Starting Career at LMM

You're acting like he's working a back office role or at cricket wireless. 

OP - congrats on the investment banking offer especially in a year like this. You can stay as long as you want or lateral to a BB or EB when the time is right. To get to a top MBA you'll need a good GMAT. 

Hey could I PM you?

Analyst 2 in IB-M&A

Look. It's a great start to your career because it's the one you've got. Life's about playing the cards you've dealt. Work hard for a year or two, rack up some deal experience, build your technical skills, fight for a promotion if you like the place or lateral to a more established shop if you don't.

Obviously Harvard and Stanford MBA programs aren't going to be fighting over LMM IB analysts. I suggest you graduate from Yale and go to Goldman IB and then Carlyle PE if you want that. If that's off the table then I suggest you do good work, accomplish impressive things, get promoted, maybe jump to a BB or a large F500 company or do something completely crazy and impressive, and you'll have the same shot as anybody for a top 10 to 15 program. Anything is possible as long as you always play the cards you're dealt and help yourself get better and better hands.

Could I PM you?

People get into M7 from Audit all the time lol… As long as your LMM bank is really a legit LMM bank as long as your GPA and GMAT is up there you can squeak into M7 and should be fine for T10.

Hey, just wanna let you know I bookmarked this comment and have read it a few times since you posted it. Very insightful and genuine help—cheers

This should be posted on the front page of WSO. So well put and such an important message.

You're better off doing banking out of undergrad as it almost guarantees you a return offer in this economy and gives you a better skillset for PE associate recruiting, as PEs with analyst programs tend to be very sourcing heavy. (of course if you have a MF or UMM offer take it over banking)