Non-targets - time to get to work

It is Sunday night and I am about to start my second week of the final year of my MBA program. I am still doing a bit of work finishing up a deal with my summer internship at a regional boutique, and preparing to tackle the task of finding a FT gig at a larger bank.

I came to this non-target MBA mainly for the full-tuition scholarship, but I am finding that the ROLOI (return on lack of investment) might be less than the ROI at some of the target schools to which I was accepted. Getting an IBD job out of here is going to be a function of my work and networking only, as there really aren’t any MBA alums in banking; just those who went from the undergrad of this school to analyst positions.

Besides my excel sheet of over 100 contacts that I have a pseudo-connection with, I don’t know what else to do besides pick up the phone and start calling and telling my story, and asking for their advice (and eventually help if they are willing). I know that I have the skills and intelligence to do the job, the problem is convincing the recruiters.

Are there any other suggestions out there that might get me in the door? Other non-target guys and girls: What did you do to get in?

Ex target school bankers: what are your thoughts on your colleagues from non-targets?

6 Comments
 

How non-target is it? Is it at least a strong regional school? The actual school becomes a lot more important at the MBA level, so you might have to give more details. Not that I can help you necessarily, I'm just an undergrad.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

oldmansacks: most of them are probably post-undergrad jobs, not post-MBA (though to be fair I wouldn't know, just going off school rankings)

steve: That's rough because regionally you're competing with some good schools (UMich, UChi). On the other hand at least you're in close proximity to Chicago, so I guess networking would be the best way to go, sorry I can't help more :/

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 
Best Response

Dolorum voluptatem id est sint consequatur. Rerum qui quia omnis esse omnis dolor. Voluptates qui dolores molestias provident quia fugit modi ut. Recusandae dolore natus dicta eaque pariatur. Enim sunt natus est quaerat perspiciatis. Suscipit a totam dolor. Id et et laudantium culpa quis cupiditate maiores.

Dolore laboriosam dolor debitis porro officia dicta ratione. Ut et aut asperiores velit accusantium repudiandae inventore. Quibusdam voluptatem aut quibusdam distinctio qui. Aliquid dignissimos distinctio voluptates ullam officiis aut omnis. Doloribus quae architecto quia et voluptas aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”