Let's be hypothetical and assume I am admitted to a second tier MBA (think Georgetown, UNC, Virginia): will the fact that I am from a little-known liberal arts school still impede my chances at getting into private equity or venture capital? or will the MBA function as an opportunity to rebrand myself as someone with a prestigious degree?
Background: Solid undergrad GPA in economics and finance (~3.7), exceptional leadership and extracurriculars, low-700s GMAT, and corporate banking analyst experience with emphasis and expertise in leveraged debt financings.
Thanks in advance.
No the undergrad will not matter very much once you get the MBA. The only kids that will have a leg up on you are kids attending M7 business schools. Getting into a top PE/VC shop is difficult even if you go to HBS, but there will always be middle market opportunities out there to start off in if your going after it for interest and not just for $$$
That's good to hear. Thanks for your input.
My interest in PE/VC stems more from the actual work than the money; for that reason, MM would actually be much more preferable than KKRs and Blackstones of the world. Either way, it's not like the compensation is paltry.
How about post- MS?
Let's say I get my MS from a better recruited school than my undergrad, will my undergrad matter?
Undergraduate school is not that big a deal; your work experience and your MBA program are the major drivers.
My suggestion would be to do some research on the schools and shops that interest you First, VC is going to be tough. No matter what. Returns have lagged, overall assets have been shrinking, and big institutional investors are rethinking their investments (CalPers comes to mind) in the asset class. Plus, many of the small firms are losing assets to the few top big firms. If you have a technical degree or specialty in a VC's target industries, perhaps, but even with the MBA, it could be challenging.
I know, what a buzzkill. I mention this because admissions officers are aware of the numbers and the hiring in this industry, and don't want to admit students who are going to have difficulties in their career search. I say this also as a resume coach for first-year students at a large, well-known top-ranked MBA program in Silicon Valley.
As for PE, especially in middle markets, networks will matter. LinkedIn and career reports from the schools are your friends. Figure out what kind of placement these schools have. Don't just look at those who recruit on campus; some of the firms that are most interesting and offer the most promise for a post-MBA student are those that don't go in for formal recruiting programs.
And, I have to say this, UVA is not a second-tier school. Some might disagree (the former Brady), but I think you'll find that it will offer far more options than other schools you are bunching in that list.
Any more questions, come over to my Q&A thread here on WSO. http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-mas…
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