Best Path to Get into IB from Life Sciences? Please HELP!!

I'm a senior at a top 50 university (Illinois Gies, Indiana Kelley, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa.) majored in cell bio got a 4.00 GPA, and am interested in healthcare ib. I know I am very late to the game and regret toying around with ib and not directly majoring in finance. I don't have much internship or career experience. Which path is most viable to get into IB? 

  1. consulting entry analyst job-->M7 MBA (Kellogg)-->IB associate? 

  2. consulting entry analyst at no-name firm-->M7-->MBB-->IB?

  3. consulting entry analyst job -->apply to Vanderbilt MSF program-->IB analyst (Vandy seems to have 50% placement). 

Is there a better option for me or do any of these make any sense?

Was premed, but not interested in more schooling;  

Confident I can do well in GMAT (730ish)-good test taker

 

I had a pretty similar background to you in undergrad (biochemistry major and didn't want to do med school). I went the corporate development route and worked at a few biotech startups and that was my pitch, and just spun my story as "i like the strategic and transactional nature of corpdev, but want something faster paced, comprehensive and technical". I then did a one year master's in biotechnology grad program and recruited out of that.

Lot of work, but it's possible. Consulting is a good route as long as it's a good shop, and B-school is a good option as well, but be sure to go straight to banking out of school if that's still what you want to do. I've also seen people break in out of the MSF programs, so I don't think there is "only one way or the highway" path to break in.

 
Most Helpful

serbjr

I'm a senior at a top 50 university (Illinois Gies, Indiana Kelley, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa.) majored in cell bio got a 4.00 GPA, and am interested in healthcare ib. I know I am very late to the game and regret toying around with ib and not directly majoring in finance. I don't have much internship or career experience. Which path is most viable to get into IB? 

  1. consulting entry analyst job-->M7 MBA (Kellogg)-->IB associate? 

  2. consulting entry analyst at no-name firm-->M7-->MBB-->IB?

  3. consulting entry analyst job -->apply to Vanderbilt MSF program-->IB analyst (Vandy seems to have 50% placement). 

Is there a better option for me or do any of these make any sense?

Was premed, but not interested in more schooling;  

Confident I can do well in GMAT (730ish)-good test taker

I started with a Biology BS and graduation and will be matriculating to and EB after my MBA. I would not get too stressed about this. If you decide that business school is the right path, with the proper preparation you have a very good chance odds at breaking into the industry. (And speaking from experience a T15 school will provide looks as well).

However, given that you are still early in your career. You may consider a smaller regional boutique. Do a search for some local shops and email some of the partners for potential openings / internships. Many of these firms have informal opportunities that can get your foot in the door without having to spend six figures on an MBA. Then you can lateral up into an EB or BB firm after a year or two. Seeing how busy juniors are and how active the lateral market is, this option has a high likelihood of success.

 

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