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Curious what your profile was before your MBA, which tier MBA you landed at, how recruiting went/is going, what type of firm you landed on, and title/comp. Curious if the experience was worth it for you too.

Has anyone considered a 1 year MBA option in the US for a career switch into IB? Do BB/EB or places like JEF hire from 1 year programs? If so, what does the timeline for internships look like (pre, summer, post-MBA)? FYI, background is boutique consulting and biopharma industry

Is anyone familiar with the London buyside recruiting scene for LBS MBA? Background: Currently a 32-year old 5PQE solicitor working in corporate law (M&A / capital markets) with experience in SC / US firms in London and Asia. I'm looking to do a career change for a wide range of reasons but...

About to enter Associate years in PE and want to be prepared for BSchool (imagine its in my future), so starting to think about the tests (hope I'm not already late). Have heard GMAT is preferred / expected for people coming from IB+PE path, but I know I would be stronger at GRE. Anyone have any...

I am going to be part of on campus IB internship recruiting this upcoming fall at an M7 business school (just joined a part time program and already got permission to have full access from career services). By the time recruiting starts, I will have 2.5 years of experience in strategy Consulting at...

Considering applying to a deferred MBA program and wanted to get some perspectives. Are these programs really worth it in terms of long-term ROI and network, especially if you're already on a solid IB/PE track? I’ve heard mixed things—some say it’s a golden ticket, others say it’s...

I'm currently deciding between post MBA offers and am unclear on what path to take in light of the current market environment. All are in VHCOL city. Offers are 1) LMM/MM PE (~2bn AUM) Senior Associate with TC of $350-400 (ignoring minimal carry since returns have been mixed), 2) VP at first-time...

Currently a math major at a semi-target school. Doing my SA at a MM bank (TD, Lincoln, Piper, Harris Williams). Is it worth it to continue with a math major? Not sure if I want to stay in IB long term and definitely want to go to Business School or VC or possibly HF if I continue down the math...

Hi all, I am headed to an M7 school this fall and am considering moving into VC (either out of the MBA or a couple of years after). However, I am unsure which of the three stages I would enjoy most/I should target for a long-term career. How should I be thinking about this?

What are the main banks to target for M&A investment banking in NYC where I will have the ability to transfer to London? I am very interested in doing a stint in both cities once I graduate from my MBA. I imagine it is mainly BB banks (GS, MS, BoA, Barclays), but any additional insights would be...

Hello! I'm currently at a crossroads and looking for some guidance on whether to pursue consulting or go for an MBA, with the ultimate goal of landing at a Restructuring shop. A bit about my background: I pursued engineering for my bachelor's degree but always wanted to get into business, so I...

Currently at LMM PE and just got accepted into W. Wondering if it holds the same value as it once used to and if it is worth the hefty price tag. Other options would be Booth or MIT, but with scholarship, or trying to lateral. Hoping to use the MBA to pivot geographies and specialize into a sector....

Hey everyone, I’m starting to seriously consider applying for an MBA and want to get a head start on the whole application process. I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the moving parts — GMAT/GRE, essays, recs, school selection, etc. For those of you who’ve been through it or are in the middle of...

Saw an older thread but wanted to get some updated views/insights on SGE in 2025. How does SGE compare to larger growth shops like GA, Insight, Summit, Spectrum, etc? Same exits/comp/respect? I understand SIG is a very well-respected name, but how does SGE compare? Any insights on comp/WLB? Can I go...

I'm currently on Spring Break in my first year of B-school and honestly... not feeling great. Before the MBA, I had a high-paying job in NYC making $200K+ in a niche field. I came to business school to pivot into investment banking—mostly to keep my comp steady while opening more doors down the...

Hello All, I will be applying to colleges for the 2026 intake, kindly review my profile and colleges I plan to apply to and let me know if I should make any changes. I am mainly concerned with the employment prospects particularly for Indian Students. Target Role: AM (preferably HF). My profile: UG...

