Corp Dev > MSF > IB Analyst

Hi Guys,

Non-Taregt 3.3 GPA

I am currently a first year M&A analyst for a large healthcare company. I am looking to make the switch from Corp Dev to IB. I was wondering your thoughts on if getting into the best MSF program would be a good move to leverage into IB. Quite frankly I don't think I can last much longer in this Corp Dev role. Would love to know your guys thoughts on this. Thanks!

25 Comments
 

Jv55, sorry there are no responses yet. Maybe one of these topics can point you in the right direction:

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  • More suggestions...

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why cant you last? without knowing more details, i cant see the rationale for spending more money on school when you already have a solid job.

 

how minimal is the deal flow? are you guys closing tuck ins whereas you were hoping to do transformative deals? zero deal flow? have you looked at opportunities but havent closed anything? in other words, how deep is the expeerience you are really getting?

 

I’d forget the MSF and just lateral to a more active group. You already have the type of experience MAF students would want Post graduating.

 
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Assuming you just started like maybe 2 months ago (since you’re a first year), you have next to nothing to offer either your group or an IB. You will need to offer something to an IB that wants to pick you up because a) they probably will think your technical skills are below their standard and b) that you may have trouble handling the hours. So you have two choices imo

  1. Stick around and learn about the healthcare space and valuation and do some deals so that you build a skillset and then look to make a move in a year or so when some rising 2nd year at an IB quits and they call you since you may be a little rough around the edges but you know the space and that’s better than most of your class.

  2. You leave soon and screw around for 6 months and then go spend $40k on top of your foregone earnings to have a long shot at IB assuming you get into a good program (and that’s if you hustle and network before the program starts).

  3. You stick it out a year but leave for an MSF instead of maybe staying for a second year and lateralling to another industry company or IB as a pretty seasoned 2nd year.

Your choice but one of these seems less optimal.

 

You can get into IB with corp dev experience without an MSF... Have you tried to reach out to recruiters? Banks are quite desperate atm..

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In the past I have tried the cold emailing approach directed at MDs. I have not directly reached out to recruiters/headhunters ye. I am stuck in a 1 year lease for my current apartment so I am fairly limited on banks I can target ATM. I have been focusing a lot of effort on 2019 but that is tough for boutiques that do off-cycle recruiting.

Thank you for the advice.

 

Vanderbilt has a great MSF program, but they usually take people with 1 year experience/fresh out of undergrad. MIT is great as well, but I know they have math requirements to get in. Duke has a masters in management that has sent some people to BB IB. Also, you don't necessarily need a MSF to make the switch that you are trying too. Best of luck.

 

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