Army -> PE

I’ve read a lot that it’s hard to get into PE after MBA. I have a bachelor’s degree from a non-target US University. Also, I’ve done 2 years as an analyst in PE but it was in Russia. I’m about to join US army and after I’d like to get MBA. Is it possible to get into MF PE after MBA if I do 2 years in IB? Will my experience in Russia matter at all? Or should I forget about PE completely and just focus on IB?

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If you are willing to widen the aperture a bit to UMM/ MM PE , I’ve seen this done at the associate level (to super solid spots). But ya even that is gonna be tough so would also encourage ya to think about doing banking first , albeit post MBA banker to MF associate isn’t really a thing so you’d be looking at MM funds as well 

 
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Your best bet is a banking summer internship and network throughout the summer with LMM funds in an industry that you think you can say you have some expertise in or geo that you have ties to that is not NYC/Boston/SF, and heavily lean on the military network. Then you might get someone to take a chance at you for an Associate seat. Also, in-semester internships for tiny local PE shops where you do free work for them. 

Otherwise, banking (and above still applies).

 

 

Have networked with vets who went directly into PE after a MBA. Mind you they are at more LMM / MM firms in non-NYC/CHI/SF/Boston markets. Still very good gigs.

Also seen a few do this at Blackstone so not sure if they have a direct feeder program. 

 
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