Which school has more presence in Investment banking and clear pipeline with good structure for recruiting Duke Fuqua or UNC Kenan-Flagler? Have offers from both UNC offers more $$$

Joining a BB post-graduating M7 MBA program as an associate. Is Post MBA IB (no prior ib/pe experience) -> PE a thing? If so, what's the recruitng strategy/timeline? What prep work do I need to start doing (deal sheets, networking, etc)?

Hi, ladies and gentlemen, My post-MBA goal is to break into IB. Note that I live outside the U.S. and have never had IB experience. I currently work in the internal M&A team of a regional corporation in the energy sector. I want to pass CFA Level 2 to strengthen my application. However, the downside...

Hey folks, I'm fortunate enough to have multiple MBA offers (no scholarships at any), and now I’m faced with the tough decision of choosing the right school for my career goals. I currently work in asset and wealth management at JPM but want to pivot into investment banking (IB). Based on my...

I’ve realized T10 MBA programs almost never mention students coming from (or going into) real estate. The class profiles are mostly packed with consultants, investment bankers, PE folks, and maybe some tech. Is it even possible to get in if you’re not coming from MBB , FAANG, or a BB bank? These...

Hi all, Interested in how much of a target top restructuring consulting firms (Alix/FTI/ A&M) are for top MBAs. How do they stack up against MBB / BB IB / PE etc when you adjust for application volume (because I assume there are a lot more applicants from MBB, IB etc than from RX Cons.). How does...

Hey everyone, I’m currently a Financial Advisor at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, working full time while completing my B.S. in Finance from Penn State online. I’ll graduate when I’m 36, with a 3.8+ GPA and experience in financial services, real estate, and the Navy. Given my age and...

Hi everyone, I’m currently the CFO of a premium retail chain in Central Asia, and I have prior experience working in private equity. My goal is to transition into investment banking post-MBA, aiming for an Associate role at a top firm in the US. I’m applying to MBA programs at Emory Goizueta,...

First time poster. I graduated from a non-target school a few years ago and have been working in commercial banking (specifically in commercial lending/CRE lending) since. A year and a half ago I decided to pursue an MBA at another non-target while continuing to work full time. As such, I do not...

I currently work in ER and want to transition into PWM or PB at firms like Goldman Sachs PWM or JPMorgan PB. I have my SIE, Series 66, and Series 7. I'm leaning toward pursuing a CFP Board-Certified Master’s to sit for the CFP, but I’m unsure if this is enough to land one of these roles or if an...

Graduated from top non US MBA and got an offer from an EB at a non US office but was surprised that my role title is analyst not associate. Is this because its an EB? or because post MBA roles aren't as common? Pay is good, team is great. My background is equity asset management.

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/harvard-mba… Landing a professional job in the U.S. has become so tough that even Harvard Business School says its M.B.A.s can’t solely rely on the university’s name to open doors anymore. Twenty-three percent of job-seeking Harvard M.B.A.s who graduated...

Hi All, I've been a lurker for some time now and believe that I'm in a pretty crucial decision node for my life. I'm currently a masters student in a supply chain analytics program having just graduated from a service academy last year. When I graduate, I'm set to attend pilot training. My plan has...

I am a junior in a college prep high school and I’m looking for college and career advice. I like STEM because of the physics, construction, and everything I will learn in college. Mechanical and aerospace engineering are interesting to me, however I’ve recently learnt about IB and the salary is...

Hi, I have been working for 2 years in a MBB firm in Europe and I would like to break into PE. The downsides I see to my candidature are: Non-finance background, engineering background No DD/PE experience in consulting yet No network in PE I would like to apply to PE as an associate in Europe...

I am currently deciding between a full scholarship to Rice-Owen and a 50% scholarship to UNC Kenan-Flagler. The goal is to break into IB in a career pivot from tax consulting and eventually exit to PE. My current thought is that UNC will provide a better path to NY/Charlotte where I would like to...

Need some advice about getting an MBA but applying on the deferred track. Currently on track to graduate this upcoming spring with a degree in Industrial Engineering, Unfortunately I have a below average GPA (3.0 - 3.25). However, I have a job lined up in a Leadership Development Program at a F50...

