Job vs RSM (this year) vs LSE (if accepted)

Hello!

I'm in a terrible dilemma and I don't know what I should do.

In autumn 2013 I've applied to both LSE and RSM. I've been rejected from LSE (Msc Finance + Msc Accounting and Finance), but offered a place at Rotterdam School of Management (MSc in Finance and Investments starting September 2014). The university is alright (#5 in Europe according to FT), but I would like to work in Asset Management in London after finishing my Masters degree, I don't know if RSM (being a Dutch University) would offer me this opportunity as easily as LSE would.

Furthermore, I've been offered a job at the biggest Asset Management firm in my country. I could work here for 1 year and then apply to LSE again. But what if I get rejected 1 more time? Wouldn't this be a lost year? My dream university is LSE. What if I'll get rejected again?

Should I go to RSM starting from september this year? Or should I work 1 year in Asset Management first and then reapply to LSE? Wouldn't staying in my home country for another year be considered a lost year?

Any input is valuable.

25 Comments
 
Best Response

No brainer, take the job. Look your goal is to do asset management in London so it is best to get cracking on the work experience part as AM is different from other areas in finance as it values the relevant experience more highly. You have a better chance of going AM in your country => top masters (maybe not LSE as others mentioned) => AM in London…or even skipping the masters (though prob not as I'm guessing you're from a smaller market) vs. going to a second rate masters => middle office type role/corporate banking (or equivalent) => AM in London. You may think of it as a "wasted" year but right now you have plenty of years ahead so it is better than "wasting" your masters opportunity on a sub optimal solution. If you are 30 then this is different obviously, but there are a lot of schools worse than LSE but better than RSM which would make this a closer call.

 
mmeng

hands down, job.
With a couple of yrs W.E you can get into much better schools than LSE (nothing against LSE). Trust me!

What schools are you referring to?

 

That's why I don't know if I should go to RSM and then try and apply for a position in London, or work in my home country in Asset Management for 1 year and then apply to LSE again, wait to see if I get accepted and then, if I get accepted, apply for a position in London.

 

Hmm didn't know Swisscap group operates in Romania.

Tough call. Think of this in football terms: you're a young talent playing at a top team in Romania (swisscap) and you really want to win the Champions League trophy (work in am in london) with Real Madrid (lse). But you've been scouted by a team like ... say Juventus (rsm). Do you accept their offer or play another year for your team in Romania?

Juventus might not win the trophy (although they have in the past), but it will put you in a better position for a transfer to a contender. Sure you can play another year for your team and hope you get your transfer to Madrid, but remember they have rejected you once, so you really need to improve in that one season to get their attention (and not get injured along the way).

I know this is a silly analogy, but I think you get my point :)

 

Assumenda laborum voluptatem nihil est. Et nisi dolorum nihil dignissimos. Accusantium vel deleniti id at voluptas. Eum assumenda ullam ut rerum praesentium asperiores minus fugit.

Eum omnis sint similique vel ipsum. Voluptatem quas ut nemo adipisci quo in consequatur. Non quaerat quae est. Voluptatem impedit ipsum quisquam repudiandae aspernatur. Est adipisci consequatur quod quos aut quibusdam.

 

Aut alias beatae ut aspernatur. Deserunt enim laboriosam voluptatum illo nulla. Magni numquam nulla a qui dolorem. Vel omnis repudiandae quis qui qui sit.

Fugiat at autem omnis aliquid omnis. Qui et sint nesciunt excepturi recusandae. Fugiat neque omnis minus ut iste. Et deserunt adipisci laudantium sint. Autem nulla esse dolorum nemo. Voluptatem totam exercitationem quam ut omnis ipsam.

Amet illo officia ea odit. Quasi et quidem reiciendis exercitationem incidunt doloremque reiciendis. Sit qui repellendus sed eos ut autem atque. Placeat quae ex doloremque unde. Pariatur et nihil voluptatem qui reprehenderit.

Esse aliquid rerum qui eos non quae delectus. Officiis veritatis quis officia unde. Consequatur enim excepturi quo a aut repellat ipsam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”