad school.

 

what will matter is your MS from target school, how well you did. If you have a very desirable MS, they won't really care about what you did before.

I don't see why, they would look down upon the fact that you are doing an MS from a target school, clearly you got there because you worked your ass off, even if it was in a state school as you say.

People tend to exaggerate the extent to which you have to come from a target school to be sorted. True, it does help, but if you are not focused, lack of stamina, it will be useless...

At the end of the day, it all depends on you, how determined are you to get where you want to be...

 

this is subjective, but knowing now that i want to do finance/banking i would much rather have a target undergrad than a nontarget undergrad with a target grad (unless that target grad is is B-School).

i am currently a working professional with non-target undergrad looking to go to a top B-School.

Money Never Sleeps? More like Money Never SUCKS amirite?!?!?!?
 

now im young and definitely not in a position to hire, but i would prefer the non-t to target MS kid because that shows hustle, improvement, desire, and obvious smarts.

im a bit biased though because i am one of those kids haha.

 
dmackorthnow im young and definitely not in a position to hire, but i would prefer the non-t to target MS kid because that shows hustle, improvement, desire, and obvious smarts.

im a bit biased though because i am one of those kids haha.

I don't get why it would make a difference. A lot of kids at targets are from ordinary backgrounds and showed "hustle, desire and obvious smarts" to get in from high school. I don't know how it works in the real world because I'm still a student, but the most recent degree should be what matters IMO.

 

Hopefully the prospects are good because I will be going this route.

"There are only two opinions in this world: Mine and the wrong one." -Jeremy Clarkson
 

I think I would also prefer a non target/ target grad school kid. I am one of them, but for some people, there is an issue of money going to a target and just because you didn't decide to go to a target when you were 17 and thinking about this doesn't mean that you're any smarter than the kid who went to a non target or state school. I think it would also weigh in is the work experience that each of the non target/ target grad has compared to the target ugrad kid.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 
streetwannabeI think I would also prefer a non target/ target grad school kid. I am one of them, but for some people, there is an issue of money going to a target and just because you didn't decide to go to a target when you were 17 and thinking about this doesn't mean that you're any smarter than the kid who went to a non target or state school. I think it would also weigh in is the work experience that each of the non target/ target grad has compared to the target ugrad kid.

Harvard is cheaper than state schools for most families due to the financial aid policy, 10k for tuition, room, board, +you receive 5k cash for summer international experience, so actually only 5k for the year.

So fuck you state school kid, go join a Organized Labor Ring like UAW

 
Unionbusters without Borders
streetwannabeI think I would also prefer a non target/ target grad school kid. I am one of them, but for some people, there is an issue of money going to a target and just because you didn't decide to go to a target when you were 17 and thinking about this doesn't mean that you're any smarter than the kid who went to a non target or state school. I think it would also weigh in is the work experience that each of the non target/ target grad has compared to the target ugrad kid.

Harvard is cheaper than state schools for most families due to the financial aid policy, 10k for tuition, room, board, +you receive 5k cash for summer international experience, so actually only 5k for the year.

So fuck you state school kid, go join a Organized Labor Ring like UAW

Pretty sure this post ended the debate. Non target undergrad--->target grad is definately the right path to go down.

 
Best Response
Unionbusters without Borders
streetwannabeI think I would also prefer a non target/ target grad school kid. I am one of them, but for some people, there is an issue of money going to a target and just because you didn't decide to go to a target when you were 17 and thinking about this doesn't mean that you're any smarter than the kid who went to a non target or state school. I think it would also weigh in is the work experience that each of the non target/ target grad has compared to the target ugrad kid.

Harvard is cheaper than state schools for most families due to the financial aid policy, 10k for tuition, room, board, +you receive 5k cash for summer international experience, so actually only 5k for the year.

So fuck you state school kid, go join a Organized Labor Ring like UAW

HAHA, I actually go to a 50k a year private school, not public (not that makes much of a difference) and I am working an internship at a alternative investment fund. I'm dedicated so thats why I would prefer my situation, it might not work for everyone. And I was speculating in the scenario for kids who don't always receive FAFSA, and don't have 10k to drop each semester. Lots of school actually reject people's FAFSA applications (I had two denied) and the school I currently attend I earned alot of scholarship money. So maybe you should not jump to harsh conclusions dumbass.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 
streetwannabeI think I would also prefer a non target/ target grad school kid. I am one of them, but for some people, there is an issue of money going to a target and just because you didn't decide to go to a target when you were 17 and thinking about this doesn't mean that you're any smarter than the kid who went to a non target or state school. I think it would also weigh in is the work experience that each of the non target/ target grad has compared to the target ugrad kid.

Also, if you went to a state school, it is highly unlikely that you will be getting any work experience that does not involve manual labor (or PwC)

 

Having a job + non target undergrad> not having a job + target undergrad

/thread

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
blackfinancierHaving a job + non target undergrad> not having a job + target undergrad

/thread

You probably didnt read the post above.

chances of "Having a job + non target undergrad" is very low, unless you consider working at PwC a real job.

and chances of "not having a job + target undergrad" is also very low.

 

I will agree with all of this. Aren't some state schools considered targets though? Even though they are state, there are some that are very good for recruitment (UCLA, UNC, Michigan, etc)?

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 

I started my college journey in community college, got an associate's degree in general studies, finished my bachelor's from a state U (it was even a "party school") with a 3.2 GPA and had my first job working as a retail clothing supervisor at a mall. I subsequently changed to a client services role in a call center for an Asset Management firm. Worked my way to an investment analyst, and I designed a patent that my firm bought for $6MM. After scoring a 780 GMAT with solid recs from our CEO and 2 MDs, I got into a target (H/S/W) and came back to the same firm as a Director. I was a bit older than my peers in the MBA, but much more experienced. I even had one of my cohort apply for a position on my team 4 months out of school. He was a target UG and target MBA, but did not get the offer. Just a perspective from the other side. :)

 

I have classmates at HBS who went to state schools. It's not impossible, I just hope your "decent" GPA is actually impressive and not just decent.

 

What about a non prestigious (well technically best school in the country for my major but still basically unknown outside of Canada) Canadian undergrad degree in petroleum engineering with work experience with Exxon for a few years and a 3.5+ GPA? Actually what are my chances as a Canadian to begin with? Better than a state school US kid with comparable stats? Or worse?

 

I will graduate in a month with a 3.2 cumulative, 3.5 in the last two years, 3.8 in the last year and 3.5 in major related courses (as you can see, I fucked around in first year)

I have a full time role in PWM, a couple of internships and I'm Latin American.

 

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