You have a shot at getting into investment banking, but you really need to get a pre-MBA internship or something informal first to prove that you can do the work and enjoy it.

Is it worth $150K? If you put in the time and effort needed to make it work, yes. If you’re not 100% certain you want to do IB and will do anything to get it, no.

I am just curious how you spin your way coming from a job that is “middle ground” between finance and non-finance. You write a lot about how people go from Investment Banking and PE to Business School and then back to higher levels in Investment Banking and PE. You also write about how people with no finance background can begin to get credible finance experience and “spin” their story and go to Business school and have a chance at Finance. Please let me know what you think about this position:

I went to a decent school, not Ivy but not unheard of either, top 30 but not ultra prestigious. I worked very hard, did very well, but obviously since no banks recruit there, I ended up with the best job I could. I work at Cornerstone Research in the antitrust division, a top economic consulting firm, I assume you are familiar with these types of firms. I see this place as a middle ground between fiance and non-finance, a segment you don’t talk much about. Cornerstone has a great track record of getting its analysts into business school, after working there 3-4 years many go to the top 10 business schools. I am approaching this stage, and would really like to break into Investment Banking after Business school. My question is, how do you spin this kind of background, and do I have a chance of investment banking. Do I have a shot in hell? You mention having a non-finance background means almost no shot, but what about this consulting “sort-of-finance-but-not-quite” background. Would you recommend dropping 150K on business school do you think this could get me into Investment banking, and how would you go about it.

Thanks so much.