Super non-target ASU Undergrad 3.5+ GPA in EE - Is a career switch into IB realistic or a pipe dream?

Just graduated from ASU with an EE degree and business minor and am becoming increasingly disenchanted with working as an engineer. Finance appeals to me because of the high ceiling on career growth and performance based compensation. I went to high school in AZ and got a 90%+ tuition academic scholarship which means I essentially went to school for free (cheaper than community college). Big difference in my opinion between kids at ASU that are from in-state on scholarship and those that are from out of state and at ASU just to party. Learning that employers tend to not make this distinction or care lol. 

How realistic is it for me to pivot careers and break into investment banking given my super non-target ASU undergrad? 

I graduated with a 3.5+ GPA in electrical engineering but had a 4.00 in my business minor. Was also president of one of the largest electrical engineering clubs at ASU and graduated through the honors college. I scored in the top 99th percentile on my ACT in high school with no studying or prep work. I know if I seriously studied for the GMAT I could score 97th-99th percentile given my previous standardized test score and how I was able to crush engineering mathematics and physics courses during undergrad no problem.    


I am reading the average age of these MBA programs is ~27. Also reading that landing IB internships at an MBA school with no prior banking experience is difficult. Should I be applying to investment banking analyst positions and go through the guides here on WSO to prep?


I am worried that ASU is super non-target and I won't be able to get my foot in the door with IB regardless of how well I prep. Will anyone care about my extra curriculars and undergrad achievements? Am I better off spending my time prepping for the GMAT and trying to score 750+? Would having a high GMAT score at age 22/23 allow me to get an entry level analyst position in IB or will no one care until I get into MBA school? Are the M7's on or off the table realistically given my stats and a hypothetical GMAT of 750+? 


Currently living and working in Los Angeles for a random engineering consulting firm. Turned down sexier job offers in other locations to stay with my GF of 5 years (also from ASU) going to USC law school trying to bust into BigLaw. Interned with Micron technology during undergrad. Full time offers at a variety of semi conductor companies (including Micron) but turned them down due to location constraints. Seems to me like there is a lot more financial work available in Los Angeles than engineering work which is why I am motivated to make the switch. Will be in LA for the next 3 years at least regardless of what happens while my GF is at law school.


Any help or guidance would be very appreciated.

 

My only gripe with just getting an MBA in a few years and continuing to work in various engineering related roles in the meantime is that this engineering experience won't be relevant or transfer into a finance related role after MBA school. 

Post MBA don't you typically start as an associate? Why would they choose someone to start as an associate that never worked as an analyst? I'm worried if I went this route I would be passed up for all the quality jobs for the peers in my class that have pre-MBA finance experience.  

 

Do you think smaller boutique firms would give me a shot at a job as an analyst even though I have no practical banking experience?

I am capable of learning almost anything, finance related concepts are a lot simpler in my opinion than some of the upper division electromagnetism or signal processing course work I was exposed to during EE undergrad. No 3-dimensional math required for finance lol. What would be the best material to review prior to an interview with a small boutique firm? The 400 IB questions PDF? Or a WSO course or something? Any color that can be provided on what to do next would be appreciated.

 
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Physics major here, can confirm that finance concepts are relatively easy to learn compared to E&M stuff. EE might end up being a good thing for you, especially with a high GPA, and you should lean on that to signal intelligence/work ethic. One nice thing is that even though it’s not a target school, your major alone could differentiate you significantly. I do agree that the best way to break in is through internships, so doing an MBA would be the best thing for you. Based on your GPA your odds of getting into a good one are also high. Good luck man!

 

Don't agree with the comments that Rosenbaum is the most best to start, it's gets into nuances that are unnecessary. I'd recommend the BIWS course (not 400 questions, they have an actual $200 course). Reach out to some bankers on LinkedIn who made a similar transition to you and ask them how they framed their story on the transition. Then, it's all a numbers game. If you hit every single, random boutique bank I seriously doubt something won't work out. I'd recommend taking a ~4 to 6 months process, go through the course after work everyday and get on the phone with at least 2 people weekly. 

 

With an MBA you would be fine, and if you can get a good GMAT your undergrad+engineering experience can definitely get you into a T15 MBA.

As others have said, network as much as you can with small banks in LA and see if you could move over before, your GPA is pretty good for EE. If it doesn't work, then you can try applying for MBAs in a few years. Don't worry about the GMAT until you get to the MBA plan B, the only thing that is going to matter for landing a boutique analyst position is your ability to get in front of and make a good impression on the bankers there.

 

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