Dear All, If you are planning to apply to 2013 LBS MiF intake as current students we (me and rwkTX) would be happy to answer questions you might have. This is a long and sometimes exhausting journey and it is our pleasure to provide information, share some tips and tricks and simply support you. Some key links: Official site of the Programme: https://www.london.edu/programmes/mastersinfinance.html Stage deadlines for the August 2013 intake: Stage Application complete by Interview decision by Admissions decision by 1 09 October 2012 02 November 2012 21 December 2012 2 13 November 2012 07 December 2012 25 January 2013 3 08 January 2013 01 February 2013 22 March 2013 4 12 March 2013 12 April 2013 17 May 2013 5 30 April 2013 31 May 2013 05 July 2013 CV review service I would strongly recommend to submit your CV for review before the actual application. You will receive a feedback from Peter Johnson if you are encouraged to apply. More details can be found here: https://www.london.edu/programmes/mif/applying.html (go to "Want to know if I'm eligible for MiF" section). Please note that encouragement does not guarantee a place on the Programme, as CV is only a part of application, however it might save you enormous amount of time and efforts in case if you are not ready for the Programme yet. Personal experience: I applied for this service in 2008 and was advised to gain more experience before application, did so, applied again in 2012, was encouraged, passed through the selection process and now I'm here. We will summarize key insights from 2012 intake topic for convenience in later posts. I will also move all relevant posts from 2012 intake topic here.

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2013 LBS MiF Applicants welcome!

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laszlo

Joined: 18 Apr 2012

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Location: Hungary

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37 Verified score

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WE:Asset Management (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

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05 Apr 2013, 14:44

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Shawshank

From what i've heard, the london finance job market this year is absolutely brutal, and LBS students are getting killed. Very few are getting bulge bracket bank jobs, and buyside is virtually nonexistent.

Could you please elaborate on this a little bit? What have you heard exactly? And why is 2013 so much worse than 2012 or 2011?

Shawshank

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05 Apr 2013, 22:41

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lbkova

Shawshank

Could you please elaborate on this a little bit? What have you heard exactly? And why is 2013 so much worse than 2012 or 2011?

Finance in general is getting hit hard, but London is especially in bad shape due to the eurozone crisis. A friend just did an exchange at LBS, and he said the MBA and MIF students were all struggling to get decent finance jobs. Total bloodbath. Problem with LBS is that even for London finance jobs, the students lose out to U.S. M7 programs. And the name brand is very weak once you leave Europe.

rwkTX

Joined: 17 Jan 2012

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Location: United States

Concentration: Finance

Schools: LBS '14 (M)

GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V41 Verified score

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GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V41 Verified score

Posts: 66

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08 Apr 2013, 13:05

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Shawshank

lbkova

Shawshank

Could you please elaborate on this a little bit? What have you heard exactly? And why is 2013 so much worse than 2012 or 2011?

Shawshank,
It is true that many LBS students are nervous and job hunting aggressively. I'm not sure that it's fair to say that it's a 'bloodbath," but certainly many people felt that the job hunt would be easier than it has been. This said, I had heard from career services about a month ago that more students in this year's MiF class had found jobs than the 2012 class at the same point last year. I can say from my own conversations though that banking hiring is definitely low, which is reflective of the industry as a whole.

I have sent some requests for more information to the career services reps and will post some more details once I have them.

Rk

highyield

Joined: 21 Mar 2013

Last visit: 20 Sep 2013

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08 Apr 2013, 14:20

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Shawshank

Well that is true regardless of LBS alumni or otherwise.

A good education alone does not get up the career ladder. It is a combination of factors and luck plays a large part of it.

Shawshank

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08 Apr 2013, 14:50

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highyield

Shawshank

Well that is true regardless of LBS alumni or otherwise.

A good education alone does not get up the career ladder. It is a combination of factors and luck plays a large part of it.

highyield

Joined: 21 Mar 2013

Last visit: 20 Sep 2013

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08 Apr 2013, 14:56

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Shawshank

highyield

Shawshank

Well that is true regardless of LBS alumni or otherwise.

A good education alone does not get up the career ladder. It is a combination of factors and luck plays a large part of it.

Shawshank

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08 Apr 2013, 19:01

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Sure, but it's a matter of degree. From talking to a lot of people, it seems like LBS is doing a lot worse than u.s. schools such as wharton/booth/columbia. And london finance in particular is getting hit harder than NYC.

I would love to see concrete job placement stats from rwk. That would be quite helpful.[/quote]

I agree that latest job stats would be helpful to quantify current placement rates. One bad year does not necessarily mean a bad business school.

London is doing worse than NY because the European economy is stuck in a rut vs. the US economy that has grown. Non-US schools will be at a disadvantage given name recognition etc but there are advantages to being at LBS that is not readily apparent. The initial exposure through classrooms or workshops to other students or to visitors can have longer-term benefits that is not immediately quantified in job placements.

