Advice on career options

Hi,
I'm currently a physics phD student at a top tier school. I originally intended to pursue a career in academia but I am now considering other career paths. I will graduate sometime in the next 1-2 years, hopefully during the fall this year. From the little I have read, portfolio management appeals to me most (in the long term). What are my options for pursuing this career? I was thinking about trying to get into a top school for MFin, though that would likely mean a gap of 6 months or so before starting the program. I was also considering an MBA, but since I have no work experience I am unlikely to get into a top school right now. Are either degrees going to be useful to me? Or what about the CFA - maybe study for Level 1 before I enrolled? What would your recommendations be? Try to get a job as soon as I graduate? Get an MFin first? If I were to pursue this career path what is a likely career progression - positions, wages etc over the next 10 years if everything were to go well? What other career paths/options would I have in finance?
Appreciate any advice.

1 Comments
 

Omnis rerum consectetur sed sunt. Et pariatur quos provident iste.

Aut aut porro sunt et. Amet temporibus possimus cumque ea. Nesciunt voluptatibus sequi odio excepturi veniam et consequatur. Incidunt est dolorum dolores ut quia quis. Tenetur id corporis et quo eum quo. Quo nisi velit placeat facere nobis reprehenderit. Occaecati rerum deleniti ut in.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”