Duke's MMS placement in IB?

<p>Does anyone have any experience regarding Fuqua's MMS program placement into IB? How would this program benefit a student with a high gpa who comes from a non target school who is seeking a spot in IB?</p>

<p>Hi Pacmanzz,</p>

<p>I am currently in MMS and it has helped numerous MMSers get into I-banks. Off the top of my head, I can think of: BofA, G. Sachs, Credit Suisse, MD Global, Macquarie, Zellman Associates …and probably a few more that I am missing. </p>

<p>As for your question about how MMS will help you - it probably will. First of all, I know many people this year who had high GPA’s from non-target schools that have done very well in <strong>landing</strong> interviews. However, landing an interview is only the first step, albeit very difficult, in a series of increasingly harder steps. The ones from non-target schools that got the job offers worked their asses off with regards to networking (which is the silent killer for introverts that otherwise have great credentials), keeping a high GPA at Fuqua, and obsessively practicing for the I-banking interviews. </p>

<p>The biggest misconception is that getting into Fuqua will allow you to skate into a great job. It definitely opens doors, but they quickly close on the people that don’t work.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot Conmann and I guess most program are about opening doors for individuals but not spoon feeding you jobs and that seems way more than fair for me. One more question when you say those doors will close for people who dont work, did you mean people that don’t study, network, prepare for interviews, ect or did you mean something in regards to work experience? Thanks a lot for your feedback it was very helpful, I will def be looking into applying and hopefully getting into Fuqua in the near future.</p>

<p>Pacmanzz,</p>

<p>Glad to help. </p>

<p>What I meant by “people that don’t work” is exactly what you said, i.e., people who do not study enough to make 3.5-4.0 GPA, who do not network effectively, and who do not adequately prepare for interviews. </p>

<p>Also, applicable work experience within your desired field definitely helps although Fuqua can help MMS students cope with that through summer/winter internships.</p>

<p>People always place so much emphasis on networking, but how exactly does it work? I mean, just from the few info sessions I’ve been to for banks recruiting on campus it seems impossible for one or two representatives from the banks to remember your name out of a crowd of a few hundred people. Is networking more geared towards follow up and trying to get ahold of the bankers after info sessions?</p>

<p>^Exactly, so many people talk about networking. What exactly does this mean? I mean just introducing yourself and talking to one of the recruiters does not seem like it would help much. They meet so many people. Do you mean continually calling up the recruiters? Would that appear to be annoying? Please explain networking,as the term has always seemed relatively vague to me.</p>

<p>It’s using your alumni network and finding people already working at the banks you are applying to that graduated from your school. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, networking is to help you get an internship related to the area you want to have a career in so you can talk about your experience in your junior internships and full time positions. If you have a good relationship with an alumnus at a particular bank you want to work for, they might put in a good word for you. You can also gain a sense of the culture of firms, so that when an interviewer asks “Why XYZ?” you can demonstrate you have an understanding of how the culture is at that firm.</p>

<p>Check out the networking post which is described by an MMS student here, [Fuqua</a> MMS - A Personal Perspective: The Duke Network](<a href=“http://www.lukeatduke.com/2010/09/duke-network.html]Fuqua”>http://www.lukeatduke.com/2010/09/duke-network.html)</p>

<p>Networking is so overrated. I had interviews with every BB, DE Shaw, Citadel and all the top chicago prop shops and I never networked at all. I go to a semi target btw.
If you have the credentials (decent gpa, good work experience), networking doesnt help you much… it’s for people who aren’t qualified or are at the borderline.</p>

<p>Maybe for trading networking is overrated, but for students in investment banking who go to semi-targets it is extremely important. For several interviews the first question was “Tell me a little about yourself,” and the second was “Who have you talked with in our office?” It will help get you the interview if you are a borderline candiate, and your knowledge of the firm and position will show during the interview if you have networked.</p>