MSF now or MBA later?

Hi, I have 1 year Corporate Banking experience. I want to do either an MBA or an MSF. However, for an MBA, I have to wait for a couple more years.

So which one will be better for me? MSF now or MBA 3 years later? My goal is IB.

14 Comments
 

That depends on what you are trying to do. Are you wanting to switch careers? Switch function? The two degrees have very different career opportunities and paths post graduation. Even in IBD, MSF degrees lead to Analyst jobs while MBAs compete for Summer Associate internships between year 1 and year 2.

 
wannabeconsultant999

I would like to ask a similar question, I currently have an offer with BB Ops. I want to do IBD, is it better to go for an MSF after a year or wait a few years and shoot for an MBA?

How's your money situation? What type of MSF program can you get into , a top one? You don't want to go into an extra $60k in debt and be back to square one...The program doesn't guarentee an IB job, especially if it's not a top program. It's certainly possible to get into a Top 10/15 business school from ops, in which case you can fairly easily recruit for IB, but it is an upward battle getting in.

 
Best Response

I am graduating undergrad with zero debt and I will be living in a very low COL area for my BB Ops job. I don't have a math or computer science background so I was thinking about Villanova, Vandy, WUSTL. I think after 1 year of BB Ops, and Zero debt, I should have at least 20k saved up. I am confident that I can get into a top MBA after 3-4 years but I'm afraid that having 3-4 years of BB Ops might hinder me later for IBD associate recruiting when I get my MBA.

 
wannabeconsultant999

I am graduating undergrad with zero debt and I will be living in a very low COL area for my BB Ops job. I don't have a math or computer science background so I was thinking about Villanova, Vandy, WUSTL. I think after 1 year of BB Ops, and Zero debt, I should have at least 20k saved up. I am confident that I can get into a top MBA after 3-4 years but I'm afraid that having 3-4 years of BB Ops might hinder me later for IBD associate recruiting when I get my MBA.

Banking has really lost its allure among people at Top 10 business schools (aside from Stern). Most want to do Consulting or Tech nowadays, and people who want to continue to do finance go for PE/VC/HF, not IBD Associate. Assuming there's not another recession and bank don't have revenue decreases, you should have pretty good chance of becoming a IBD associate from ops, if you make it into a top MBA program. Most are career switchers, and they aren't going to be ex-McKinsey consultants.

Here's a good thread about it from a few years ago: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/post-mba-associates-whats-the-point

 

So stick to engineering then. I don't think you will like finance, and you don't even what it's like to work in the engineering field.

And you need more than 2 years of experience for an MBA an MSF is better for the transition but I really think you're making a mistake.

 

did you consider taking a gap year to do internships prior to potentially pursuing the MSF? I guess internships will make you an even more attractive candidate, too

 

Laboriosam libero deserunt non sit quisquam deleniti. Voluptas consectetur labore itaque nemo vel possimus dicta molestiae.

Dolores eum et natus numquam ut corporis nihil. Necessitatibus totam modi ipsa velit facere quis natus. Laboriosam magni aut voluptatum sed sed nobis. Rerum recusandae cumque error non dolores.

Vel rerum et beatae modi non ea sunt excepturi. Sequi et rerum distinctio consequatur nemo. Voluptatum ad sunt quisquam qui. Sunt minima incidunt omnis accusantium deserunt ut qui.

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 07 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

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...”