MMS/MSF or wait for an MBA?

Posting it in the Business school forum

I'm a recent liberal arts grad from a non-target. Graduated in May 2017. Currently working as a Financial Advisor for a Fortune 100, hoping to transition into PWM before doing an MBA. I was considering doing an MMS/MSF until recently when I started looking at MBA programs. I initially wanted to do an MMS/MSF to get a job in the financial sector (IB/PE/VC) until I learned that one could get a job in finance without majoring in business and it would be easier if I went the MBA route. I also considered an MMS/MSF because of the opportunity to rebrand myself and to get another shot at recruiting. I also thought I would not be able to get into a top 15 MBA program because my UG GPA was 3.48. After researching more about MBA programs and learning about the holistic approach they use when evaluating applicants, I now believe I have a shot at a top 15 MBA. My GPA is close to the average at a few top 15 schools. I'm not saying I'll be a top candidate since my GPA is on the low end and there too many qualified people for few seats but I'll still like to give it a shot.

An MMS/MSF will be 65k so I would have to take out a loan and compensation is a lot lower than what you would get if you were to do an MBA. Plus at the top MMS, only 5% of the students get these IB jobs. Doing an MBA will give me the opportunity to do an internship which may lead to a FT role while an MMS would not. I do know about people doing an internship right before enrolling into an MMS/MSF though.

Ideally, I'll like to get into IB as an Analyst so it would be easier to transition into PE/VC as opposed to a post-MBA associate transitioning into PE/VC.

If I do the MMS/MSF, I still might have to go back to get an MBA to be promoted or to be on the partner track.

 
Best Response

your GPA won't kill you.... but for nontarget resumes, 3.5 (sometimes 3.7) is a hard requirement.

The choice depends on when you want to reboot and what industries you want to go. F100 advisor doesn't sound bad, as long as you have a glowing P&L. You're obviously a newbie now, so you'd raise more questions from future employers (why did you leave so quickly? you can't perform? Uh, did you fail/get kicked out..?)

early reboot - Masters.... after 2-5 years - MBA... staying in finance - MSF... other industries - MMS/MBA.

lastly, IB & consulting will be heavy on MBA pipelines, so MMS/MSF won't be too helpful for those.

[quote="M7 MBA, iBanking. Top MSF grad. AntiTNA. Truth is hard to hear! But... "] [/quote] [quote="DickFuld: Yeah....most of these people give terrible advice."] [/quote]
 

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