Pharma FLDP Analyst Looking to Pivot into IB via MBA
Hey everyone,
I’m currently in a rotational finance program at an F100 pharma company. Graduated from a LOW semi-target and studied finance, ~3.7 GPA.
The program has been a good first job out of undergrad with a brand name, but I’d like to be somewhere that pushes me harder and builds deal skills faster. The people on corpdev teams I’ve spoken with almost always come from IB/MBB/MBA backgrounds or have been with the company for years.
The rotational programs do have a lot going for them. Assignments in certain areas provide real exposure to the pipeline and everything associated with drug commercialization. But rotation placement makes or breaks your experience, and a lot of assignments like SOX compliance or audit feel like dead ends.
I’m seriously considering an MBA as a path into healthcare IB. I'm studying for the GMAT right now and plan to apply in 2-3 years. I know most of the core modeling and have a solid grasp of pharma-specific finance. I also regularly keep up with the markets and have had a strong interest in the pharma industry anyway so this feels like a good fit and natural progression.
A few questions:
- Is the MBA associate pathway still relevant?
- Which programs should I look into for HC coverage groups?
- Does applying in 2-3 years make sense, or should I be thinking about the timeline differently?
- Is there anything else I should be doing in the meantime to strengthen my application or set myself up for later down the line?
