Can You Really Use Business School to Re-Brand Yourself and Break Into Finance?
“Just go to business school.”
“Go to a top MBA program.”
“With HBS on your resume you can do anything you want.”
It’s one of the most common pieces of advice given to anyone interested in consulting or finance: get into a top MBA program.
Even if you went to a no-name undergraduate, did nothing finance-related since then, and you don’t know anyone in the industry, a top MBA program will let you break in.
Or will it?
The Short Answer
Getting into a top MBA program may narrow the gap between you and former bulge bracket investment bankers.
But it won’t level the playing field.
Business school is often thought of as a magic bullet – a way to break into finance when all else has failed or when you have no shot normally.
There’s some truth to that – but there are also a lot of problems with it.
“Non-Target” Programs
Ranking banks, schools, and anything else is a massive waste of time and brain cells – which is why there will never be “rankings” of any kind on this site.
But the relative “prestige” of your business school is important, even if the specific “rank” doesn’t matter: if you don’t go to a school that banks recruit at, you’re wasting your time and $150K.
So even if something seems prestigious on paper or it’s in “The Top 10″ you need to go there in-person and ask students how recruiting really works.
There’s a less obvious conclusion as well: if you have a very small chance of getting into the top programs, then you’re better off pounding the pavement to get in.
Start with informal and unpaid internships and temporary positions at smaller places, and then leverage that to move up.
Cold-calling may not be fun, but it’s a far better use of time than going to a school where no banks recruit and where no alumni are in finance.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time
Until recently, there wasn’t much respect for part-time programs.
This is starting to change, but they’re still not on-par with the most well-known full-time programs.
If you can’t afford to go back full-time and are only looking at part-time options, you need to visit the school in-person, walk around and ask students and faculty how many banks actually recruit there – otherwise you’ll end up with $150K in debt and access to 0 recruiters.
Running Away From Your Past
If you’re coming from an unknown school, you have a lower GPA, or you have less “prestigious” schools or companies on your resume, you might feel like The Fugitive: you didn’t do anything wrong, but you’re always running away from your past anyway.
But here’s the problem that often gets overlooked: your past will still come back to haunt you, even if you get into a top program.
There are some people in finance who just don’t understand anyone who’s not from a wealthy, blue-chip background, and you’ll always have to deal with it if you have the misfortune of running into them.
Getting into a top business school may reduce your sentence, but it won’t clear you of all the false charges.
Geography
“What about top MBA programs in Europe / Asia? Are they as recognizable as ones in the US?”
The short answer: the best programs are still well-known, but no, they are not viewed the same as Harvard/Wharton/Stanford etc. if you want to work in the US afterward.
It’s not because they’re “worse” – it’s just that most US positions are taken by people who go to US business schools. Recruiting is a lot easier when you don’t have to cross multiple oceans for an interview.
If you can get into top schools in Europe / Asia, but can’t get into the top US programs, then sure, go abroad.
No Network
You might be motivated to go to business school if you don’t have a great network and don’t feel like cold-calling dozens of firms each week to get into a local boutique and then working your way up.
On-campus recruiting is convenient, but it’s almost too convenient. The temptation is to sit around and wait for companies to come to you – but that doesn’t work when everyone else at your school is also impressive.
So you need to start building your network even before you even get there. Start calling alumni, say you’re going to attend XYZ school next year and wanted some advice, and take it from there.
Experience: Too Much vs. Too Little
Another dilemma: you might have too little experience or too much.
Going straight for an MBA right after undergraduate is a losing proposition (yes, there’s Harvard 2+2 but that is new and unproven) – you need at least a few years of experience and often more than that to be competitive.
I get emails every week from students asking, “Should I go for a top MBA program right after I graduate?”
No. Bad idea.
Many Associate-level resumes have 5 or more years of work experience – even if you get into a top school, it’s tough to compete with that.
You can also have “too much” experience to make business school useful, but this is less of a problem than having too little.
If you’ve been working for, say, 15 years, it’s almost easier to work your way to the top in another field and then move into finance at a much higher level.
The Solution?
All these pitfalls go back to the original point made in the beginning, and something that Kevin and Jerry brought up on Management Consulted (Why Harvard Business School Does NOT Equal McKinsey):
Going to a top MBA program helps, but that alone will not solve all your problems.
It’s Just Like Breaking In As an Undergraduate
I still get a lot of questions on the CFA and other certifications, despite repeatedly bashing them in the past.
