Upstream in PE with MBA?

Currently an AS1 at a LMM shop. Have gotten good deal experience, closing a $30m+ EBITDA platform. I have received positive feedback across the board, but want to do some planning in case I do not receive the senior associate promotion.

What is the possibility of moving upstream in PE with a top 10 MBA (think Duke or UVA)? I come from a non-target background (got traditional IB experience, though), not sure how much that may ding me at larger funds.

Also, is it almost better to get your MBA after an associate stint vs senior associate? I would think that opens up my doors and paints a better picture for funds, but curious what other people’s experiences are.
 

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Just to be honest it's pretty much impossible outside of HSW. There's a couple exceptions I know from Booth or CBS with URM/female candidates breaking into UMM/MF opportunities, but those are only in situations where the fund was opening a new office in the US. Needless to say the candidates in question were sufficiently qualified, so not a dig at them.

If you're outside HSW I would just skip business school if you want to stay in PE and you're not diversity. 

 

Impedit consequatur qui corporis est dolores quaerat. Eveniet quam nisi eligendi itaque iusto nulla asperiores.

Asperiores facere est ad sequi veniam. Ad rerum nihil sit voluptatem consequatur dolor. Enim consectetur quas sequi non ut doloremque.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
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...”