Got into business school with no previous background, now lost in the job market—need advice

Hi everyone, I have worked hard to improve my future, but the journey hasn’t been easy. Here’s my story—any advice would mean a lot.

From High School to Business School
In high school, I dreamed of studying abroad in America because I liked the culture and wanted success. My parents weren’t supportive at first, so I had to figure out everything myself. I even got scammed by an agency. Eventually, they saw how determined I was and decided to support me. I got into a top 30 university.

At first, I chose a major aligned with my interests but soon realized I cannot find a job here with this major due to certain reasons. Meanwhile, my university’s business school was highly prestigious, and many students were trying to transfer into it. Influenced by my peers and driven by ambition, I successfully transferred in my sophomore year.

The Challenges
Once I joined, I was overwhelmed by recruiting timelines, networking demands, social life, and coursework. Most of my classmates, whether international or American, came with abundant resources or advantages, such as being native speakers or their families having business, while I struggled to keep up.

I failed to secure early career programs because I lacked the preparation my peers had. Then the pandemic hit, which made things worse. I fell into depression and spent time reflecting. My family didn’t have corporate background or resources like others. No one taught me how to do anything. I realized I wasn’t ready for certain opportunities and decided to take things step by step.

Post-Graduation Struggles
Finding a job after graduation was almost impossible. I did some unrelated internships and eventually got a full-time role, but it wasn’t in finance and had little growth potential.

I’ve been feeling burned out because I hate my tasks, there are no opportunities for learning or advancement, and the company culture is toxic. Initially, I was okay with non-finance jobs, but this role made me realize why so many people aim for prestigious positions. Those fields are challenging, promote growth, and help you build a network. I started to grasp the corporate world and developed a genuine interest in business much later than my peers. It wasn’t until after graduation that I began enjoying financial news and truly understanding the field—but it feels like it’s too late. Sometimes, I wonder if I might have traits of Asperger's because it feels like I was living in my own world, unaware of how things really worked, while my classmates seemed to understand reality much earlier.

When I applied for other jobs, I only got interviews for roles similar to my current one. For the jobs in fields that I want, I couldn’t even land interviews because I lacked the relevant experience. A few months ago, I tried switching departments within my company. I even offered to take a temporary position to gain experience. I spoke to the department head and shared my background, but they hired someone unqualified who had the right connections. This left me feeling stuck and frustrated.

Looking Ahead
Now, I’m considering grad school to reset my career. I’ve found a competitive program, but they seem geared toward recent graduates or people with less than a year of experience. I always knew I’d have to start at the analyst level if I did a master degree, but I didn’t realize admissions might work against someone who’s been out of school for two years.

On top of that, my GPA isn’t strong, and constant overtime leaves me little time to study for the GRE or prepare applications. I thought about applying next year, but by then, I’ll have been out of school for three years, and my chances will likely decrease further.

In college, I came to terms with going at my own pace. My starting point was different from my classmates’, and I accepted that. But now, it feels like the world doesn’t wait for anyone. I feel like I’m constantly rushing to meet expectations while still trying to catch up.

What Should I Do?
I feel lost and unsure about my next steps. If anyone has faced similar challenges or has advice, I’d love to hear your thoughts.