Many students think that adding these lines to their resume will seriously boost their chances, forgetting that they’re just small pieces of the big picture.
And yes, business school is different and much more than just another certification, but the same principle applies: a top school and access to recruiting there will improve your chances, but you need to do more than just go to a good school and drop $150K to break in.
What to Do?
Let’s say you are committed to going to a top MBA program to re-brand yourself and then using that to break into finance – what should you do to make sure it’s not a waste of $150K and 2 years of your life?
- First, make sure that banks actually recruit anywhere you’re seriously considering. Visit in-person, meet with students and career services, and see what the real story is.
- If you come from a more “random” background then start addressing “objections” to your background even before you arrive at school.
- You also need to start networking long before you ever get to business school – all the former bankers will have a big advantage over you otherwise.
Think about pre-MBA programs in finance – if you can, take time off to do an unpaid or part-time job related to finance.
Think about activities and professional organizations that might take you closer to business, or at least ones that let you spin your resume more aggressively.
And start contacting alumni and going through referrals in the months before you arrive so that they know who you are when it’s summer recruiting season.
But Sometimes You Have to Go
Business school is not a magic-bullet solution, but sometimes you pretty much have to go just to have any shot of breaking into finance.
Recent graduates would be better served by going to boutiques and then working their way up to larger banks – but if you have 5-10 or more years of experience, banks only take you seriously if you’re coming from an MBA program.
And if you had a completely random background that had nothing to do with business – like a traveling bard – then you might have to go just to have more than a 0.000001% chance of getting in.
Business school admissions goes beyond the scope of the site, but you can click here to learn all about how to get into top 10 business schools.
Got Brand?
There’s always a temptation to buy more degrees, certifications, or anything else that gets you more “prestige” and makes you seem more qualified.
But not only does HBS not equal McKinsey, it also doesn’t equal Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, or any other top bank.
Think of recruiting as a court case, with your key witness representing business school: a great testimony can push the odds in your favor, but you need plenty of “supporting evidence” as well.
That might be informal work experience, anything that can be spun into sounding like business, or a solid network.
So make sure you have both the supporting evidence and the key witness – otherwise, you’ll end up with a hung jury and no offers.
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Actually i am currently working in a market research organization & want to break into finance industry. I am looking forward for a course that could help me enter into finance industry so that i can do my MBA After 2 or 3 year. Do you have any idea about the course that i should choose in US & from which college.
If the duration is of 1yr that would be great as it would give me an opportunity to have a better understanding.
Maybe look at a top Master’s in Finance program in the US.
I was wondering, if you are already working in investment banking right out of college how necessary is it to get an MBA to move up the ladder? Are there people that move up to the MD level or jump to PE without getting an MBA, or is will it be harder to advance without it?
Not necessary for the most part. http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-promotions/
I’ve been considering some options coming out of a non-target school next year. I’m not sure I’d be able to make it into a BB firm. That’s been the goal, but I just got an unofficial offer from someone in PE. He’s a partner for a VC firm that’s not exceptionally large but would give me good experience. Is there some benefit to starting out in PE over IB, particularly when applying for MBA programs?
Not really: http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/start-on-buy-side/
But if that’s your best offer, definitely take it.
I recently found your site while I have been conducting my career search and have found it very informative and helpful. I graduated this past December with degrees in finance and economics and am looking to get into investment banking, preferably middle market or boutiques. However, I have found the search to be very frustrating and have not had any calls for interviews, even though I have lots of contacts through my dad. I have thought about trying to get an MBA, but now I’m not so sure after reading your articles.
My question is this: What do you think about the joint degree (MBA-JD) programs? And, do you still feel the same way about getting a graduate degree right out of undergrad if you’re getting a law degree as well as an MBA?
Thanks
http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/degrees-certifications/
Bad idea – keep networking, cold-calling, and do whatever it takes to get an offer even if it’s at a tiny boutique.
This might have already been answered somewhere else on the site, but how much will a BBA hurt me in the admissions process if I want to get into a top MBA? I’m currently a freshman at Michigan, and I’m wondering whether I should study Math + Economics or get the Ross BBA. I realize that the BBA will lead to better recruitment opportunities which would help me get into B-school from the financier route. But what if I decide to go into IB for two years then leave for Corp Development.
