H/W/S MBA path with diverse background

Hi everyone,

I'm URM, female, military veteran from Ivy leauge. I have IB summer analyst experience at BB in NYC after my freshman year through diversity programs. My next summer internship will be at Boston MBB office.

I wonder if I can get an advice on what my junior internship and first employment after graduation should be in order to maximize my chances of getting into top full time MBA. My post MBA plans are to work in technology or startup. I understand MBA admissions are unpredictable. I have 700 on GMAT and probably can do slightly better, but my biggest concern is that I will be overlooked if I go BB IB or MBB route along other consultants.

I'm originally from Midwest and wonder if my MBA chances will suffer/improve if I start at F500 FLDP at Eli Lilly, Anthem, Wallgreens, Caterpillar, Unitedhealth, Target, General Mills, etc in comparison with BB/MBB and possible Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, GE, GM, etc.

thanks

 

If you can do an F500 FLDP and ensure a rotation in M&A/ Corp. Strategy and ideally exit the program into one of those roles full time (for a year ), I think you would be a lock for HBS/ Stanford. However, not many F500 FLDPs have strategy rotations or exits. You should double check your list and apply selectively if thats the road you want to go down. At the same time, you've got essentially everything else working in your favor, and could just as easily end up at HBS/Stanford if you do MBB for 2 years and exit into an interesting role for a year. You would be able to get MBB prestige and differentiate yourself from the dozens/hundreds of other MBB applicants. The main point is that in whatever 'bucket' you end up applying from (IB/MBB/F500) you will be at the top of your category and your background will differentiate you in a meaningful enough way that you won't be directly compared with the hundreds of other MBB/Consultants that are applying. I would caution against turning down MBB for a F500 role, unless you have extenuating reasons for wanting to remain in the midwest.

 
Most Helpful

"I'm URM, female, military veteran from Ivy leauge. I have IB summer analyst experience at BB in NYC after my freshman year through diversity programs. My next summer internship will be at Boston MBB office."

There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY you will be "overlooked" when you apply whether you choose BB IB, MBB MC, or F500 FLDP.

And the preceding sentence was written by someone who frequently respond "It depends...."

Choose the option that you believe you will enjoy most and give you the most opportunity to shine.. Don't take your first job just because you think or someone tells you it may give you some slight advantage when you apply to bschool. They may not be right and you may be miserable.

Remember that part of the function of a first job is to help you decide what you would actually like to do going forward.

What may make a difference when you apply is a higher GMAT. You didn't mention GPA, but i'll assume it's competitive.

You may be interested in Prep for B-School: A 4-Year Guide for College Students and Recent Grads., a free download we offer to people at least 4 years away from applying to MBA programs.

You may also want to consider applying to deferred admissions programs.

Best, Linda

Linda Abraham President, Accepted | Contact Me | Admissions Consulting
 

Et officia qui veritatis. Exercitationem animi odit ut facilis. Ad nihil voluptatem et rerum.

Unde quisquam velit fuga dignissimos dicta. Qui aut et officia eius voluptatem. Ut veritatis magnam esse aperiam mollitia ipsam vero. Dolorem cupiditate aut accusantium qui quidem assumenda aut et.

Cumque delectus perferendis magni eos occaecati dolorem quis. Optio dolor alias libero tenetur minima in. Voluptatem cumque veniam ea temporibus possimus non. Eos ut voluptates repellat tempora ea perspiciatis.

Quis accusantium atque reiciendis et laborum suscipit est. Voluptatem quod perspiciatis consequatur labore vero sit doloremque omnis. Expedita non alias aut voluptas. At aut occaecati sunt sint debitis ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
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...”