I was keeping a tab on a similar tab created for 2024 and it was really helpful in keeping up with the different programs. Starting this thread for 2025 ADC/APD Summer Program/ FT application. Will keep updating deadlines as they appear. Summer Programs: McKinsey Insight Bridge to BCG Bain ADvantage...

I'm desperate to find a job in LO/HF and would appreciate any insights or feedback. I graduated from a T10 MBA school five months ago and have 5 years of experience as an analyst at a small long/short fund in Asia prior to MBA. During my MBA, I won one of the largest MBA stock pitch competitions....

I've looked through this forum for several years now, and rarely do I interact. However, I've developed strong thoughts on MBA programs since completing my own, and wanted to do my part to the community to stop what I view is a massive mistake for most. The TLDR is, if you want to work in PE, an MBA...

Hey all, accountant here (yes, feel free to make all the jokes you want). I'm looking for some advice regarding B-school and figured this would be a good place to ask. For a little more context: I just graduated from a state school, am a freshly licensed CPA, and work as an Audit Associate for a...

Hey guys, I've been working in the back office for about two years since finishing undergrad. The reason I took a back-office job out of college was that I wasn't able to secure a front-office role immediately and was eager to start working full time. I graduated from a non-target school with a...

Hi, Long story short, I am a sophomore with a mediocre GPA at a top-25 public school. My original plan was to transfer, but unfortunately, my GPA is not good enough. I planned to transfer --> IB --> PE, but my father recently expanded a business he partially owns in another country. The business...

I see a lot of rankings for Euro MFin/MiMs but rarely see discussion of MBA programs in Europe. What would the rankings look like of these programs be for landing IB Assoc/PE/buy-side roles in Europe? Can include the UK programs in this. Would there be much differences in prospects of the schools vs...

Was just curious if people knew what UMM/MF PE shops hired out of MBA (for context, I'm at a MF right now but they don't support MBAs and I'm going to get mine once I finish my associate stint because I got in deferred a while back). I know that WP, Clearlake, TA, Vista, and KKR all have taken...

Hi folks, Canadian student here. Interested to hear people's thoughts on the Vanderbilt MSF, and my eligibility as a candidate. 2026 Grad, with 91% cGPA, BCom, non target. Internships in FP&A and Pension Investment with Fortunate 500 companies, and deciding between S&T or Asset Management Internship...

Hi, Thanks!

Hello, I’ve recently been admitted to a top 20 MBA program in the US, and I’m very interested in pursuing a career in Investment Banking (IB). As an international student, I have previous experience in tech consulting, and I hold a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's degree in Economics....

Just gained my ACA (Non-London Office) but don't want to develop my career as a back office barry. 4.5 YOE in Big4 Audit/Assurance straight out of high school. No undergrad. How do i break into MBB/T2 or IB/PE? I feel like going into TAS for another 2 years and trying the conversion to M&A is a bit...

Currently at a T2 consulting firm in London. Considering doing an MBA to recruit for IB as an associate. Would apply for HBS, core finance M7 schools, and Stern / Johnson for back-up finance schools. Would any recent mba (summer) associates or unsuccesful candidates be able to shed some light at...

Did my B.Com (Business Management) from India (stood 2nd in my batch), went on to pursue a Masters in one of the target UK unis (Oxbridge/ LSE) in History (graduating with a distinction). Even in India, and in the UK, continued to work part-time in an extremely esoteric industry (something closely...

Dear WSO Members I'm doing my thesis research with a semi-structured survey for my MBA in Finance. Its designed to have minimal text inputs, and more opinion based responses with standard likerts. Respondents so far have taken an average of 10 minutes to complete the survey....

Title asks the main question. I am in a spot where I am considering applying for an MBA program. My question, especially for those who have completed an MBA, is if it is worth it to take out massive student debt for a prestigious MBA program or is it more worth it to incur zero debt for a solid MBA...

As the title says, wondering if the firms above pay for associates that are trying to go to Bschool?