Would B-school admission officers look down at me because not only do I not have PE/HF experience, I have a BBA, which means I’ve already taken a good portion of the classes for an MBA? I mean how can I convince that the MBA will help me, if I’ve already learned basically half the stuff the MBA was supposed to teach me?
I don’t think it matters… you do not want to do an MBA right after undergraduate anyway
If you were in my position what would you choose? I realize that purely from the perspective of obtaining an IB job after undergrad, the clear answer would be Ross. However, I’d personally much rather not waste time studying business, only to learn the same material if I ever do get an MBA.
Plus it seems like studying business is a joke. It seems a math major is going to be more useful, if ever decide to lateral over to trading, especially the more “quanty” products.
I guess my real question is assuming I have good GPA for a math major, will I still get interviews with a fair amount of networking?
Yes you will, but if you are not certain you can get a good GPA then it’s not a good idea. http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-major/
Do the BBA. I have friends that did Michigan BBA and got Goldman, KKR, Bain Capital, UBS, Lazard, etc. The math majors I know ended up switching to computer engineering b/c 0 job opps with math major on resume — you’ll be branded a techie if you do the math major, or worse 0 job ops. BBA won’t hurt opportunities later. I know Michigan BBA grads who went on to HBS, Wharton, Stanford, or went on to Michigan MBA — but they did that AFTER they got 3 to 5 years of work experience with big firms.
Is there any sense in going to business school after having practiced corporate law for 2-3 years? Would the combination of legal practice + a top MBA be more beneficial? Or, does the MBA not add much value at that point in one’s career?
Love the site.
I don’t think it would add too much if you already have a JD + corporate law experience.
I’m a high school senior who interested to go into IB, and currently there is a tough decision in front of me. I got into Babson, Northeastern and Macaulay Honor @ Baruch. To me, I would love to go to Babson, yet I afraid of the career opportunities there due to the location. For Northeaster, although it has an amazing co-op program, but Baruch seems the easiest to get into IB as it’s in NY, and it’s also easier to get an IB intern. Could you please give me some advices?
I would say Baruch is the best, but even there you’ll be at a disadvantage next to people at NYU, Columbia, etc. – so either start networking early or consider transferring.
Hi,
I am an Indian working in IT industry for last 5.5 years (working for clients reputed in financial domain) and am planning to do an MBA from a reputed US B school. I want to eventually venture into Private equity focussed on Technological companies . Can you please give me an idea about how should I plan my career or which career path should I choose to realise my goal.Is it possible to get into finance (IB/PE) after an MBA with an engineering background? [I would also be needing H1B initially to work in US]
It will be extremely tough to do PE without doing IB or PE pre-MBA. So I would get a pre-MBA internship in one of those fields to maximize your chances, otherwise it is close to impossible.
Hey I’ve looked around a lot on the site and can’t seem to find anything for quant positions. Do you suggest someone looking to become a quant attend an Mfin, MFE or MSMF program? Or is that the same plight as attending an MBA once you have the necessary basic ability?
Yes one of those programs is probably a good bet if you want to get quant positions. I don’t know much about it personally so nothing here yet but hope to cover it in the future.
Two Quick Questions:
1. Is this a practical/possible track to getting into a top PE firm. What are my chances?
Boutique Investment Bank [Boutique as in real boutique; 1-3 Regional Branches] –> Gain 2 Years Work Experience –> Top 15 Business School [Something like UCLA Anderson, UVA, or Duke] –> Break into top 10 PE Firm.
2. What is the starting salary like at a regional boutique bank vs a bulge bracket bank. Is minimum 80K annual after bonus fair to assume?
Thank you for your help, your website is phenomenal.
-Ricky
Top 10 PE firm would be very difficult coming from a boutique bank, so I don’t think it’s too likely. Middle-market PE yes, but not top 10. Boutique starting salaries are the same or similar but bonuses are 50% lower on average.
I’m going to be a highschool senior next year and I’m the type of person who likes to get things done ahead of time, and picking an undergrad school is one of them. I plan to go to business school then get my mba in management, then work within the fashion industy. I not to sure where or how to go about doing this. The factors are im looking for the best connections, a school in CA, and a school firms would take seriously incase later on I choose not to go in fashion.
This site is intended for people who want to enter the finance industry, so I can’t comment on fashion – maybe check some fashion sites and ask around
I graduated with a BS in Geology from U. of Miss. in December, and am currently working as a geologist for an oil company. I’ve been told that an MBA would give me a great background and teach me how to run/open my own company, as well as raise money for drilling operations, aquisitions, etc. How do I prepare for an MBA/GMAT?
