Is 35 too old for full time MBA and post-mba investment banking?
Basically the title.............................................................................................................thanks
35 to enter MBA or 35 to graduate?
To enter and then recruit for IB while at MBA
If you get in, not really, but most top MBA's only accept a handful of candidates over 33. It's really hard to justify why you still need an MBA at that point in your career.
some of that is because not many candidates over 33 actually apply because most of them have their life together, are content with their career, have families, or have simply given up on the dream at some point. It's a much smaller pool.
If you want your MBA and it's a personal goal, go for it. If it's strictly a cost/benefit thing, I'd start weighing what your career options will look like. Never too old to pursue something new.
i think it will be tough to get in at 35 unless you are ex-military but agreed with the other posters that I'd go for it
If you really want to do IB, unless you’re coming in at a very senior level from industry (like a senior executive with a huge Rolodex joining as an MD), the other point of entry is post-MBA associate... so I suppose you’d have to bite the bullet and you’re only getting older.
Age doesn’t really matter, except would you be willing/able to work long hours as an older associate, and do you have other obligations that are more typical with age (e.g. family). I’m not sure, but there could be some subconscious age discrimination during the selection process (“awkwardness” of younger VPs or EDs working with an older associate), but I don’t think it’s a big issue. If you do well you can move up and doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. But the greater hurdle is what others mentioned - getting into a decent MBA program after certain years of experience. There is definitely some age discrimination there (MBA programs have been trending younger), and harder justification for why an mba at age 35. There’s a blog online somewhere by a guy who graduated from Wharton in his mid/late 30s. But I think he went to Google post-mba, and is doing quite well.
Do you actually want to do IB long term or is it a stepping stone for something else like industry?
Hello-Thank you for the great advice-even I have a similar question. I am matriculating next year at a top 20 MBA(ranked 15-20), am international and will be 34 in 2021 when I graduate. How does the progression look like in IB ? If I make VP in 3 years, is making MD or Partner a realistic goal down the line?Also, would love to hear your thoughts on opportunities on the buyside(PE/HF) for internationals? I am open to moving to APAC-SGP or HK for the buyside role.
Thing is I started out late. I have a health condition and graduated at 26. I'm doing a lot better now health wise but it pretty much f*cked up my academic and professional career. But somehow I graduated and ended up in Big 4 deals at 27. So by the time I apply, I'll have 8 years of experience and will be a senior manager. As for the workload, it doesn't matter to me much. I'm not using IB as a stepping stone, I'd like to be there the long term because I like this area a lot but of course if I get the opp to exit to a better area such as PE with passage of time, I'd take it.
The health condition, its permanent but I'm doing much better now. I'm active, fit and can handle any amount of workload, as long as its something I love. I've talked to some consultants and they said I can actually use that as an advantage in the apps and interviews. I was initially worried as I have a background that isn't so traditional.
As for my performance in academia, I did great considering all the obstacles and hurdles. I have a 3.8 GPA and I haven't taken the GMAT yet.
Another question, would it be better to apply earlier than 35? I'm trying hard to transition to IB or PE and if it works, I'll apply at 32.
EDIT: I can transition to IB here but I'd like to move to London or the US. I'm targeting LBS and Tuck, Booth, Columbia, Stern
I would suggest applying ASAP, as it gets increasingly harder to apply to good MBA programs the older you are (per my other post). As I mentioned, age in IB only matters as much as you make it matter. Given it's August, if you hustle, you can get your GMAT and essays done in time for Round 2's (typically Dec/early Jan for a lot of schools I believe, don't quote me on it though.)
Working more years in Big 4 Deals and delaying the application process to 35 wouldn't do you any good, nor benefit your prospects for IB. Alternatively, you can consider doing a lateral to IB. But it's challenging because those spots open if and as needed vs. the regular class cycles of the MBA recruiting process. As well, there may not be any certainty on what 'level' you'd go in as... But if you're going through MBA recruiting, you're joining as a starting post-MBA associate, and you'll get exposure to all the big banks / EBs (depending on the MBA program).
As for which MBA programs, you can posting your profile in one of the ongoing MBA threads where some of the more active MBA consultants, or existing/recent grads can help (on which programs to consider, your prospects, etc.).
Good luck!
So you're in Australia? Which firm and what part of deals?
It's not really about age but about how many years of work experience.
Did you spend a few years in the military? With a terminal illness? Playing a sport semi professionally? Basically - how did you get to 35 and still end up needing an MBA?
Average is 5-6 years of work experience. If you have somewhere in that range + or - 2 I think you're ok (i.e. you have 3-8 years experience). If you have 13 you're too old.
32 checking in here. Returning to finish my undergraduate degree. I have been advised numerous of times to build a good application portfolio.
I would not worry too much on the age factor, and just focus on getting the experience needed to apply to a good MBA program.
You got this.
You are so low on the totem pole as a post-MBA Associate... are you sure you want to leave as a Big 4 Senior Manager to do that? It's a completely different lifestyle.
I'm sure that's where I want to be. I don't mind the workload.
Think about this way. You're 35. In 2 years, you could be 37 in a new job with an MBA, or 37 in the same job without an MBA. Which is better?
Synergy_or_Syzygy
What about leaving the Big 4 transactions consulting (think EY-Parthenon/ Global Strategy Group) as a Manager for an MBA?
That's me.
Yeah I did exactly that, PM me. In short I think it's kind of the break-even between worth it and not worth it, but we should talk.
I haven't seen the average ages of non-full-time students, but I get the sense that getting into a part-time program is easier. You're probably not at the Executive MBA level, so just part-time. Depending on the school, the huge disadvantage would be that you wouldn't have full access to on-campus recruiting for internships. Trying to get into IB without an internship would be almost impossible.
Getting into business school is kind of like getting drafted into the NBA. If you have 3 years of really really impressive experience, then people can forecast what your future looks like based on those 3 years. If in 9 years, you've accomplished what others accomplished in 3 (no matter what the excuse), then it's harder to predict what your 10 years post MBA would like.
Not sure where you are in your life, but I will go for an exec MBA at a top school and assuming that you work in banking already; you may be able to make that switch if you seriously network...
One of the banking associates I worked with was 36 - was a pro soccer player in the MLS, went to bschool then recruited into the associate program so don't think it's really too late if that's what you're looking to do
Career change - Job around 35? (Originally Posted: 11/29/2012)
Hey guys, I've wanted to go into investment banking for a while now and I'll be getting out of the military in a few years. With going back to school and possibly getting an MBA do you think it's working against me that I would try to get a job around 35?
No, definitely not if you're coming out of the military and getting an MBA. I've met a number of people who have done just that and went into banking at the associate level, where age tends to vary more than within analyst classes. You'll also have a great network of people to reach out to and even those who weren't in the military will be very interested in your story.
This has become quite common, and some folks think that most of the street will be ex-military in a few years. Huge network apparently. There are a bunch of great posts on here about this, take a look around.
Thank you for the responses, I've been lurking for a bit and trying to learn as much as I can. Right now my main concern is trying to plan and set myself up for a good university, I come from a pretty decent background, working as an operator/technician for a nuclear power plant, I've just trying to set myself up for getting into a top school, hopefully.
Cypresslb, thank you for your service I to am a vet been out for 5 years. Going into school as soon as you get out is a great move. I did not, thinking that my military background would make up for a lack of higher education, I was dead wrong. Keep in touch I would like to hear more about your experiences.
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