MSF -> IB or Directly into BB ER?
I'm sitting at an uncertain crossroad right now, trying to decide how to proceed. Ideally, I will only have one option out of the two in the title. I'm on the waitlist for Vanderbilt's MSF program and currently interning at a MM IB in Charlotte. I'm also moving through a recruiting process for ER at a BB in the biotech field. I know these seem like disparate options but allow me to give some context:
I'm a 2020 graduate from an Ivy with a 3.56 in Neuroscience (not the best GPA, not the worst). I've taken finance and accounting classes later in my college career and found them much more interesting than some of my science classes (you can only read so many journal articles). Now, I have an opportunity to join a BB ER team (high probability but not guaranteed) for the fall in small-to-midcap biotechs, and I've also gotten to intern with a MM bank in Charlotte (originally from NC, back home for COVID). I managed to secure a spot on the waitlist and an advocate within their program, but I won't find out if there'll be an open spot until middle of next week. Due to my life science background, my work ethic, and their strong placement, I'm confident I could get a top-tier banking role after the MSF even with my MM internship this summer.
To be honest, I find IB a much more interesting path. I like deal-making, profiling companies, and the future career opportunities in PE, VC, and CorpDev. I've really enjoyed talking with alumni who are in the industry and hearing their honest takes, and I'm still interested. With ER, I think it's cool, seems chiller while still part of an important financial services firm, but I fear getting pigeonholed in both the markets, which I find interesting but I don't have a burning passion for, and biotech, which is again, interesting, but I chose to not pursue a medical degree or PhD for a reason. I like the analyst I'd be working under but I don't want to feel stuck or have regrets about sticking it out for an IB position.
I suppose I could always do the ER -> MBA -> IB or a lateral, but I'm not sure I'd like to do both. If anyone has any insight into what options would be available I'm not thinking of, it would be tremendously helpful. I'm also curious if it would be possible for me to do IB without the MSF...a lot of people I networked with who worked in IB felt that would be the case, and I could probably do some MM banking in Charlotte for a couple years to get it on my resume, but if I'm going to do IB I'd prefer to go all out. I might be overthinking the whole thing, especially because neither option is guaranteed, but I would still appreciate input and discussion about options.
Thanks in advance!
How did you get a SA job for the summer after you graduated? I thought this wasn't doable.
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