Do a search on here for MBA and GMAT lots of articles cover this topic or go to the “GMAT” link at the top of the page.
Hello. I currently have a BS in Business Administration from a Jesuit university. For the past 4 years, I have been working as a manager for a big box retail company. I will be attending the University of Pittsburgh’s two-year MBA program this fall. I will be concentrating in finance.
My question is can I still get into a summer analyst internship program or will the MBA status make me overqualified, even though I do not have any finance/investment work experience?
Thanks.
You will be overqualified.
Ok thanks. A few follow up questions.
Even though I may be “overqualified”, is that a possible internship I can pursue and actually get?
Would it even be possible for me to do the internship as a summer associate, even with no finance work experience?
If neither of these are an option, how can I break in? Thanks again.
-Nick
Not really, you are better off just going for fields outside of IB… think about trading, wealth management, etc.
Thanks again.
Do you have any links that may give me an idea of what some of these other fields are and what they involve?
I am still a little new to the finance game.
-Nick
http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/hedge-funds-institutional-asset-management/
http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/traders-vs-brokers/
I disagree with this idea of using MBA to develop a ‘network’ anyone with half a brain, 2 years free time and 150k could develop a real network for a fraction of that price. Also, why do you want to network with people who are going to be roughly your age. Unless they are the kids of the rothchilds, clintons etc you won’t gain ‘much’ more from them since they are in the SAME position.
I also take the view that MBA for starting a company is even more of a worse rationale since it’ll make you a helluva lot more risk averse since you’ll be more than likely taking on a shedload of debt to pay for that piece of paper!
Point #2: Never said that anywhere here so not sure where you’re getting it from. Point #1: Disagree because it’s not that easy to get access to some people if you’re just off networking on your own. Yes you can meet people, but you can you meet the right people? If you’re working full-time and can’t travel much as a result, it’s difficult… business school brings together like-minded people all in the same place.
Brian, I appreciate your honest, unbiased advice.
General question:
I returned to university well into my 30s where I earned an undergraduate degree with honours in Economics. I have less than 2 yrs. full-time, post-graduate work experience, but have strong aspirations for business school.
At my age, would you recommend attending business school NOW for a career in finance, while I stil reasonably can?
Honestly you will have a tough time getting into IB or PE at this stage, but other options like asset management might work
Understood; my main concern is simply completing an MBA while there is still any window of opportunity left. As you’ve pointed out, ‘age’ appears to be less of an issue with trading and asset management.
Thanks.
Hi M&I,
You site has been extremely helpful. Great advise!
I dont have any experiece. I am from Chile and since I came to US, I’ve been a tennis Pro for 5 years in the Hamptons, NY. I have met many super wealthy successful people in finance. Consequently, I became very interested in breaking in the finance world and some of my clients have encouraged me to do so by going to B-school. Here is my situation: I joined the US Air Force Reserve to pay for school (yes, that’s how much I want it). I am attending Penn State and will graduate in 2 years with a finance degree. However, I will be 30 yrs ols by then and have 2 more years in the AF. How likely is it to get in as an Analyst? Would it best for me to think about trading or wealth management? At this point I’m not think about an MBA yet. How can I break in? Thanks.
Ale.
http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/age-investment-banking/
Hey,
Just wanted to say that your articles are really informative. Quick question- Is this a plausible scenario for using an MBA to break in to IBD?
[Top 50 Public Undergrad]->[2Yrs Big4 Audit to Senior Associate]->[2Yrs Big4 TS M&A/Valuation]->[Top 10 MBA]->[BB IB Associate]?
FYI this includes CPA, 750+ GMAT, 2Yrs Overseas W/E, CFA L3 Candidate. Thanks for your help.
Yes
Thanks for your reply. I’m assuming at the post-MBA associate level you would most likely be stuck in IBD based on other readings on this site.
The aspect that I most enjoy about TS is getting to analyze the LBO/Merger models and learning about the theory behind the business decisions. I’m under the impression that this most closely correlates with PE and I’ve worked on a couple KKR targets which was very interesting. With the same career path above at the 1st year Big4 TS level and the same stats, is there a plausible path to mid-to-upper level PE?
Thanks again for your help.
