3 Year F50 CorpFin Intern, Enough for Booth?
First want to thank everyone for taking the time to answer my questions and for providing great insight on WSO. I’ve been an active reader for the past few months but haven’t really posted much, so here goes the first post.
To cut to the chase, my question is in regards to when to pursue my MBA – I’ll start with a little background and then go into what my plan was.
A little background: Currently a junior at a non-target school with a high GPA, top 10% in my class, studying finance. Through a company-school partnership I was offered a 10-week internship at a F50 right after my freshmen year in 2013. Upon finishing that 10-week internship, the company took me on in their part-time intern program for which I work part-time during the school months and full-time during vacations/summer. In my opinion this part-time gig is similar to a FLDP as I rotate every six months between different finance functions. By the time I graduate, I’ll have 7 rotations/jobs completed and three years of part-time and full-time experience. Compared to the other few part-time interns at the company, I’ve been pretty heavily involved in tasks outside of my assigned job and have been given, and voluntarily taken on, stretch assignments for which I have constant exposure to upper-management and executives. I’ve learned a lot of soft and hard skills from these assignments and often get told I do work similar to or above the level of new full-time employees. I have made a constant effort to network with employees at all levels as well as set up informational interviews with directors throughout the company to get better insight on different sides of the business.
A look ahead: For this summer (between junior and senior year) I was fortunate enough to be selected as the one intern to go to our corporate headquarters for 10 weeks – really looking forward to the experience and the ability to expand my network. I believe if I utilize the 10 weeks correctly (which can fly by in an internship!) it will greatly assist me in moving around the company. I’ll come back this fall and complete 2 more rotations before I graduate in May 2016. After I graduate, I’ll start a formal FLDP program at the company for which I will do 6 more rotations. So five years into the company I’ll have 13 different rotations/managers/teams – 3 years intern experience + 2 years full time.
What I would like to do: I’m eligible to start my MBA right after I graduate through company reimbursements. Just ordered Manhattan Prep GMAT books and am shooting for a 720+ and hopefully the ability to attend a B7 school; I have my eyes on Booth Weekend MBA. Planning on taking GMAT in April/May of 2015 and then starting to study for CFA Level 1 soon after and hoping to take that in December 2015 (for potential switch to ER or Consulting).
Career outlook: This may be very optimistic but I’ve talked to a couple directors and have made it a goal, with their influence, to reach director level within 10-15 years at the company. Seeking management/upper management position about 6-7 years into my career. On a side note I’ve had my eyes set on Equity Research or Consulting, which may be an exit op later in my career.
Question: After I graduate Undergrad in May 2016 with 3 years of PT/FT intern experience, should I go ahead and start my MBA in Fall 2016? Or should I complete my 2-year FLDP full time experience and then apply to an MBA? How do I stack up against other applicants with full-time experience? Based on my career outlook, is it worth waiting or getting it done ASAP?
Thanks!
Wait. You only get 1 re-roll / vacation.
What I think you should do is graduate, kill it full time at your job for 3 years, and at age 25 you'll be set up to do an EMBA or a full-time MBA depending on whether or not you want a career switch. I have several friends doing an EMBA at age 25-26 at top-10 programs with very similar backgrounds. You might not know what you want to do the rest of your life at age 25, but you sure as shit will have a better idea than right now.
I agree: wait. There is literally no benefit to you getting a part-time MBA right after graduation, regardless of the school.
Okay, thanks for the insight! What about an MsF post-undergrad and then an Executive MBA ~10 years down the road for a possible role as CFO in F50 CorpFin?
Okay, thanks for the insight! What about an MsF post-undergrad and then an Executive MBA ~10 years down the road for a possible role as CFO in F50 CorpFin?
Why are you so eager to stay in school?
Okay, that makes sense. Less of the eagerness to stay in school than to get the value earlier than later...but it may be less value added for doing it this early. But had no idea EMBA admitted around that age, good to know. Thanks for all the help!
Sorry to break it to you but you are not going to get into even a top 20 school much less a M7 school with only corporate finance internship experience no matter how you spin it. Leverage your internships into the best full time offer possible and apply when you have a shot in a few years.
I echo all the above. Get a few years of post-college work experience. It'll do you good.
Remember that b-school is in many respects a 2-year sabbatical from work. It's a chance to decompress, reset and recharge yourself - and to also get a better sense of your priorities - and working full-time and changing as a person in your early to mid-20s (both at work and outside of work) will give you that context to make the most of the experience - context which you don't have now.
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