That being said, while LBS does not have the same name recognition that US schools, it still is a recognised business school with a great league table ranking.[/quote]

I think LBS is a great school, but does LBS MIF have any advantage over top u.s. mba programs such as wharton/booth/sloan/columbia in terms of finance recruiting? There was an old businessweek thread where this was discussed; basically there are very few LBS alums (i'm including mba as well) who were in leadership roles at major banks, asset management firms, and hedge funds, while the top u.s. programs have a plethora. Also, even for london/hong kong/singapore finance jobs, where LBS name carries more weight than in the U.S., the top U.S. b-schools easily win out.

I'm not trying to be overly negative but given how expensive the program and the city is, I think it's worth pointing out what the exact value is to the program.

laszlo

Joined: 18 Apr 2012

Last visit: 13 Mar 2014

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Location: Hungary

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37 Verified score

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

WE:Asset Management (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

Posts: 36

Kudos: 7

09 Apr 2013, 05:15

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Shawshank

I agree that latest job stats would be helpful to quantify current placement rates. One bad year does not necessarily mean a bad business school.

London is doing worse than NY because the European economy is stuck in a rut vs. the US economy that has grown. Non-US schools will be at a disadvantage given name recognition etc but there are advantages to being at LBS that is not readily apparent. The initial exposure through classrooms or workshops to other students or to visitors can have longer-term benefits that is not immediately quantified in job placements.

That being said, while LBS does not have the same name recognition that US schools, it still is a recognised business school with a great league table ranking.[/quote]

I think LBS is a great school, but does LBS MIF have any advantage over top u.s. mba programs such as wharton/booth/sloan/columbia in terms of finance recruiting?

Why do we compare a MiF program with an MBA one? Does LBS MBA have any advantage over M7 US MBA? Certainly not, I think... In business (and other) education US universities are the best, they have the most money, attract the best talent, etc. Nobody questions that.

There was an old businessweek thread where this was discussed; basically there are very few LBS alums (i'm including mba as well) who were in leadership roles at major banks, asset management firms, and hedge funds, while the top u.s. programs have a plethora. Also, even for london/hong kong/singapore finance jobs, where LBS name carries more weight than in the U.S., the top U.S. b-schools easily win out.

Again, that's true. However, European business schools (see INSEAD for instance) are more international compared to their US peers, where 50-60% of the students are American. Someone going for this may choose a school outside the US even if it is less top-notch.

I'm not trying to be overly negative but given how expensive the program and the city is, I think it's worth pointing out what the exact value is to the program.[/quote]

MiF is considerably cheaper than an MBA at LBS (GBP 37k vs GBP 61k) and also shorter (10/16 months vs 15/18/21 months). For example HBS full tuition is roughly GBP 69k for 2 years. Yeah, I know GBP 69K is nothing for a HBS MBA that will pay off handsomely in the future, plus you get more financial aid in US school, plus the career opportunities, etc. Still looking at the price tags I can't see why MiF is so much overpriced... Living in NY for 2 years while attending the Stern is so much cheaper? Look at the Cambridge MiF program, it also costs exactly GBP 37k! LBS MiF should be compared to Cambridge or INSEAD MiF in terms of costs/length/career opportunities/etc not to US MBAs even if they will also compete with us for jobs.

rwkTX

Joined: 17 Jan 2012

Last visit: 05 Nov 2017

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Location: United States

Concentration: Finance

Schools: LBS '14 (M)

GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V41 Verified score

Schools: LBS '14 (M)

GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V41 Verified score

Posts: 66

Kudos: 13

30 Apr 2013, 10:33

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scubadiva

Hey guys,

I'm in too! By the way, I'm hoping to qualify for the MiF Impact/Alumni scholarship. Can someone can advise me on what do they look for in a student ambassador? This was the essay question -

[i]Why should the MiF Scholarships Committee consider you for the MiF Alumni/Impact Scholarship? Please explain your reasons including details of how you will serve as a strong ambassador for the Masters in Finance Programme and London Business School. (maximum 500 words).

Hi Scubadiva.,

They are primarily looking for people who will give back to the school and represent the school and the student body to alumni, prospective students, donors, etc. It would be valuable to highlight your communication skills, your enthusiasm, and similar attributes.

I helped some students with their scholarship applications last year and received one of the scholarships myself. If you have more specific questions or want additional input, feel free to pm me.

rk

JezzC

Joined: 24 Mar 2013

Last visit: 25 Jun 2014

Posts: 14

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Concentration: Finance, Economics

Schools: LBS '14 (M)

GMAT 1: 730 Q48 V44 Verified score

GPA: 4

Schools: LBS '14 (M)

GMAT 1: 730 Q48 V44 Verified score

Posts: 14

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30 Apr 2013, 12:50

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I've also been admitted, and look forward to meeting everyone in August!

Happy to help any R5 applicants wherever possible.

Jezz

Lakeman

Joined: 06 May 2013

Last visit: 30 May 2013

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06 May 2013, 14:07

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Congratulations to the ones that have been admitted!!

I am a bit dissapointed because I have been waitlisted... ( I am a R4 applicant)

What are the chances of being finally accepted?

