IU Kelley -> Goldman Sachs/JP Morgan/Moelis M&A Investment Banking -> UPenn Wharton -> Blackstone Private Equity?

Hey everyone. Longtime reader here; first-time poster. Thank you in advance for taking the time to check it out.

Scenario: I'm 25 years old working on my bachelor's degree. I used to be a degenerate as a kid and I had immigrant parents who didn't know about the school systems here in US. I had a 2.5 GPA in HS and 2130 SAT score (no prep). 

Started over from scratch at community college and transferred. I found IU Kelley was ranked like top 10 in the country for Finance (I believe Poets and Quants had it ranked at #8 worldwide at the time). I kind of thought top 10 finance translated to 'target school' for investment banking so I got here and grinded. I had some pretty serious heath problems which had to get sorted along the way but I stuck to it. I'm now doing I-Core which is like the start of junior year and have a 3.5 GPA although I plan to get that up to a more respectable 3.7 range by the end of this summer. 

As of right now I am set to double major in Finance and Information Systems which should leave me with 2 more summer breaks after this one. I have the options to play around with timelines ie go just Finance or change IS to something that can be finished faster etc. I tried applying for IBW and got denied although I am allowed to try again if I am willing to wait an extra year. I have been told that I would be very competitive/highly qualified for regional investment banking. 

As of right now: 0 internships; pretty much 0 leadership/club involvement. I would also add that I run a full-time business on the side to be able to put myself through school. I also run a Christmas fundraiser with local charities every year through my business. I am at about a 75% understanding level of the concepts (I know enough to talk out the formulas, I can have convos ab it, but right now I still make mistakes). 

My long term goal is to work in private equity at Blackstone and go to UPenn Wharton and as I understand, I first must do some banking so my short-term goal is to work at JPM/Goldman/Moelis

What do you guys think is the smartest move? 

1. Reapply to IBW and pray to God that I get accepted this time (as I understand, this essentially makes me a 'target' and I'm practically guaranteed a seat somewhere). Pros: future secured; cons: i finish school another fucking year later :(

2. Get the 3.7 and apply to transfer to an Ivy League?
pros: future secured
cons: expensive + I am basically getting my degree for free now that I've been granted in state tuition

3. Network like a madman contacting Kelley alum + any friends I know that have graduated and gone on to the Wall Street. 
pros: ? cons: no guarantees

4. continue to maintain 3.7 GPA and somehow pull an 800 GMAT out of my ass and maybe be admitted straight to UPenn Wharton for Masters in Finance?

5. Give up/go for regional investment banking? 
pros: ?
cons: scared I'll have to change my username to 'bornpoordiedpoor' :(

1 Comments
 

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