IB to MBA directly?

Hey guys, so I have been recruiting off cycle for PE and realize I don't really want to be an investor long term. My IB stint so far is going well, and I was thinking what if I did 3 years in IB to an MBA directly

I'd be more interested in corporate work long term, so IB --> MBA --> Consulting --> Corporate is more appealing to me than IB --> PE --> MBA --> PE --> board seats one day. 

Any ideas? A few kids in the past went from my bank to MBAs and they are doing well now so I know it's not impossible but also know it's not very common.

Also I hope this isn't taken the wrong way but cost isn't really a consideration for me in terms of the MBA.

7 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I was in your shoes. Did 5 years of IB -> M7 MBA -> Corp Strat.

I think it's a logical story to tell in the admissions process, plus banking has a couple advantages over PE in MBA admissions so you're more competitive than this forum would lead you to believe (chiefly employer brand recognition, and if you do a year as an associate you'll have real management experience to speak to).

You'll be in the minority in your business school class, but definitely a reasonable reason to pursue an MBA and should have no problem with recruiting.

 

Thank you, one other factor I am considering is my bank is in the middle market, so my PE options are limited to LMM to MM and we play in a niche end market, so that's where my biggest set of opportunities are. My aspirations are more towards F500 or even F100 leadership one day, and that is not really possible from my current firm. Is that something you think I can sell in my interviews?

Also high level, would you mind sharing what MBA programs you were admitted to? I am thinking Columbia/Kellogg/Haas type of programs would be realistic - I know HBS/GSB/Wharton, etc will likely be tough from where I stand but maybe not impossible.

Also one other point, I don't really aspire to be working in the PE IB 2.0 type of environment. Feel like it'll be a lot of stress and back to square 0 for a job I have less conviction for.

 

I went to one of the schools in your first bucket.

And yes, wanting to work at an industry leader / shift functions is something that you can definitely sell in admissions interviews.

Have you tried applying directly to F500 corp dev opportunities from your current seat? I feel like they're fairly receptive to a wide range of banking backgrounds.

 

I’m also in a similar seat. Have done 3 years in banking and long term see myself working at a corporate, possibly going to b-school in the next few years. For Corp dev/strategy roles, do we normally just apply for roles as they come up on LinkedIn / company website? I feel like I rarely see recruiter outreach for corporate roles

 

Numquam harum odio enim harum sit facilis temporibus. Est omnis quia excepturi et. Commodi excepturi qui velit magnam.

Delectus eveniet laboriosam eligendi repudiandae. Adipisci quas non ut beatae. Nihil consectetur temporibus corporis recusandae cupiditate ipsum.

Ut explicabo molestias ea illum in sunt. Quia quia et vitae impedit sint accusamus et modi. Ipsa soluta molestias eum. Qui enim error voluptas eveniet veritatis maiores. Numquam numquam rerum culpa aut sunt rerum maxime. Unde deleniti repellendus quibusdam ea nihil est. Dignissimos minus perspiciatis velit dolorem pariatur ad ipsam.

Culpa necessitatibus id animi. Error natus minima praesentium culpa blanditiis quia voluptatem. Suscipit in quia dolor voluptatem nihil. Et voluptates eligendi voluptate dicta dolores facere dolorum. Architecto assumenda aut quam eligendi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”