<p>The traditional path for IB associates is to start out as an analyst, get an MBA, and come back as an associate.</p>
<p>How long do people normally stay as analysts before they get their MBA?</p>
<p>I ask this because MBA programs put such heavy emphasis on work experience so I wanted to know how much work experience one tends to get as an analyst.</p>
<p>I think I remember hearing that you are an analyst for either two or three years before you become an associate. Correct me if I am wrong and tell me how IB analysts stack up versus other MBA program applicants.</p>
<p>Isn't like two years the norm before people get their MBA? I'm not sure if it's the same case for IB, but I think two years as an analyst would suffice.</p>
<p>Actually, most associates were previously not analysts.</p>
<p>Quick things:
1. Typical analyst tenure is 2 years, a few are selected to stay a third year and make the jump to associate sometimes.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Plenty of analysts apply to B-school but the quality of work, the gmat score and length of work experience factor into admissions to a top program. (i.e. a person who worked at Wachovia for 2 years, all else equal, doesn't have a high chance of getting to HBS or Stanford relative to other applicants from better banks).</p></li>
<li><p>The analyst years are horrible years, so most people are not seeking to come back - they pursue other paths such as private equity (buyout shops, growth equity), startups, etc. </p></li>
<li><p>View B-school is the last chance of formal recruiting and the final booster of your pedigree. Planning on doing I-banking analyst for 2 yrs, then B-school, then back to I-banking is generally not the right way to plan. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>That being said, if you love the money, and are willing to sacrifice all else (and if you can actually make it), do what makes you happy.</p>
<p>I worked at an I-bank in nyc the summer before going to grad school - I wasted 3 months, but it allowed me to avoid accepting any offers. Make sure you actually understand what the job involves, as there is no investing or banking, in the traditional sense. I have a couple close friends who are analysts (and hating life).</p>
<p>
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Isn't like two years the norm before people get their MBA?
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</p>
<p>5 years is average. i would recommend at least 3 years. I was looking at some Stanford MBA resumes the other day and many of them had 2 years of experience as an analyst but then had around 2 yrs experience in a non Ibanking role prior to going back for their MBA.</p>
<p>In regards to banking, the typical path to B-school is:</p>
<p>Undergrad-->2 yr I-banking analyst-->2-3 years non-banking (i.e. private equity, or something else)-->B-school</p>
<p>Note that the top B-schools generally require strong work experience, so the average age of a candidate is 28. As you get lower in the rankings, there is more leniency regarding the work experience requirement. </p>
<p>And getting into banking from a non-top 20 B-school is relatively difficult.</p>