<p>Do most people who work in IB... </p>
<ul>
<li>go to a good undergraduate school, get a Bachelors in a relevant field, move up to a top-tier target graduate school, and while getting their Masters, get an internship and get a job in IB once they graduate?</li>
</ul>
<p>Or start out at a top-tier target school, and while getting a Bachelors in finance, economics, etc., get an internship, and go into IB after they graduate with the Bachelors?</p>
<p>People who choose your first option (MBA -> ibanking) likely did not attend an undergrad target school or didn’t have success breaking into ibanking from a non-target. They choose the MBA -> ibanking route to break in.</p>
<p>Your 2nd option is generally the norm. Major in any business related degree, maintain a high GPA, internships, w/e, and accept an offer for IB usually towards the end of their senior year and start working after graduation. This is notoriously difficult for non-targets but it can be done with a lot of networking and dedication.</p>
<p>Most associates and up tend to be MBA students who didn’t get in in the past. Most analysts tend to switch to other roles like PE.</p>