MSF 2018-Profile Evaluation and schools suggestion

Question

I am from Brazil and want to apply for MS in Finance for fall 2018. 
I have 1.5 years of work in a hedge fund at the biggest asset management in BR
Also have 6 months of intership at an investment bank at USA
GPA: 3.0/4.0
GMAT: planning to take

how good are my chances of getting into a good college for MSF? Which colleges should I apply to?

Thanks in advanced.

MSFHQ · Answer

You should check out UVA's MS in Global Finance. They specifically look for South American students.

GPA is so so. Work experience is nice. The fact that you are Brazilian is a benefit since most international students come from China or India. Assuming your GMAT is say 680 and above, I think you'd be competitive with most US programs that you'd want to look at. A higher GMAT would increase your odds and probably get you some scholarship money.

Any programs in particular? What kind of GMAT do you expect?

msfaspirant2018 · Answer

Hi,
I am from India and I would like to pursue MSF course in USA for the fall 2018 intake.
Below is my profile
Btech - BIT Mesra; CGPA-7.57/10
MBA - IIM Indore; CGPA-2.75/4.33
GMAT: 710
TOEFL: 115
WE: 31 months in commercial finance (pricing)
Goals: Financial analyst in the sell side/equity research
Reason for pursuing MSF: I was able to explore costing and risk related aspects of business during my work ex. Developed a keen interest in finance and would like to gain further knowledge in the field as well as an opportunity for career change.

Here are the schools I am considering
1. MIT Sloan
2. WUSTL-Olin
3. Vanderbildt - Rejected and do not know if MBA is the reason.
4. Princeton
5. UIUC
6. USC
7. Ohio state
8. NYU Simon business school
9. Uni of Maryland-Robert H Smith school
10. Purdue - Krannert school
11. University of Utah - David Eccles school

For all of the above, I am considering R1.

Could you please tell if 
1. MBA will deter my chances or what do you think would be my chances for the above schools. I read a few posts where it says MBA will hurt my applicaiton. Would like to know your thoughts w.r.t my profile
2. applying for R1 for all of the above recommended?
3. you have any other recommendations regarding schools

Your suggestions would be very much appreciated

btc1000 · Answer

.

MSFHQ · Answer

MIT - No
Vandy - No (MBA and experience)
Princeton - No
WUSTL - most likely a no
USC - most likely a no

The rest, you have a good shot at. In general, an MBA is going to hurt your application since 1) you already have a graduate degree and 2) you have way more experience than the normal class. That being said, the other programs will probably look the other way.

As for your career goals, they are going to be very tough from these programs. Find something that is STEM so you will have more time to land a job. I'd probably lean towards UIUC since it is such a good school and well known back in India.

MSFHQ · Answer

Vandy is going to be tough with those stats. GPA is fine, but GMAT is too low. You need to boost that verbal, something that should be relatively easy for a native English speaker.

If your GMAT is closer to 700 - Vandy is in reason. If you keep it close to where you are, think OSU, Case, Cincinnati, etc.

bharadwajpraneeth@gmail.com · Answer

hello sir,
 this is my profile:
GMAT: 640 (Q50,V26)-planning to take again(i have taken the test today, so official scores are not available right now)
GRE: 316 (Q164, V152, AWA 3.0/6.0)
IELTS:7.5 (composite score)
UG GPA: 3.3/4.0
Work experience- 15 months as of today in an IT company(not at all happy with my learning curve here)
extra-curricular: President of Science and Innovation Forum in college

Internship: worked as a research intern with Nozomi Embedded Labs (related to my core engineering branch-Electronics) 
Duration of internship: 5 months

I am planning to do MS finance and then MBA(i would like to join CFA affiliated MS finance programs.I want to improve my GPA and profile for MBA application.)
1.Which one should I prefer 1 yr or 2 yrs MS finance program?
2.Which universities should I aim for?
3. Since I am planning to do an MBA after MS (though not immediately, definitely after one year of my MS)will B-schools consider the work experience I have before MS while evaluating my application and to what extent will it weigh?
4. Can I expect any scholarship opportunities?
5.What should be my target GMAT score in the next attempt in order to boost my applications?

Please guide me.

MSFHQ · Answer

GMAT is obviously too low (with a horrible split), which is compounded with your lower GPA. Aim for 680 and above on the GMAT.

As for schools, focus on STEM and programs that maybe are a little longer. This will give you time to network, get your footing in the US. MBA adcoms will look at your total, professional experience, including what you did post UG. You want to make sure you do very well in the MSF program as that GPA is what they will really be looking at.

