<p>If, for whatever reason, one was unable to break into IB upon completion of their undergrad and therefore worked in consulting, would he or she still have a legitimate chance of landing an IB gig after grad school, assuming he or she receives their MBA from a top business school? Do firms that recruit from top business schools discount certain students because they don't have prior IB experience?</p>
<p>Yes you can break into investment banking after your MBA, but it should be a top 10 MBA program. Realize that every investment bank prefers to promote analysts to associates, you you will still be at a slight disadvantage and competeing against other MBAsfor the spots that analysts choose not to take.</p>
<p>Let me get this straight to avoid confusion; a MBA from a top 10 business school who breaks into IB (with no prior IB experience) would begin their career as an associate? I apologize if I completely misinterpreted your response.</p>
<p>Yes, after your MBA (regardless of where you got it) you start as an associate, unless you do a combined undergrad + MBA program. You need to have some work experience after undergrad and before MBA.</p>
<p>Awesome! Thank you for the clarification!</p>
<p>Post MBA –> Associate in IB</p>
<p>Consulting –> MBA –> IB is a very common path as is the opposite (IB to MBA to Consulting)</p>
<p>Coming from a top 10-15 school, you will have a very good shot at breaking into IB - getting into the top B school, however, will be the difficult part of the equation.</p>
<p>PM me if you have other questions or for tips on getting into B school.</p>
<p>IBanker</p>
<p>^If I prefer to stay in Chicago for my professional career, would it be more beneficial to go to a top b-school in the midwest? Figuring that I will be doing my undergrad in the midwest (hopefully a top 20 school, still waiting on my decision letters), I’d like to do my graduate studies on the east coast. What is your opinion on this?</p>
<p>Not a problem. When you are being recruited, just tell them you prefer to work in their Chicago office.</p>
<p>Would my salary differ if I were to work in Chicago rather than NY or LA?</p>
<p>Not as an analyst, but I am not sure if the pay differs as an associate or higher.</p>