Active duty studying finance

Hello all I hope I’m not beating the dead horse but I couldn’t quite find much content about my situation.

I’m currently 27 with a wife and a 9 month old. I recently got to a new command who honesty loves to fact I want to goto college. I had a lot of aspiration for cyber security until I found out a lot of people don’t really get a job in cyber even if they get a degree in it. So I focused on the only other thing I’m very interested in. I found that there was a finance degree path at PSU world campus and applied and got accepted into it. I’m currently only able to take 2 courses at a time due to limited financial aid and military TA is only good for 12 credit every fiscal year. My reasoning for it was my neighbor and I were talking one day as we both cut the grass ( very Dad like I know ) and we got on the topic of college and he told me he was actually a “risk analyst” for Bank of America and he loves his job. I didn’t know what any of that meant but it seemed like the type of work I wouldn’t mind doing.

My question is I’ll be around 32 years old when I get out with roughly 14 years of service. Will big institutions or private companies such as hedge funds or private equity even consider someone like myself? Given the fact that I would be much older than most of the interns going to some investment bank or something of the likes? Not to mention I’m not going to a “target” school. I do hear good things so far at PSU tho which is nice. Good teachers and they even have a real time non simulated investment firm inside that trades for the school. Thanks to all who reply and I appreciate everyone’s time.

8 Comments
 
 

Hey man. Many vets transition to the civilian world by doing a top 10 MBA which sets them up pretty well. I know you mentioned you’ll be 32 so not sure if spending two more years in an MBA is something you’re interested in. Also, you wouldn’t get the same benefit from doing an MBA online—would miss out on the prestige, networking, and recruiting. 
 

The other, non-MBA option would be looking into the veteran programs at different banks. Goldman’s Veteran Integration Program, JP Morgan has one, BAML does and I’m sure some others too. Check out Veterans on Wall Street too. These programs let guys bypass the MBA as they transition out. Often you can rotate through a few areas in the bank. 
 

Those are the two main routes. Especially if you do the second route, make sure you’re finding vets on LinkedIn at those banks and networking with them (no need to do this now but when you’re getting ready to transition)

 

I think in the end MBA is the route I should take because of the fact my wife is on board with going where we need to go. Yeah I made a LinkedIn but I’m just plugging things in for my own self interest. Since I’m going to PSU world campus they still have a few clubs and an investment fund that is open to us so I’m doing what I can to get involved with that as well. Thanks for your advice.

 
Most Helpful

Qui minima rerum vel eos fuga est maiores. Voluptatem aut sapiente facilis est esse nihil.

Et ipsam omnis ipsa temporibus. Debitis fuga et et cupiditate sequi. Dolorem enim et sed adipisci aperiam vitae. Ullam non eius quas voluptas non. Ut enim corrupti odio maxime praesentium ea inventore quam.

Qui dolorum blanditiis suscipit ut. Autem reiciendis expedita excepturi est hic. Et perferendis pariatur eum. Non possimus provident dolor aut. Quas aut sint sequi et dicta.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • 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 98.2%
  • 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 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 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 (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”