2290 SAT instead of GMAT (if pre-mba path), if that matters.
Would have to start at smaller PE firm and move to bigger ones over time
Hi, I find your site quite inspiring and it has brought me a lot of insight into the IB/PE world that I always questioned before. This is an out there question, but I’m wondering what your opinion is on revealing in your CV or in interviews that you became a Pickup-Artist, as a way to tell your story and present yourself as someone different and with something unique to bring to the table. The Pickup community has gotten a bad rap in the media, yet spinning your story of how you went from being a 25 year old nervous virgin who never kissed a girl, to someone who had done the hard yards, approached thousands of women and become confident and sociable and improved his social and romantic life as a result could be a compelling display of character and hard work. So how would it go revealing this in an interview… or revealing this when trying to get into a top business school? Would it be regarded as laughable and sleazy and a story to pass around the HR pool, or admirable and unique? Appreciate your thoughts.
I personally would not say that because it’s perceived as sleazy. Definitely not something to write about when applying to business schools.
Zoblot:
You may have covered this before but, does it make sense for me, an analyst who is promoted to an associate at a bulge bracket bank to get my MBA in a couple of years. I may want to get in to PE.
Not really. Could get some time off but its an expensive vacation. http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-promotions/
If someone gets admitted into a MBA program, can they do an internship before starting their MBA program? (In other words can a person do pre-MBA internship/post-MBA internship for recent grads)? Or are internships only for currently enrolled and attending students?
Yes that is quite common, and lots of “Pre-MBA Programs” exist.
How about Co-op, Professional Development Programs, etc?
Sure those can be good
Hi,
I am based out of india. I am currently with Deutsche Bank Group at an associate level in the securities pricing group. Currently i currently have 4+ years of experience and i am looking forward to get into an MBA program ( full time) in India. Do you think it would be a wise decision or a feasible thing to do after having 5+ years of experience and the enrolling for an MBA program ( full time)OR should i work my way up and go for the three letters behind my name ?
Hi,
Also to add to the above, i have done my garduation with accountancy being my major subjects. Also, my academics don’t speak much about me as i was an average student in my undergrad years.
Hi, I have a question on using business schools in Australia to get into venture capital. I have 7 years experience doing consulting, strategy, management reporting and financial analysis work for CIOs of major retail companies and banks in Australia (and doing some work with corporate strategy for those companies too). I’m planning to get my Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management while working (FT rank #35, and will be in my early 30s when I finish. Is it realistic to think that I can break into venture capital in Australia after I finish, at an associate level? Thanks
Possibly, but the VC industry in Australia is really really small almost to the point of being non-existent. So that will make it quite difficult.
Thanks for that. What about my chances of looking at a US, Tokyo or London based VC firm, with my background and future qualifications?
Also of note – students in AGSM’s exec MBA program can have a 3 month study exchange at Wharton or LBS, if this helps the ‘target school’ case.
Sure probably easier there anyway but Tokyo is impossible unless you are a native Japanese speaker
Hello M&I,
Your site is just wonderful. So much useful information about the finance industry. I wonder if you can give me an advice as I want to change my career path. Im 32 and I have a master degree in marketing and have 8 years of experiance in marketing/management. Curently I am in real state but I want to go into finance. I wonder if I should get an MBA or take just some securities courses (like CSC) or do something else..
tanks
MBA is probably the best bet for a career change at this point.
Hi,
I am based out of india. I am currently working at an associate level in the securities pricing group. Currently i currently have 4+ years of experience and i am looking forward to get into an MBA program ( full time) in India. Do you think it would be a wise decision or a feasible thing to do after having 5+ years of experience and the enrolling for an MBA program ( full time)OR should i work my way up and go for the three letters behind my name ?
Depends what you’re looking to do… if it’s a career transition, MBA is a better bet, otherwise if you want to stay in the same group keep working
Hi, I’m your average Joe/vagabond mentioned elsewhere: state school undergrad, 3.3 GPA in communication, 26 years old. I bounced through a few jobs right out of college and decided to travel the world for the last 2 years. My experience has sparked strong interest in social enterprise. I’m considering an attempt at a second undergrad in business management at a target school in order to move through more traditional recruiting channels into consulting. Does this sound like a good decision or a waste of time and money?
waste of time. Why second undergrad? Why don’t you do a masters or directly look for a job now instead?
Hi
Brief Profile
Engineering from a known colelge in India + 3 yrs work ex Technical + MBA from a top Indian Business School (Finance) + Post MBA Workex in IT (2 years in Business Dev & Strategy)
What are my broad options to enter Finance?
