Advice would be appreciated!

I want to get into investment banking after my MBA. Here are my details:

Work experience:
Current: account manager at large aerospace firm (2.5 years)
Previous: engineer, systems architecture in a telecom firm (1.5 years), before that DevOps engineer at same telecom firm for 1.5 years)

GMAT: 710

Undergraduate: Engineering, public school

Male / age 29

My work experience is admittedly a bit choppy with a gap of almost 6 months between the telecom job and my current position. As you can probably see, I've been trying to transition away from engineering / technical roles into more business-oriented positions. I've also been taking online classes in finance in my spare time.

My goal is to work in investment banking. I'm concerned that without any background in financial services or something related this, coupled with the work experience gap, might be a problem.

The other issue is that due to family reasons I must stay in the Washington DC area for the next two years.

My options as I see them:

- apply to GWU or Georgetown for fall 2019. Not sure about their reputations when it comes to IB firms / jobs
- wait until fall 2020 and apply to a stronger school - Wharton, Columbia, etc. I'll be older which may hurt or may help I don't know. I'd also be able to get my GMAT score higher.

Any ideas? I'm curious about how the DC schools do in terms of IB placements.

We have someone with your profile in my study group at LBS who made that transition. Given that Maryland's MBA is available in Shady Grove, and can have good financial aid, I would add that into the mix. I worry that your age will hold you back if you wait a few.more years.

I would think Georgetown would be a bit better than George Washington for this career goal, given the school's strength in finance placements.

Agreed that if you wait you'll be at a disadvantage. Better strike now, maybe even begin networking with the IB firms you're interested in right when you hit campus. Get your name on their radar early.