Right now, I see you being competitive for Rochester, Iowa, JHU, UIUC, Ohio State, and a number of other programs. Focus on ones that have STEM and are the most affordable since you plan on doing an MBA soon enough after.

premprabhs111 · Answer

Sir could you please evaluate my profile. 
I am an indian
Software engineering student. My cgpa is 8/10. My gmat is 720 with a 49/40 split. I have done courses in finance on coursera. Two internships none targeting finance. My final year project in engineering is a stock market prediction app and involves algorithms and finance. I have a 10/10 score in applied math in 3 semesters out of 4. Which colleges would you recommend me? what can i do to improve my profile?

MSFHQ · Answer

I need more info to really help. GPA seems to be good (converts to first class I believe?). GMAT is good. The coursera classes really don't help except to provide some material for your essays to convey passion about finance. Quant classes are a positive.

What type of school did you attend in India? IIM? Bits? Looking at schools in Europe or the USA? Career goals?

premprabhs111 · Answer

i didn't attend iits or any bits college.My college is the best in mumbai university. I am looking for mostly usa because i am applying for mims at hec essec and escp. i got rejected by hec because it was hard for asians this year and only people above 750 in gmat got in. Hopefully will make it through escp and essec(shortlisted for interview) and in my mim i could specialize in finance. For usa i heard about mit but maybe it is too hard to get in . Post masters in finance in the usa i would like to work in investment banking

MSFHQ · Answer

1) IB is very hard to get from any US MSF. Even harder for internationals.
2) Your GMAT is low and your verbal split (as well as AWA) are too low.
3) US programs you could possibly be competitive for have poor recruiting.

IMO, work on your English, boost your GMAT, focus on STEM programs so you have more time in the US and try and land any job in finance that pays decently and worry about IB latter.

You have almost zero shot at MIT with the profile you currently have. Focus on Rochester, Johns Hopkins, Cincinnati, Santa Clara, stuff like that. Below is a list of STEM programs. Pick from them.

Vanderbilt University MSF
Syracuse University MSF
MIT MSF
Tulane University MSF
University of Rochester MSF
University of Oregon MSF
Loyola Chicago MSF
University of California at Davis MSF
University of Cincinnati MSF and MS Applied Economics
Babson College MSF
Washington University - St. Louis MSF Quant Track
University at Buffalo MSF
University of Conneticut MSF Risk Management
Northern Illinois University MSF Risk Management
Clark University MSF
Princeton University MFIN
Case Western University MSF - Risk Management Track
University of California Santa Cruz MS Applied Economics and Finance
Portland State University MSF
Bentley University MSF - Quant Track
Columbia University MS Financial Economics
Rochester Institute of Technology MSF
Iowa State University MSF
Lehigh University MS in Analytical Finance
Pacific Lutheran University MSF
University of Utah MSF
University of Minnesota MSF
Brandeis University MA International Economics and Finance
Rutgers University MS Financial Analysis
Temple University MS Financial Analysis and Risk
Fordham University MS Global Finance
University of Iowa MSF

Shalaka94 · Answer

Hi, i am from india and looking for STEM MSF in US. Could you please evaluate my profile.
I Completed B.Tech in electronics engineering from an autonomous college.
GPA - 9.19/10
(Passed Maths1 ,maths2 ,math3 in engineering with good scores)
GRE - 316 (Q- 165 , V - 151)
TOEFL - 100
Working as a java developer from july 2016 in indian branch of US based asset management/Insurance company which is one of fortune 500 companies.But no finance experience as such.
Planning to do some courses on Coursera etc.
Aiming for fall 2018.
1.which universities should i look for.
2.Do i stand chances of any scholarships?
3.should i also look for MFE courses? If yes, which universities?
4.Are there sufficient job opportunities after MSF?

Posted from my mobile device

Shalaka94 · Answer

Posted from my mobile device

Sir, can you please evaluate? I really need some help..

Posted from my mobile device

Ruacwn · Answer

Posted from my mobile device

BOUni · Answer

Yep, apply to an MFE / Analytics Program as your GRE is lopsided. Sorry don’t know enough about individual MFEs to recommend one. I know more about MSFs

Tbake4 · Answer

I’m graduating this semester. It took me 3 years plus a summer. I’m getting a BS in business management and am looking to go to either Indiana or Washington University in St. Louis for a MS in Finance.

640 GMAT with around 40 hours of studying and never even studied for the verbal portion. Both Quant and Verbal were 61st percentile. 
4.0 GPA at an average university.
Member of three national honors societies/fraternities. 
Played college basketball (not D1). 
Five years work experience but not in the business world.

Do you think I could get accepted to either, both, or neither of those universities? And what others should I apply to?

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