Take a semester off for recruiting VS. applying for MSF
I am a senior at a top target school, and I'm currently debating between taking this fall semester off or graduating on time and getting a MSF. I have okay GPA (3.7), but I had done no finance internship or extracurriculars before junior recruiting this past spring, so my on-campus recruiting went horribly (I only got very few interviews). I ended up doing two internships this summer, one Asset Management in China and one internship in NYC with a placement agent for PE firms. During my time in NYC this summer, I didn't put my shit together and ended up doing very little networking, so I am now jobless, far from my goal of getting a BB IBD FT offer in NYC. Fall FT recruiting is about to start, but I feel like with my non-brand name internships on my resume, this round of recruiting won't go much better than spring recruiting.
I have two options so far:
1. Take this fall semester off, which essentially gives me another summer. I can still apply to BB IBD SA positions in HK in the fall as a junior, which is much easier for me given I speak Mandarin, and a HK BB IBD summer gig would increase my chances for NYC positions during fall recruiting next year. Also, when I come back next spring, I can still apply to SA positions in NYC as a junior. With two more internships on my resume, this round of spring recruiting should go better (also I will work harder on networking on the side). In the latter case, if I get a BB summer gig in NYC, everything works out (provided I get the return offer, of course). With the extra time I have this fall, I can also self study more modeling; I can even help my dad with his recently opened small company on marketing and branding - that'll be great experience as well.
2. Option 2 is to go through this year and graduate on time. I will work hard to network and interview for other jobs - they might not be IBD or even in finance, but honestly I'm open to other possibilities. Meanwhile I will apply for MSF as a backup plan. The hard thing though is that given that I'm an international student, it will be hard to find jobs that actually offer sponsorship. On top of that, application for MSF does take time, and getting this degree isn't cheap.
With option 1, I'm fairly confident that if I put in enough work, it could work out somehow. Option 2 allows me to get a master's, graduate with my class and go through all the senior year fun, but I'm skeptical as to the success rate of applying to SA with MSF.
What do you guys think? I would appreciate any insight you guys may have.
Do a dual degree or double major so you can "buy more time", but taking time off might look bad
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