Please help on my career direction and business school choice

First of all, thanks for clicking in and reading this. I feel kind of lost in my career path and maybe in life in recent months and really need you fellow monkeys' advice.

I just graduated last year from a non-target in the states and worked as SA at a tier 2 global bank in Hong Kong during junior summer. I had the return offer but rejected it (for a few reasons). I've worked in a entry-level data science position at a financial engineering company after graduated because I thought at the time this experience could be my leverage in the future and I couldn't land a FA position in a decent bank. Something bad happened in my family at the beginning of the year and I had to resign, relocate back to southwest and help to have some properties foreclosed.

After settling down things, I have been looking for jobs about 3.5 weeks as I know this road could continue very long. I realize I have to make my comeback to IB now and I understand its gonna be extreme difficult. I've called every alumnus I knew in the region and asked about junior positions (even in S&T or compliance department) at their company (so I might transit to IBD later). I've been try networking with people I had just one conversation with before and alumni in adjacent regions, then implicitly express my current situation. I've landed a few interviews, 2 in-persons, but never got call back after that.

A bit more about myself: Non-target, 3.9 GPA, Asian, Male, GMAT: 680. My question is : Should I still think about my comeback to IB and am I dreaming? and should I apply for a MSF program? A friend of mine went to Vanderbilt MSF and said good things about it and I am thinking about Vandy, UVA, WUSTL or UT Austin. My ultimate goal is work in a NY's PE.

10 Comments
 

Getting the interview is a gift, sounds like you used and lost your network so you need to try something else. I wish I could advise on what but im trying to get my foot in the financial door myself. what I do know is that if you get the interview ace it, after that you may have to take something less attractive for traction. maybe revisit your resume and apply to some lesser institutions in an occupation that relates to your craft that way you keep your experience in finance. good luck.

 

I am an undergrad at Vanderbilt but have some friends who did MSF. The program is a great way to pivot industries. You will have the opportunity to interview for IB jobs through Vandy MSF. I would also look at UVA masters in commerce, MIT MSF and Georgetown MSF. These are the only fours places I would consider for MSF. Good luck!

 

Sunt porro non est nostrum ullam quidem. Voluptatem accusamus et necessitatibus. Maiores et sint et alias tempora voluptatum est. Veritatis ut ad quia dolores rerum quisquam.

Nostrum voluptate veritatis eum asperiores. Aspernatur nisi iusto ut quae laborum repellat. Ut qui voluptatem voluptatem quia ea aut modi. Aut voluptatem suscipit placeat fugiat vero. Tenetur consequatur animi est laudantium quos. Aut et illum saepe voluptas ab ut quia. Atque necessitatibus itaque excepturi.

Ea quod totam neque voluptates nobis aut. Quaerat aut dolores consectetur. Consequatur sunt velit delectus quis ut distinctio.

Consequatur vel asperiores ut illum. Recusandae repellat voluptatem enim et rerum enim omnis. Natus rerum ad totam voluptatem qui nostrum. Adipisci sunt et voluptatem necessitatibus ipsam. Libero repellendus voluptatem placeat asperiores veniam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”