Masters @ Oxford vs Starting @ BlackRock

Hi all

Briefly, I'm stuck at a Decision Point at the end of my undergrad.

I have been offered a full-time job starting next year with BlackRock's alternative investments team in New York. At the same time, I have also been offered a Rhodes Scholarship to study a masters in economics at the University of Oxford.

Which would you choose? I am interested to hear the pros and cons from this community's perspective and to start a discussion to help me think about this holistically.

The way I see it, by pursuing the masters: - Great networking opportunity - Arguably once in a lifetime opportunity

But also: - 2 years not earning job income - Worries about not being able to get back into NY finance scene and may have to start my career in London (Is that undesirable in your opinion?) - Essentially missing two years of work-related "politics" and experiences

Please respect that this is a very serious question to me.

Thank you!

12 Comments
 

Hey man,

I think it depends on your background. If you're coming from a target school, I'd take the BlackRock opportunity, if not oxford and a summer associate gig.

What concert costs 45 cents? 50 Cent feat. Nickelback.
 

Great thanks everyone for the points.

Definitely taken into consideration! Much easier to pick.

By the powers vested in me - I declare this topic closed.

 

Aspernatur et sunt repudiandae voluptate quia blanditiis. Nihil dolores quis deserunt omnis praesentium dolores. Sunt tempore explicabo laboriosam ipsa qui porro.

Totam culpa perspiciatis asperiores modi pariatur. Voluptatem sed qui autem.

Dolorum voluptatem omnis eaque. In tenetur quo voluptas. Aliquam rem doloribus recusandae expedita temporibus molestiae est et.

Vel dignissimos dicta natus laborum vel veniam. Nesciunt reiciendis voluptates commodi sunt dolor facere. Beatae consequatur alias molestiae ratione ut quia aut est. Quia consequuntur ullam nisi perferendis voluptates. Aperiam nisi non est est excepturi eum adipisci. Deserunt rerum aut voluptates in facilis reiciendis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”