Post-MBA investment banking in London

Hi everyone,

I am considering an MBA this autumn at a top European MBA in order to enter investment banking in London.  I am concerned about the quality of life I will be signing up for, but I also don't know if I am overblowing it in my head.  Here is what is important to me:

  1. Parents:  it is important to me that I can call my parents each day or at least with some regularity throughout the week. 

  2. Reading:  it is important to me that I can read the news daily.  I also like to read books.

  3. Health:  it is important to me that I can get quality sleep, 7 hours at a minimum, and to be able to exercise 4-5 times a week.

  4. Time off: related to 1), I would like to be able to spend two weeks or so per year with my parents or just taking time off.  Fine to work a bit on holiday, but just important that I'm able to get time with parents/time away.

There's not much else that is important to me.  I'm not incredibly social, though I do like to get dinner with friends occasionally, etc, and I'm able to work long periods in isolation.

It does seem to me that 1-4 would be incredibly difficult to have in IB.  Is this a fair conclusion?  Any commentary would be incredibly appreciated.   

 

So, first of all, IB MBA Associate hiring is not really a thing in London. Very few structured recruiting programs. They tend to hire from B4. 
Read this thread: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/mba-hire-in-london-vanishi…

Second, unless your school is LBS and maybe INSEAD or HEC, I doubt you even have a chance at IB

I don't work in IB so I cant answer your questions. Like yes im sure you can find the time to call someone 20 minutes a day, read the news, and take 2 weeks off in a year. Only outsider doubt I have is you probably aren't going to get 7hrs, 365 nights of the year. 

 

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