MSF Class of 2019

Question

I've done a similar theme on another finance forum, but I thought it might be helpful here as GMATclub tends to be serious and without the silly behavior. I am happy to answer any questions people have regarding US MSF programs, as well as European programs. I will defer when something is asked that I don't know about as I consider bad advice to be worse than no advice.

Me:

- 2010 MSF graduate
- 10 years financial industry experience
- Advised and helped students gain admission to nearly every US and a handful of European MSF programs
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) – September 2013 Edition – The Challenging Landscape of Graduate Business Education: New Opportunities for Recent Graduates by Katie Stephens (Referenced and Mentioned)

Read more  https://msfhq.com/about/

MSFHQ · Answer

Definitely highly competitive with Rochester, UC San Diego, IIT, OSU and Maryland. The rest will be tough with that GMAT split. A 690 is good, but not amazing. Especially for an international. Vanderbilt, UT Austin, USC, Boston College, all have lower percentages of international students, so they are much more selective.

Apply, but expect to get a lot of rejections from these schools.

JasC · Answer

Hi MSFHQ,

I am a domestic student applied for MSF program for 2018~2019. I recently got offers from OSU (Fisher) and UC San Diego. I am wondering how's the quality of these two programs. Also, I am wondering which program would give me a bigger opportunity to land a Corporate Finance job in Silicon Valley.

Thank you!

MSFHQ · Answer

So OSU's MSF is definitely the better program. It has been around longer, has a better history of placements and over time, these programs develop, adapt and improve. The thing is UCSD has a geographic advantage. Logistically, going to OSU will mean you will need to network with west coast firms, adjust to the time zone different and do most of your networking on the phone. If you go to Ohio State, I would budget in a couple thousand in travel costs as you will need to set up meetings and fly out there yourself.

I would talk to the OSU career office and see what west coast firms come on campus. Might want to compare that with San Diego. You could also look at Oregon as they will have a great west coast brand name and probably better recruiting where you are looking to work.

YuzhouHuang · Answer

Hey MSFHQ,
I'm an international student from Canada. I've had a year worth of work experience at an asset management firm as a junior financial analyst in Shanghai. My GPA(Econ+History):3.137 from UC Davis; Gmat 710: (50Q37Q). 
I recently finished my interview with Rochester and will be interviewing for Vanderbilt in a few hours. Both schools have waived my application fee. I wonder what my chances are of getting into either program with the interview?

MSFHQ · Answer

GMAT is ok. GPA is lower, but from a US school. I think you'd get into Rochester, low prob/maybe at Vanderbilt. Vandy is very limited in the number of internationals they allow into the program. Rochester is mainly international students. Being Canadian and going to a US school makes you a little different. Work experience is nice.

Hope this helps.

SCF11 · Answer

Hi MSFHQ,

Sorry I'm a bit late to the game here. Hoping to get your opinion as I'm a slightly older candidate -- 25 now and would be 26 by matriculation. Hard to tell if I'm a solid candidate or if my age/work experience is going to be a major problem.

Background/stats:
Small non-target liberal arts school in the NE; DIII Varsity Athlete
GPA: 3.4 (Major: Econ, Minor: Math) with strong upward trend
GMAT: 730-750 (Q 48/49 V 42) based off practice tests
WE: Just under two years of BO PE fund accounting for a large custodian bank; internship with a very small PE firm while in college
Goals: Investment Research or Corporate Finance

Really hoping for Vandy, but also planning to apply to Nova. I don't think I'm a great candidate at a top 15 MBA at this point and I'm hoping a top MSF would give me a solid rebrand and chance at some FO recruiting. Appreciate any insight or thoughts you may have

MSFHQ · Answer

GPA is good. Athlete is a plus. GMAT would be great if you score in that range. Work experience is pure gravy. Both would accept you.

Now here is the rub. Assuming you get a GMAT in that range, I would advise you keep working. Focus on charity work or something unique for the next two years and you will be competitive for T7-15MBA programs. Cornell, UNC, Duke, NYU, CMU, stuff like that. Maybe higher, depends on the essays and what you do.

sarajasamant · Answer

Hi  MSFHQ , I am also applying to STEM Designated MS Finance program in US and wanted some help.

Profile:
Nationality : Indian female
Educational background : Chartered Accountant from India, Bachelors in Commerce (3 year course) with a GPA of 6.52/7, Currently also pursuing a Diploma in Banking and Finance (to compensate for the 16th year of education required by a few Universities in the US)
Work experience :
Internship : As a part of the Chartered Accountancy course, I had done an internship with Deloitte in their Statutory Audit department (September 2012 to September 2013). Post which I have interned with a mid-size taxation firm (Sept 2013 to Oct 2015). 
I have worked with Ernst & Young in their International tax team (Nov 2015 to December 2016) and now I am currently working with Tata Trusts, one of India's oldest and most reputed philanthropic organisation as a Consultant since April 2017. 
GMAT Score: 660 (V 33, Q 47)
TOEFL : 114

Extra-curricular activities: 
Have a Master Diploma in an Indian classical dance
Have been a part of Young Leaders for Active citizenship and have assisted the Member of Parliament with the policy drafting.
Have won a lot of awards in dance while in college and have organised the inter-college fests.

