What is the point of the MBA for finance?

The consensus on this sub is that an MBA will not help someone with no buy side experience break into buyside post MBA. If someone has already made it to the buyside before the MBA what’s the point of spending upwards of 200k to simply return to the job one had before hand? Overall I want to see your opinions on the MBA for finance?

12 Comments
 

I wouldn't say it's impossible, but breaking into the buyside post MBA with no previous buyside experience is extremely difficult. Think about it, you're competing with students who have worked in PE/HF for limited spots. Why would any buyside firm pick you even if you went to a M7 school?

 

MBA for buy-side is an oligopoly-take-all. If you cannot get into H/S/W (Harvard / Stanford / Wharton), Booth or Columbia, you might as well hustle (network) to buy-side without doing an MBA

In terms of investment education, CBS is the best, with a value investing program taught by real investment managers.

Folks with pre-MBA buy-side experience usually do MBA to move into a more brand-name shop or move to a different style of investing (ie. Fidelity to Viking Global, or regional long only to Fidelity, etc.). I do hate those ppl because they clog up a spot that a career changer could have gotten at T Rowe or Fidelity or a Tiger Cub, but they have the right to do an MBA too I guess. 

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with any of the five schools aforementioned. 

 

Huge credibility booster for folks who weren't able to get into a target undergrad. It's stupid, but having Wharton on an MBA will change your perception versus just seeing their undergrad (random LAC most people never heard of). Also, the network is huge and can be highly beneficial for folks in IB, PE, VC when trying to win business. Will say that if you went to HYPSM undergrad, then yeah, I see little point in MBA

 

Let's flip it and view from the AM firm's perspective (really what matters). Many want to show their institutional clients their PMs, Strategists, and even Relationship Mgrs come from this M7 background espousing best in class talent pool. not that different form MBB winning the beauty contest (frequently) because so many of their consultants are "best and brightest hailing from H/S/W/Chicago"

 

Tempore et numquam cupiditate hic mollitia. Nobis ab beatae voluptates voluptatum. Nulla odit voluptas totam sapiente aspernatur voluptatum dicta.

Est autem occaecati commodi aperiam cumque sunt sit. Provident officiis blanditiis sit accusantium ullam et. Dicta rem iure numquam porro nemo quisquam quaerat voluptas. Quia adipisci ut natus.

Ea quia veniam quia. Veritatis accusantium voluptatum a voluptatem. Deserunt voluptatem eveniet fugit itaque ut molestias quasi. Quos et architecto fugit autem sequi ut. Aliquam perspiciatis repellat eos unde dolorem distinctio aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”