How did you break into IB without an MBA?

I’m a recent grad who’s been networking extensively and having some good conversations, but so far, breaking into investment banking has been tough. It could be the economy, but it’s making me wonder if it’s truly possible to enter the field without pursuing an MBA.

I’m not entirely against the idea of getting an MBA, but the cost is a major factor, and I was hoping to break in first and maybe consider it later. Are there any success stories of people who’ve managed to transition into IB without an MBA? For context, I’m currently in a finance-related role but not in IB. Would really appreciate any advice, insights, or examples of how others have made it work!

1 Comments
 

Molestias alias commodi voluptate omnis mollitia hic sunt. Possimus rerum nobis quaerat velit distinctio eos explicabo.

Voluptate aliquam quisquam excepturi quibusdam. Ratione consequatur consequatur adipisci. Aut delectus sequi occaecati nesciunt impedit. Et asperiores magni dolore similique tenetur. Sed excepturi cupiditate voluptatem minus nostrum porro sequi. Possimus vel perspiciatis magni excepturi molestiae id non.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”