I have got 2 admits so far :-
1. Uni of Rochester, Simon School of Business for MSF with a 30% merit scholarship.
2. SUNY Buffalo (MSF Quantitative track)

I wanted to know how competitive my profile is for the following colleges:
UT Austin McCombs (MSF) 
UIUC (MSF)
WUSTL Olin (MSQF)

Also, which program from all of the above would you suggest from an International student's perspective?

Please help!

soogguu07 · Answer

Hi Guys , I would like to know if anyone knows that applying in the last round of top tier business schools like HEC, IE Business school, Imperial College Of london, LSE, Trinity College Dublin or SDA Bocconi for Msc In Finance worth giving a try?

I have a score of 710 in Gmat with Ielts 7.5 Band. I am also a CFA Level 3 Candidate with 4 internships spanning for more than a Year. 
Should I Apply or wait for the next Intake?

Please provide the feedback it will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

adisarhk · Answer

Hi MSFHQ,

I am originally from India, went to HKUST in HK for my bachelors and did computer science with a business minor. 
Graduated in 2016 with a GPA of 3.23/4 after which I have been working in the technology division of one of the Tier I global investment banks here in HK.

I have passed CFA level 1 (dec 2015) and am appearing for CFA level II in June 2018.
GRE - 317 (Q-162,V-155, AWA-5)

As for my co-curricular activities,
- Founding member of the first asian chapter of a greek business fraternity here in HK
- Actively involved with the CSR committee at my workplace
- Peer Mentor during my time at university

I am looking at schools for 2019 entry and some of my shortlisted schools are:

1. Bocconi
2. EDHEC
3. ESSEC
4. HEC
5. ESADE
6. SSE
7. St. Gallen

Mainly aiming for European schools as it seems to be cheaper but if you think any US schools may be a good fit, I would consider that. I do have programming background but I am not really leaning towards a lot of quant.

Your reply will be very much appreciated.

jainharsh · Answer

Hi All,

I have recently been admitted to Simon Business School and Marshall School of Business for the MSF program (Fall 2018). Can someone please help me in deciding which school is better? Which school provides better prospects for jobs in Investment Banking. I also have received a 30% merit based scholarship at Simon.

Thanks,
Harsh Jain

MSFHQ · Answer

Rochester with a scholarship is pretty good. I think you stand a good chance at UIUC and a lesser shot at the other two. Of the other two, I would give you the lowest shot with UT Austin. The WUSTL quant track would probably be a better fit.

Hope this helps.

Pruthviraj · Answer

Hey Anthony,
I got admits from University of Rochester (15000$ scholarship), Uni of Maryland (Graduate assitantship), and Brandeis School of business ($5000 scholarship). Which one according to you is the best choice, considering the financial aspect as well as without it. I am personally inclined towards Brandeis even though the scholarship is less than the other two.

MSFHQ · Answer

I'd honestly go with either Rochester or Maryland.

Rochester has the better brand internationally. Maryland is a well known school and the GA is prestigious. Location is also nice.

Brandeis is OK simply because of the geography.

absalv · Answer

Hey guys,

Got admitted to:
- Olin B. School (WUSTL): MSF Corporate Fin and Investments track.
- Rotterdam School of Management: MS in Finance and Investments.

Ignoring tuition, which one do you think has more to offer and best brand name recognition in general. My objective is to work AM or IB back in Brazil.

MSFHQ · Answer

Rotterdam is a really good program. Same with Olin. Not sure which one is better known in Brazil though. That would be the deciding factor. If you think a US school will provide better recognition and respect, then go there. Same for Rotterdam.

rahulshenoy · Answer

Hello!

Can you please rank the following universities for masters of finance in terms of good job opportunities and brand value for international students?
1. MIT (sloan)
2. USC (Marshall)
3. Vanderbilt
4. UT Austin (Mccombs)
5. UIUC
6. OSU
7. UCSD
8. Olin B. school

Thanks in advance!

MSFHQ · Answer

This is a tough question. Job prospect wise, I would move Vanderbilt to #2, Olin below UT Austin. Probably drop UCSD.

For brand value for international students (assuming this means how well the school is known overseas), you need to have UIUC and OSU above Vanderbilt I would imagine. Vanderbilt is arguably the better school, but I believe that UIUC and OSU are known more in India/China because of their research reputation as well as the sheer number of foreign students attending these schools.

Not sure if that helps or causes more confusion, but the two criteria you have tend to be at odds with each other.

rahulshenoy · Answer

Thanks alot for your valuable input! I had two more questions about the msf:
1. What other universities apart from these would you recommend in terms of job prospects for international students? And where would the university lie in the list.
2. Is east coast or west coast better in terms of job prospects for international students?

Thanks a ton!

Prateekj05 · Answer

I'm not answering your question but this point might give you some insight. I know someone who graduated from UIUC but couldn't get a job in the States. Came back to India and he was hired immediately by Goldman Sachs as an equity research analyst. 
So I feel the brand value of UIUC is really good worldwide.

MSF Class of 2019

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