The consensus on this sub is that an MBA will not help someone with no buy side experience break into buyside post MBA. If someone has already made it to the buyside before the MBA what’s the point of spending upwards of 200k to simply return to the job one had before hand? Overall I want to see your opinions on the MBA for finance?
| +43 | Wharton Huntsman Program vs Yale vs Dartmouth | 48 | 58m | |
| +33 | Umich Ross vs Rice vs Notre Dame Mendoza | 17 | 2d | |
| +29 | LSE BSc Economics vs Cambridge BA Economics | 9 | 5h | |
| St Andrews vs LSE vs Middlebury | 19 | 1d | ||
| +26 | Target School Kids Stop Complaining | 6 | 2d | |
| +26 | Succeeding at Penn CAS? | 8 | 3h | |
| +25 | LSE MSc Finance vs Oxford MFE? | 8 | 35m | |
| +23 | Washu a target school now. | 42 | 4h | |
| +23 | Imperial College Finance Masters' | 5 | 3d | |
| +14 | Engineering vs Business degree? | 7 | 1d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Link to opinions that you cant break into buyside with IB experience + MBA? Thought that was my way out...
Just look up MBA to buyside WSO
I wouldn't say it's impossible, but breaking into the buyside post MBA with no previous buyside experience is extremely difficult. Think about it, you're competing with students who have worked in PE/HF for limited spots. Why would any buyside firm pick you even if you went to a M7 school?
MBA for buy-side is an oligopoly-take-all. If you cannot get into H/S/W (Harvard / Stanford / Wharton), Booth or Columbia, you might as well hustle (network) to buy-side without doing an MBA.
In terms of investment education, CBS is the best, with a value investing program taught by real investment managers.
Folks with pre-MBA buy-side experience usually do MBA to move into a more brand-name shop or move to a different style of investing (ie. Fidelity to Viking Global, or regional long only to Fidelity, etc.). I do hate those ppl because they clog up a spot that a career changer could have gotten at T Rowe or Fidelity or a Tiger Cub, but they have the right to do an MBA too I guess.
Disclosure: I am not affiliated with any of the five schools aforementioned.
Seems like a lame ROI if you’re already in a good spot. I never want to do one, seems like a waste of time.
More of a networking opportunity. That’s about it.
Realistically it is unnecessary and bad if looking at it purely from an ROI perspective but after 4-5 years of IB/PE, the chance to fuck around and have fun for 2 years of your 20’s without losing significant momentum in your career is very appealing
Huge credibility booster for folks who weren't able to get into a target undergrad. It's stupid, but having Wharton on an MBA will change your perception versus just seeing their undergrad (random LAC most people never heard of). Also, the network is huge and can be highly beneficial for folks in IB, PE, VC when trying to win business. Will say that if you went to HYPSM undergrad, then yeah, I see little point in MBA.
Let's flip it and view from the AM firm's perspective (really what matters). Many want to show their institutional clients their PMs, Strategists, and even Relationship Mgrs come from this M7 background espousing best in class talent pool. not that different form MBB winning the beauty contest (frequently) because so many of their consultants are "best and brightest hailing from H/S/W/Chicago"
OPs post was/is exactly my situation and is the reason why I didn't do an MBA. Had the BB/buyside/PE experience and was offered roles that I would've gotten with an MBA without actually doing one. Not regretting my decision a bit, but the only missing thing on my resume is the college brand name recognition. I can live with that.
Mind if i Pm you for more info?
Dicta voluptatum exercitationem fuga non esse inventore. Saepe aut consectetur dolorum suscipit ducimus temporibus non. Sunt nostrum cum mollitia quam illum ducimus et dolores.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...