No name Boutique vs European MSc in Finance
Background: I am going to be graduating this year from a non-target state school. I am currently interning for a real estate private equity fund.
I am interested in starting my career in IB but I am wondering if I start at a no-name company and get some experience then move to a bigger brand name and restart as an analyst if it would be worth it.
I am debating two options.
1. Start at a no name boutique and be a grunt for a year and lateral to a bigger MM bank and restart as a first year analyst.
2. Study for the GMAT and apply to European MSC Finance programs such as Bocconi HEC Etc.
If I did go to a top graduate program in Europe I would have the opportunity to live in a foreign city, learn a new language, and could recruit at all the top BB that come to the school and eventually become an analyst in London. The problem with this is that I wanted to eventually get an MBA but I think if I were to go to the graduate school then I wouldn’t really need to go to MBA in the US. I also am unsure if it is worth not making money for another two years just so I can go to a better branded bank.
I thought it might be helpful if I listed a few goals in my life so you can see how this will play into my decision.
Goals in my life:
1. Have enough money to be able to do whatever I want whenever I want
2. Travel the world
3. Start my own company
4. Have fun
What do you guys know about US citizens going to an MSc program in Europe after graduating college in the US? Also, does anybody know anyone who did this? Was it worth it to them? What is recruiting like at a top MSc program?
Also, how is the brexit going to affect IB in London?
Thanks in advance