How can I make my profile competitive enough?

henryrearden

Joined: 11 May 2013

Last visit: 23 Jul 2013

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11 May 2013, 04:54

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I submitted my application for R5 on April 30th.

The reason for applying so late is that I'm currently CFO of a tech startup based in London but competitive dynamics in my segment of the industry (and thus fundraising) have changed materially recently so I decided to apply for my graduate degree earlier than originally planned. I'm planning on going back to private equity afterwards.

Does anyone have any guidance on turnaround time from the Admission Committee? I'm a Canadian citizen and since the website indicates that the final decision for R5s will be communicated by July 5th (assuming I have the interview) I'm worried that the response will come in too late and that it will force me to make decisions earlier for economic and career reasons (e.g. returning to Canada).

FYI - I'm 29 with previous experience in PE and IB.

Any guidance will be appreciated.

Thanks,

HR

laszlo

Joined: 18 Apr 2012

Last visit: 13 Mar 2014

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Location: Hungary

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37 Verified score

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

WE:Asset Management (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

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11 May 2013, 05:10

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Lakeman

I think you have already made your profile competitive enough since 1, you have been invited to an interview 2, you have not been rejected after the interview. Most people don't even make it to the interview in the first place... I would say that you certainly have a good chance to get admitted, maybe the AdCom want to wait for the 5th (final) round and make a decision when they see all the applicants.

laszlo

Joined: 18 Apr 2012

Last visit: 13 Mar 2014

Posts: 36

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Location: Hungary

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37 Verified score

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

WE:Asset Management (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

Posts: 36

Kudos: 7

11 May 2013, 05:19

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henryrearden

Hello HR,

If you have a good profile you will receive an interview invite 2-3 weeks after submitting your application. Arranging the interview takes around 1 week, then your interviewer will have to write his/her report on you. So in another 2-3 weeks' time after the interview you can get a final answer, that's less than 2 months altogether. In your case it can be somewhere around the middle of June. Hope this helps!

henryrearden

Joined: 11 May 2013

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11 May 2013, 05:30

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It does, thank you very much! HR

lbkova

henryrearden

nottingham

Joined: 24 Jan 2013

Last visit: 16 Aug 2013

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Concentration: Finance, Strategy

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13 May 2013, 20:43

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Hi HR,

I'm in the same stage with you, submitting my application in R5 and now waiting for my interview invitation:)

henryrearden

Joined: 11 May 2013

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14 May 2013, 03:16

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nottingham

Hi HR,

I'm in the same stage with you, submitting my application in R5 and now waiting for my interview invitation:)

Hi Nottingham,

Good to meet another R5 candidate. I started reading posts from the 2012 intake and it looks like we might not get our feedback as early as we hope. I think the Admission Committee is waiting for commitment fees from candidates admitted in R4 before deciding on how many candidates it can take in R5. Actually R4s can still be admitted until this Friday and then would have up to 30 days to pay for the commitment fee.

Does anyone around here know a little bit about the dynamics for R5 admissions? I find it a bit strange that they would accept post-R5 applications when most R5s have not heard anything and the Admissions decision deadline for R4s has not passed yet. Good thing we applied for R5 because the way I see it post-R5s would get their final decision (post-interview) only 1 month before class begins.

Happy to read any thoughts on this.

Best,

HR

henryrearden

Joined: 11 May 2013

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15 May 2013, 10:57

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To all R5 applicants: does anyone have received feedback from the Admission Committee yet?

Please share when you do. I will do the same.

Thanks,

HR

nottingham

Joined: 24 Jan 2013

Last visit: 16 Aug 2013

Posts: 10

Concentration: Finance, Strategy

GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V35 Verified score

GPA: 3.2

WE:Accounting (Accounting)

GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V35 Verified score

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15 May 2013, 19:42

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henryrearden

To all R5 applicants: does anyone have received feedback from the Admission Committee yet?

Please share when you do. I will do the same.

Thanks,

HR

Sure, HR, I'll report here once I get it!

Does anyone here know about the internship for the MiF 2013 who opted for the 16 month programme this year? How many percentage go to IB? Does MiF have any advantage over MBA when shooting for IB or other finance jobs?

laszlo

Joined: 18 Apr 2012

Last visit: 13 Mar 2014

Posts: 36

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Location: Hungary

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37 Verified score

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

WE:Asset Management (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

Schools: LBS MIF '15 (M)

GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38 Verified score

Posts: 36

Kudos: 7

20 May 2013, 03:42

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nottingham

henryrearden

To all R5 applicants: does anyone have received feedback from the Admission Committee yet?

Please share when you do. I will do the same.

Thanks,

HR

I would guess roughly 50% of the class will choose the 16-month programme, because 25% or so are company sponsored, while the rest may not benefit too much from an internship because they are older students with more established career paths. I think it's an excellent option for Asian students who can do an exchange close(r) to their home countries and find a job easier during the last 4 months of the course. I don't know how many percentage went to IB this year but I don't think that either MiFs or MBAs have specific advantage over each other. It really depends on the specific profile I think. There are MBA students with strong financial credentials and background. Anyway, all finance related internship opportunities are open for both MiFs and MBAs for sure.