Thanks a lot
Yeah you should be able to get into middle office roles. I think you’ll have to network quite a bit to get into front office roles
First, I want to say I really enjoy your site – it is a wealth of knowledge.
I graduated in 2010 from a top 10 Civil Engineering program with a not-so-great GPA of 2.8, and have been working in construction management for 1.5 years. I’m really interested in moving to IB and eventually sell side (hedge funds), but don’t think i have much of a shot given my background without re-branding via MBA. My main issue is that I do not have enough experience right not for a top tier MBA program, but really want to switch to finance – What jobs would someone like me be best served in looking into for the next 2-3 years? Am I stuck working in CM/engineering until I have enough experience for a MBA and trying that route?
I’d suggest you to do some research on what areas of finance you are interested in most. Think about what you’re good at, and which areas of finance you can add value to. Once you sorted the above out, you can then network w people in that area and go from there. While your GPA is not ideal, I wouldn’t it deter you from applying to finance
Thanks for the response Nicole. I’m really interested in the buy side, and would love to move to a hedge fund, but that is typically the end game for many – I don’t think I can just start there. Where do I start?
Start working for a small, unknown hedge fund first. Learn to trade.
Regional up & coming I-Bank 2 years Analyst position in a structured product group
gmat 740
top 50 undergraduate program, 3.8
Does the regional bank/structured products group screw me for a top 10 MBA?
Not in and of itself. Your chances depend strongly on what you’ve done outside of work and how well you spin your story – you’re at a slight disadvantage vs. someone at a brand-name bank, but you can still get into top 10 programs.
Thanks for this site. I am an Indian engineer wanting to switch to Finance (in US). Have got admitted to Simon Rochester MBA and WashU Olin MBA. Which one to choose? Am preparing for CFA1. Or should I wait and try for a higher ranked MBA? for example Cornell Johnson ? I may be able to convert that next year , but I am already 29 , will be 30 when I join MBA, so dont want to wait any more. Plz advise. BTW i have 7 yrs exp in IT.
Neither of the schools above are targets, and honestly I don’t know much about the schools above to help you make a sound decision. I don’t think the above MBA programs can increase your chances of breaking into IB significantly though they might be able to get you into other financial institutions. If you can’t wait anymore, just choose one.
Hi,
I want to ask you if I would have a good chance of getting into top 10 MBA programs. I went to Michigan State for my undergraduate (double degrees), but graduated with not so good GPA. I started my career at an IT company for 5 years then one year at a start-up company as manager. Currently I am running my own business in HR sector and it’s my 5th year. The company has been performing very well. Aside from my career, I have lived in abroad for about 15 years in three different countries.
Can’t really say – we only teach people how to break into IB.
thanks for the reply. Is anyone among these a target or at least a semi-target for MBA?
Indiana Kelley, Georgetown Mcdonough , Rice Jones, SMU Cox, Babcock Wake Forest, Vanderbilt Owen.
i mean for IB.
Semi-target MBA I believe – Indiana, Georgetown, Rice, Vanderbilt
Thanks a lot Nicole , you have been very helpful.
BTW, the name Nicole reminds me of the Sweet girl in the Pink Panther movies , :).
I know there’s a section on accountants trying to make the jump into IB, but on the topic of rebranding I was wondering if you could comment on the possibility of Big4 Tax (Financial Services) –> MBA (Harvard/Wharton) –> Bulge bracket IB –> Top 10 PE
Other info:
Undergrad –> state school; summa cum laude; high GPA
State Law School (was basically free) –> high GPA; SEC internship
Passed CPA
Peripheral questions:
Assuming the prior situation is at all feasible, would recommend rotations in auditing or transactional services (or anything else)?
Not sure about rotations but the track you mentioned works. Just make sure you get into a top business school and try to gain an IB internship during your time at business school. Maybe a rotation in transaction services would help
Thanks so much for the advice!
As a corollary to this, I was wondering if you have any comments on the appropriate (approx.) length of time I should spend at the first job. More directly, do you think two years would be sufficient?
I know that elsewhere on the site, authors have advised that 3-5 years is more the norm, however, as a lawyer in the tax group (who will also be picking up a LLM along the way, paid for by the firm of course ;) ), I should be able to get more substantive work quicker.
Any thoughts are much appreciated.
Usually you need 3+ years for a shot at the top business schools.
…you are not a lawyer