Taking a Step Back Post-MBA

Heading to H/S/W MBA this fall and looking to make the jump to PE post-MBA (for various reasons, did not make that move while I was an analyst). I know that firms tend to use a very tight filter when recruiting MBAs given that you’re expected to slot into a VP-level role, but has anyone managed to navigate around that by offering to take a step back to the basic Associate role?

How might that be perceived by someone involved with recruiting at a MF/UMM firm?

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