I'm currently at a top chicago prop shop (drw, jump, sig, wolverine, optiver, sig). Is it possible to go from that to a top MBA program? (wharton/booth/mit/columbia). I know MBA admissions officers don't like traders for multiple reasons, and i know of very few traders who managed to make such a move. I'm hoping to use the MBA to pivot away from trading and towards investment management.
Sure, you can. Most traders don't get accepted because they fail to demonstrate leadership skills. If you're making it clear you want to use the MBA to get a banking job, most schools will toss out your application simply because of the sheer number of applicants who apply. You have to understand that MBA programs really look to have a diverse group of minds in order to foster social entrepreneurship amongst others things. They'll only accept a small amount of traders relative to the number of applications; However, applicants with more unique experiences such as running their own business get accepted in larger %'s but have less applicants. Many look for well-rounded candidates with social leadership skills. You can always go for an MS in Comp Sci or MS in Financial Engineering or something similar. You would need to meet the pre-req requirements but if you already have a BS you should be okay.
Evo, thanks for your input. Do you personally know prop traders from top firms who managed to get in? I know only 1, and I know a ton of traders. Due to the very nature of the job, it's very tough to demonstrate teamwork and leadership, at least to the extent that say consultants are able to demonstrate them. It certainly will be challenging. I seriously looked at finance/financial engineering programs, but they are too narrow in focus, and I don't want to be a quant. My "ideal" job is research or product management at a large investment management firm such as wellington, fidelity, t rowe price, pimco, atc.
The two most important factors on whether you get into a Wharton type program is your GMAT score and your grades. If you are doing something incredible right now, professionally speaking, that could hold some weight. I am sure there are always exceptions or someone has a story about someone. But if you want to be in solid contention for admission and not waiting on the bubble so to speak, you have to get in the low/mid 700's on the GMAT.
There were a number of traders in my MBA class (UChicago), but since I knew nothing of trading back then, I don't know what percentage, if any, were from prop shops. You do need to demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills, so you'll need to supplement with extracurricular activities. Take a leadership role in an organization, or be a captain of a sports team in a league, or whatever activity you choose, and talk about those in your essays and in your resume.
Maybe consider a quant program like Carnegie Mellon or MIT? I myself graduated from a top 25 type MBA program but the curriculum was weak on trading/investment finance, now its more of a footnote on my resume.
If you can't get into a top school consider doing CFA to show you have a financial qualification. Not the same as having done a Wharton etc MBA, but next best maybe - although specialisation like MSc as others have stated might be better if you know you want to go into a specilaised field e.g. algorithm development