Entering Current Job Market with poor undergrad situation? Grad School? What to do?

Hi everyone, 

Hope everyone's good. I just graduated from a semi-target business school (UG) with a 3.3 GPA. The goal was investment banking from the start and was getting a ton of interviews for SA22 spots but I fumbled the bag and none hit. I had a good GPA then so it was far easier to get interviews and although I did not end up in banking for the summer - I ended up with an infra PE and private credit internship at a top 10 AM (in terms of AUM). Life is good but the firm gets into trouble and interns are left with no offers. The downhill begins here and due to my poor health and lack of motivation my grades slide and I've graduated with a 3.3. 

Fortunately, I believe I have good work exp - IB at a boutique, buyout and RE development internship and a HF internship in NYC. I have decent extra-curriculars as well - selected member of club/workshop, other club involvements and treasurer of my fraternity. 

My Visa situation doesn't help either and I ended up getting smoked in the FT23 season not only with a poor GPA but only a one-year work visa as well so no firms were really interested in my profile which sucks. 

On the bright side, I have managed to be employed and I've struck a year-long internship at a boutique private markets investment firm run by former big shots at BBs (doing healthcare PE & RE development). Although it is nice I'm employed considering the challenges,  the plan of IB / REIB / RE Acquisitions is still there and I have grad school plans once my Visa & internship ends. I'm considering grad school and would appreciate some advice, I'm looking to be in NYC for a full-time job post grad school: 

The schools I have are as follows:

  1. Vandy MSF

  2. UVA MSF

  3. Uni of Rochester MSF

  4. Baruch MSF

  5. Baruch MS in Real Estate

  6. Indiana Kelley MSF

I'm looking for some advice regarding what would place me best considering my profile. I understand Vandy is the best for IB but has a significantly stronger regional presence (also $$$$). Baruch is in NYC and would open up tons of employment ops and networking ops but the school itself is not well known. I'm trying to find the perfect balance between school presence on Wall Street, total costs and my ability to get into the program. I also have to narrow down to only STEM (3 yr visa) programs otherwise its pretty pointless. 

I've beaten myself enough on my GPA and my lack of having a "proper" full time role. It sucks ass seeing my friends at REGAL groups at BBs and PE funds and the rest of my club doing acquisitions. People in my class living the dream as I intern at a small private markets investment firm. I have only myself to blame but a few tweaks to my profile and a strong GMAT score I could still have a chance at analyst programs at most banks. 

I would appreciate any advice from people on the other side of the recruiting, any other international students or some other useful advice I could use to use to strengthen my application to graduate school or for FT recruiting. 

Feeling kind of directionless and would appreciate any insight!

Thank you so much and apologies for the long post! 

 

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