Dream job vs masters?

Landed my dream job on the buy-side out of undergrad despite shitty grades. I'm in the EU and have a lower second class (equivalent to 2.50-3.00 gpa in the US). I also managed to try hard for the GMAT to get a decent score (700+) and got into a decent masters program in management, however. Should I take the analyst offer or pursue the masters program? It might be more practical right now to take the analyst offer, but I'm worried about the chances of getting into a good MBA (M7) later on. I think that taking a pre-experience masters program before the MBA kind of covers my undergrad years. What should I do?

10 Comments
 

This is indeed a tricky situation, but a good one to be in nonetheless, you've got two, in my opinion, good options here. I would say that experience can be as valuable as a master's at this stage in your career if it is relevant to your future career plans, AND an MBA will require some experience anyway. Depending on how you feel that you would cope with a master's and where this would leave you in a year - whether you can get another job - it may be worth it. I'm not sure how helpful it is, but it really depends on if this dream job leads to where you want to be. If it does, why change it? If it doesn't have a go at adding value to yourself and then taking that dream step.

 

If you want to do an MBA in the future, it does not make sense to do a MiM now. MiM programme leaders advise against pursuing an MBA after doing a MiM because they both cover very similar content and provide a similar experience.

I would advise you to take your dream job now and try to progress as much as possible up the career ladder so MBA admissions know you'd be a quality candidate.

Array
 

Placeat dicta odit tempore aliquam quaerat similique ad similique. Accusantium voluptas qui assumenda ut tempora facilis dolore. Similique laudantium molestiae quaerat quasi sint laboriosam sunt.

Array

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”