MBA after Associate?

Forgive me if this is an ignorant question, but in regards to IB what's the point in doing an MBA after you've made Associate? how exactly will it improve your knowledge/career prospects?

 

Same question, recently a few of my colleagues went to b-school while they are already into their associate years. I always have the impression that many 3rd yr analysts opt for b-school, not sure whether it's wrong in some way.

Realize that it's a case by case personal decision as for MBA, but curious to know too. thanks.

 

usually for switch to PE/VC, some other career, or simply to take some time off. You'd be surprised how many people get an MBA just to relax a bit for a couple years (compared to IB or consulting lifestyle), meet new friends, party like in college, etc.

 
aceman:
usually for switch to PE/VC, some other career, or simply to take some time off. You'd be surprised how many people get an MBA just to relax a bit for a couple years (compared to IB or consulting lifestyle), meet new friends, party like in college, etc.

Very true. One of my best friends at b-school was a VP in a BB. He just wanted to relax and take some time out. Turns out that his timing was inspirational. He's not the only VP we have in our class.

 

Yes they have.

One of my good friends at W has joined GS at the age of 34. Someone I know in the team that he's joined has pretty much implied to me that he will never make it to MD...and that implication comes from the top.

 

typically they would negotiate but they would almost certainly go back as a 2nd or possibly 3rd year associate. And they would be sponsored - some places pay just tuition, others pay for all expenses. When they return, they would not belong to 'the class' that started that year; they would simply be a returning employee and would probably also skip training.

 
Best Response

I've seen a number of them over the years. The post-MBA associates that tend to want to go back to school are those who work at regional or midmarket banks (or those with IB and PE experience but no big name brands or anything) and going in the hopes of getting out of finance altogether, or hoping to upgrade to a better name bank (yes, spending $150K+ and two years of forgone income to do that... it may not make financial sense, but the b-school application process is largely driven by ego and personal stuff anyhow - with the "investment in an education" as a justification for that).

In other words, I haven't really seen any associate from GS, MS, Citi, CS, etc wanting to go back - I've encountered a few that have entertained the idea, but none that I knew of who actually decided to make a serious go of it.

Alex Chu

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

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