Final Year Student – No SA Offer, 750+ Apps, Should I Push Harder or Go for a Top MFin?

Hey everyone,

I’d really appreciate some advice or perspective.

I’m about to start my final year (4th year) of an integrated MSc in Business and Economics with a major in Finance at a semi-target university in Sweden. While it’s fairly reputable domestically, it’s virtually unknown outside the Nordics.

I’ve been interested in high finance for a long time and put in serious effort — I reached the final rounds for a summer analyst role at a bulge bracket this spring, partly thanks to my language skills (I speak multiple important languages), but unfortunately didn’t make the final cut. Around that time, I turned down an internship offer in Accounts Receivable because I genuinely believed something more aligned with my goals would come through. It didn’t.

Fast forward to now — it’s the middle of summer, and I’ve probably applied to 750+ internships, analyst roles, and off-cycle positions. I’ve also been cold-emailing smaller shops and boutiques in Sweden. Still no luck, and I’m getting seriously worried about how this will affect my chances of breaking into IB, PE, or similar roles post-graduation (2026).

So here’s my question:

Should I just keep grinding — applying, networking, cold-emailing — and hope to land something before graduation?

Or should I try to get into a top Master in Finance program in Europe (e.g., LBS, HEC, SSE) to re-enter the recruiting cycle with better positioning?

Would really appreciate your thoughts, especially from anyone who’s taken either path.

Thanks in advance.