Deferred MBA for IB/PE Career

Hi all,

Incoming AN1 at an EB.

I applied to the top 3 deferred MBA programs as a senior - was eventually rejected from H/S, but admitted to W.

Wondering if it is worth taking, as I would not want either my bank (very encouraging on internal promotions) nor my eventual PE firm (MBA not a req at most PE firms from what I see today?) to view it as a sign of "leaving".

I'm unsure if I've just been drinking the WSO Kool-Aid that generally seems to state "Harvard/Stanford or Bust", or if Wharton is a viable option, even if everything does go perfectly and I go from Top EB -> MF PE.

I have up to 4 years of deferral, and it seems most people leave PE to B-School after their 2nd ASO year anyways. Is it worth accepting Wharton, even if everything goes to plan, and given the "you cannot apply to other degree programs during deferral period" clause (side note: should that impact my decision to accept/decline, it pretty much means I would not legally be able to apply to H/S in the regular pool)? Should I just not engage with the network in the meantime, in the event I end up reneging?