MS Computer Science(target) or MSF(Non-target) for breaking into IBD

Low sub 3.0 GPA liberal arts non target undergrad guy with about 6-7 months Software Developer/engineer experience at startup post undergrad not sure whether to choose MSF at Fordham/Rutgers/ Tulane(possibly wont get it) OR do a MS computer science at NYU OR MS Operations Research at columbia (90k and very quant related and i have to take 5 post-bac classes and get a 3.4GPA before being accepted, ) to break into IBD

Biggest problem
I am siding towards doing a MS CS (2 years) to leverage it to get a internship for IBD in possibly a TMT group since NYU is a Target compared to the other schools even if its in MSCS, but I noticed that based on linkedin none of NYU MSCS broke into IBD. This could be because they were aiming towards google/facebook/etc or that it is very unlikely.

Do any of you guys know of anyone with a MSCS that broke into IBD? And how possible would it be for me to break into it using either OCR (if they even recruit for my major) and cold emailing with no internships, experience in finance.

PS:I don't want to wait until MBA to break into IBD.
I got into startup dev/engineer position because I did coding in my free time (should have majored in that in college)

Thanks guys, I know I have an uphill battle trying not to pigeon hole myself into tech, but a man has got to try. What do you guys suggest I do? and what have you seen done successfully at your respective IBD?

 

CF at Carnegie Mellon is a hybrid in the Tepper b-school, worth checking out. also there are MFE programs in UCLA/Berkeley, both in b-school too with guaranteed recruiting exclusivity.

MSFs in your mention will probably be no good. if you're recruiting IBD, what's your chance of finding high-pay employees there?

 
Best Response

I have looked at Carnegie Mellons CF program and UCLA and Berkeley's program as well, but sadly I don't believe I would be able to enter based off my GPA from Undergrad. Also I may lack some of the course pre-requisites :.

Perhaps I can take post-bac courses at Columbia or Baruch (to have an alternative transcript) while working and reapply during next fall for either spring (if they offer) or the following fall semester? My problem with that is perhaps I am reaching too close to the 3 year mark of just getting an MBA :.

Yeah, the recruitment for those i mentioned: Rutgers MSF (just came out 2 years ago so the recruitment is only to corp fin if even that), and Fordham MSGF (just came out 3-4 years ago i believe and has people spread out a couple places and one that i know of in RBC and a couple in United Nations Financial analyst) both no IBD except 1 that I know of. Chance for high-pay employees at those schools would be relatively low and I would probably be making more or the same at my current job as a software dev/engineer.

On my other thread I was informed that it would be best if I just try to break in at a no name boutique investment bank if that's even possible since I am a very unconventional applicant and twisting my liberal arts--->software dev---->IBD? would look very strange (doesn't mean I won't try).

I just don't want to use my MBA trump card to break into IBD (and wait another 2 years to apply to MBA) because I feel I can save it after IBD if I can break in.

 
PreMBAGrind:

I have looked at Carnegie Mellons CF program and UCLA and Berkeley's program as well, but sadly I don't believe I would be able to enter based off my GPA from Undergrad. Also I may lack some of the course pre-requisites :.

Perhaps I can take post-bac courses at Columbia or Baruch (to have an alternative transcript) while working and reapply during next fall for either spring (if they offer) or the following fall semester? My problem with that is perhaps I am reaching too close to the 3 year mark of just getting an MBA :.

Yeah, the recruitment for those i mentioned: Rutgers MSF (just came out 2 years ago so the recruitment is only to corp fin if even that), and Fordham MSGF (just came out 3-4 years ago i believe and has people spread out a couple places and one that i know of in RBC and a couple in United Nations Financial analyst) both no IBD except 1 that I know of. Chance for high-pay employees at those schools would be relatively low and I would probably be making more or the same at my current job as a software dev/engineer.

On my other thread I was informed that it would be best if I just try to break in at a no name boutique investment bank if that's even possible since I am a very unconventional applicant and twisting my liberal arts--->software dev---->IBD? would look very strange (doesn't mean I won't try).

I just don't want to use my MBA trump card to break into IBD (and wait another 2 years to apply to MBA) because I feel I can save it after IBD if I can break in.

it looks like you have a few pathways but none of them are available to you now or simultaneously. get a few offers first, whether it's job or master's

 

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