Top 5 Corp Finance Position or MBA?

Question

First, my stats:

3.6 GPA, 710 GMAT (taken 4 years ago), Private Top 25 Undergrad, Big Brother Program for over a year, couple leadership positions in UG, currently work at a small public software company after getting a CPA from Big 4 Accounting for 2 years. Will have total of 4 years WE at matriculation.

I was always planning on applying to b-school this fall, but recently applied for a sr. financial analyst position at one of the top 3-5 companies to work for in the U.S., and received an offer. Naturally, this has thrown me for a huge loop in terms of what I should do. This is the last year I can apply to bschool before my GMAT score expires (I know it's not exceptional, but it's good enough to be around the average of the top 15 schools), and with the way schools are trending towards younger applicants, I'd rather not wait another 2 years to apply (as I would likely do should I accept the offer). However, given this company's name, it would be hard to turn down the chance to get that on my resume, and at the same time push out my bschool application another 2 years when hopefully there will be less competition with a better economy. Anyone have thoughts on what I should do??? To take the offer...or not to take and apply this year...

sam77sam7 · Answer

Well, if you think you can get into a top school, and your stats are definitely within range, you may be able to secure an even better job post-grad. I say if you think you can get into school, go for it.

BUt if you can reach your goal without the MBA, take the job.

I am sure there are some people here who can give you better advice than I though.

cougarblue · Answer

I don't know what a top 3-5 company to work for is, but that must mean that you value that company and the work experience very highly. Let me get this straight: you are considering not taking this very highly regarded position, in your own estimation, because, assuming you want to go to b-school down the road, your GMAT score will have expired and you may have to take it again, where you will likely get a similar if not better score, and you've heard rumors how HBS and Stanford have been trending towards younger applicants and you don't want to be too experienced?

Is corporate finance what you want to be doing? I will go out on a limb here and say that the shelf life on your resume of 2 years at this company is probably longer than the shelf life of an MBA. But that's not the decision you're facing. You can still get the MBA 2 years down the road if you still want/need it. It's pretty obvious that I think you'd be crazy to turn down a great position to do an MBA sooner, when the whole point of the MBA is to get a great position.

kidderek · Answer

If the job pays $100K w/room for growth, take the job. If it's a choice between having the company on your resume (and not much else) or a top MBA on your resume, go with the MBA.

altaurus1 · Answer

Well, it depends on whether you really want to be doing corporate finance. After all, if this is your dream job afer MBA, isn't it better to skip MBA altogether?

Why do you want to do the MBA? Is it to help your cause in landing a job in corporate finance? That's why I think it's important to know what you really want. Personally, I see MBA as a means to an end.

jpong21 · Answer

Well Corp Finance is not exactly my 'preferred' field to be in. The whole point of getting an MBA for me would be to get into banking/PE. Then again, I'm thinking that having this company's name on my resume could only help a few years from now when I decide to apply. So I guess the question boils down to this: Should I take a job whose name undoudtebly bolsters my resume for a future application, even if it's not in my "ideal" field, or should I just apply now so I don't spend 2 years in a field I most likely will not want to be in long-term?

agold · Answer

At this point in your career, you shouldn't be bothering with jobs and fields that you're not interested in long-term. Make your moves wisely.

3underscore · Answer

What do you mean when you say analyst? As in research analyst in a certain field, or analyst for a group. I don't want too much detail, just trying to clarify what it might mean to moving into your planned career.

I would say a research analyst role on a good field would make lots of people interested in you for IB, maybe PE also.

I would say a research analyst role on a good field would make lots of people interested in you for IB, maybe PE also.

jpong21 · Answer

Unfortuately no, it is not a research analyst position. More along the lines of a financial analyst.

lanter1 · Answer

You may be on the wrong site to ask advice on this topic even though it's MBA related. I would talk with industry professionals and see if they can give you insight. Would an MBA help you reach the next level versus not having one? These are questions they could answer.

Top 5 Corp Finance Position or MBA?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia