MSF Profile evaluation and school suggestion

Question

Dear all,

Please help evaluate my profile and suggest me some schools within reach and worth trying in US and UK

Recently graduated from NYU with a major in math and a minor in business however cumulative GPA is kinda low, 3.1. 
Got 700 on gmat and I might retake it in December (last chance before deadlines for 2015 applications). So the worst case is 700.
Two summer internships with Goldman Sachs in 2012 and 2013 and am able to get rec letters from managing directors respectively. Those letters should be strong and solid in terms of the contents.
I know some schools are also looking for academic rec letter, so I will try to get one from my finance professor.

That's all I have so far, pleas feel free to give me some advise and let me know what are the schools I should be looking at. Would MIT and LSE be possible?

Thanks!

MSFHQ · Answer

NYU is solid. 3.1 is kinda low. The 700 helps this though. I'd apply to MIT, but I feel like it might be tough. Might want to look at UT Austin, Vanderbilt, Claremont McKenna/USC. All are pretty solid schools and I don't think you'd see a lot of brand devaluation.

Honestly, NYU and your internships, what is the goal with an MSF? I feel like you could simply network and skip it. Just about every program is going to take you out of NYC and that is where most of the finance jobs are. You might be better off just doing one of NYU's certificate programs to provide a resume boost and keep networking/interning in the city. You should have no problem landing a good banking gig.

alphabeta8 · Answer

Hey MSFHQ
I have applied for MSF for Fall 2015 admissions.

My profile is: Age 22, Indian
B.Tech Software Engineering from Delhi Technological University ( formerly Delhi College of Engg), Class 2014
We get percentages, mine is 64% which is not too good. It can be equated to around 3.2 - 3.4 CGPA on 4 point scale.

My college is consistently ranked among the top 10 colleges in India and has an acceptance ratio of less than 0.5%
I have no work experience. I have 2 internships during college, both in Computers.

GRE: 320 (Q168,V152)

I will start preparing for preparing for CFA-1,Jun 2015. 
Extra-circulars: Took part & organised in many competitions. Also, a corporate head of the student society in third year and vice- president in fourth year of college. I also have various certification for Financial markets from NSE( National Stock Exchange - Country's most reputed stock exchange)

I have applied in the following colleges:

1) Simons - Uni of Rochester
2) Purdue
3) SUNY Buffalo
4) NYU Poly - MS in Financial Engg
5) Northeastern University
6) Tulane University
7) Vanderbilt University
8) Arizona State University
9) Syracuse University

Pls advise my chances at each university? I have recently started fearing that I won't get admission.

Pls advice if I should apply to any more colleges.

Thank you!

MSFHQ · Answer

Decent GRE, ok GPA. You'll get into probably the lower tier schools (rochester, SUNY Buffalo, Purdue, Syracuse, Northeastern, ASU). If you get dinged from some of those schools it will be because they get inundated with international applications.

Tulane might be a good stretch school. I'd go there or UIUC if you get in. Vandy is doubtful and I don't really think NYU Poly is in range.

Buck up. You'll get into a variety of schools, don't worry. Your stats aren't that bad.

alphabeta8 · Answer

--Update

Hey MSFHQ,

I just recd an evaluative interview call from Vanderbilt University. Do they send these out to every candidate or I have passed some initial screening round.

Also, give me suggestions for the interview.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

--2nd Update

I also recd an interview call from Tulane University

MSFHQ · Answer

Vandy doesn't interview everyone so this is a good sign. Expect behavioral questions (why Vandy, why an MSF, how will this degree help your short term/long term goals).

majianurag · Answer

Hi,
Please evaluate my profile -

1)Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from one of the top private universities in India
2)GPA - 7.82/ 10 , mostly a B+ . Should translate to around 3.3 ; 8.5/10 for the last 4 semesters of study ( top 10 - 15 % of class, should come to 3.7 I guess)
3)Work Experience : 1 yr and 3 months at an international Property and casualty insurance firm in their engineering division.
4)A few MOOCs on finance, studying for CFP certification
5)GMAT - 710
6)LORs : 2 from University and 1 from workplace

I have shortlisted the following universities. Kindly classify them into ambitious and moderate and describe pros and cons. Also, suggest additions to the list, if possible

1)Vanderbilt
2)UIUC college of business
3)UT Austin
4)TAMU
5)Boston College

1)Vanderbilt 2)UIUC college of business 3)UT Austin 4)TAMU 5)Boston College

MSFHQ · Answer

You have an ok GPA with upward progression. Strong GMAT, work experience is nice. I'd say UIUC and TAMU are the schools you'll absolutely get into. UT Austin and Boston College will be a good shot. Vanderbilt will be the one I would say you have the lowest odds at. Definitely apply, but realize Vandy isn't a guarantee.

I'd look at SMU also. Great location and local brand. I'd take it over TAMU.

majianurag · Answer

Hi,
Thanks for the evaluation. I shall apply to these schools, lets see how it goes!

One thing that majorly concerns me is the work opportunity after graduation. I plan to work in the same country where I get my masters- at least till I can pay off my loans, but I have heard that companies in this sector are unwilling to sponsor international students for Visa. It would be helpful if you could clarify on the same.

Thanks in advance.

saidarsh3894 · Answer

HI,
I am a 4th year engg student from India.I want to pursue my MSF or MFin(i have a strong quant background) in US as i want to work in the finance field(Hopefully investment banking).My main concern is the job prospects for an international student after completing the MSF course .I have read that its very difficult for an international student to get sponsorship and also a work visa.
My profile - 
GPA-3.2
GRE-313 (Verbal-156 quant - 157)
TOEFL-108
Had only a month of internship experience .
I have a strong proficiency in english and also have good communication skills(Read that to land a job you need to have these two qualities ALSO)
I am planning on applying to Boston college , Northeastern , Olin , Simon Rochester(Hope i get in this as i have a family living in rochester )
What are my chances of getting into these programs and also can you suggest a few more colleges ?
Please help .
Thank you in advance.

yuziyi930925 · Answer

Hi!MSFHQ!

I am senior in China and applying for MSF in the US. My profile goes like this: 1.Undergrad major: International Business and Economics 2.GMAT: 710 3.TOFEL: 101 4.GPA: 3.2 5.Four months internship in a top commercial bank in China and four months internship in a securities company in China. Add up:8 months internship My requirement for the grad school is that I am not looking for brand name, I am looking for real good quality lectures! Awesome professors! And I would like to work in the US upon graduation. Here is my list, please pick up 10 schools for me to apply for: ( from stretch school to safety) 1. Washington University in St. Louis 2. Vanderbilt University 3. University of Southern California 4. Boston College 5. University of Rochester 6. Case Western Reserve University 7. Ohio State University—Columbus 8. University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign 9. University of Texas—Austin 10. University of Miami 11. Northeastern University 12. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 13. George Washington University 14. Pepperdine University 15. Southern Methodist University 16. University of Connecticut 17. Syracuse University 18. University of Maryland--College Park 19. Purdue University--West Lafayette 20. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey--New Brunswick 21. Polytechnic Institute of New York City 22. Claremont Mckenna College Thank you in advance! :-D

Abdullah999 · Answer

Hi MSFHQ and all others

I wanted to put my stats in as well and ask for your recommendation on universities that you think I should focus on

1) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (McGill University, Canada) 
 CGPA: 3.1 (Weak point in my application)

2) 1 year of full time work experience (in Electrical Asset management)  
3) 8 months of internship engineering experience (Oil & gas industry)
4) GRE: 323 (Quant 159, Verbal 164)  
 Have many advanced level Mathematics courses including Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra (Do you think that can offset the low quant course?)
5) Schools I'm looking at are listed below. Don't know what type of a fit I'm for these so need your guidance there.

John Hopkins
UT Austin
University of Virginia (MS Commerce)
University of Southern California
Rochester
WUSL
Boston College
Tulane

Please let me know if these are achievable schools and suggest any other schools that I might have a better chance of getting into.

Thanks a lot

MSFHQ · Answer

Work visa's are tough to come by. My advice for international students is always to look at a large number of job opportunities. Your goal is to land a job in the US and you have to be more open to different jobs/careers than you otherwise would if you didn't have this sponsorship hurdle.

MSFHQ · Answer

I think you'll get into Rochester and Northeastern. I don't think your GRE scores are high enough for Olin. Maybe you get into BC, but I put that at 50% at best. If you want a safety school and have family in Rochester you could also look at RIT.

The bigger issue is your goal of getting into investment banking. Olin is the only school you list that would give you a chance at banking from the MSF. Others would include Vanderbilt, Boston College, Villanova, Claremont, UT Austin, USC. Issue is I don't know how competitive you'd be to those schools. You could look at Ohio State and UIUC, both have a lot of alumni in the Chicago region (lots of IB there). You'd be competitive with Fordham which would put you pretty close to NYC for networking and jobs there.

Realistically, if you want IB, I think it is going to be a longer process than just first job from school. I'd probably target valuation firms, Big 4 TAS, maybe something in analytics at a larger bank. Jobs that are good, but also include transferable skills to banking if that is your ultimate goal. Once you get that first job it makes getting the second job easier.

MSFHQ · Answer

McGill is a great school and your major is hard. I think adcoms will factor this in when they look at your GPA. GRE is pretty good as well, high would always be better.

Take off UVA. You have too much work experience for them (you can email Emma to confirm, but you'd have closer to two years WE by the time the program started). I think with your current experience I would highly suggest you focus on UTA and SMU. You have the O&G experience that the Houston/Dallas finance market would love. You just need a school down there to open the door for opportunities. I'd remove Tulane. Hmmm. On second thought, keep it as your safety. It has a good rep in Texas and you'd get in with your stats without a problem.

I think USC will be tough with your GPA. The others I think you'd be competitive with. Put Vanderbilt on there. They place people in the South and in Texas. I think you'd be a competitive applicant there as well.

Abdullah999 · Answer

MSFHQ Thanks a lot for the evaluation

I'll focus on these schools then. One more thing that I'd like to add is that oil& gas is one industry that I'd like to focus on upon graduation but it's not the only industry. I am a US citizen looking into overseas opportunities as well so a degree that would be of more importance to me is a one that's more recognized internationally. My dream career is with a development bank/agency such as World Bank, IFC, UNDP or anything similar. Any suggestions on which program might be more relevant in this case? Thanks a lot MSFHQ for your time and help. I really appreciate it

MSFHQ · Answer

IMO, UT Austin is going to be your best best if you want international options. It is a T15 US MBA program and Houston is the epicenter of O&G finance. Do some IB in Houston, maybe do CorpDev at say Exxon, BP, etc and go overseas with that. Maybe look at LBS. It would be a good school if you wanted to work in the Middle East or something like that.

If you want to work at a development bank I would look at Johns Hopkins. They have an international economics masters that is best in the world. I'd say that would be a great feeder into World Bank, UNDP, etc. Being in DC helps as well.

hannah811001 · Answer

Hi, MSFHQ
could you help evaluate my chance to get into these schools?

MIT
BC
LSE (MSc in Finance&Private Equity
UT Austin
Claremont
WULST
Or would you recommend some other good school based on my profile?

Nationality：Taiwan
Gender: female
Undergradaute: Chengchi Uni(Taiwan) (GPA:3.8/4.0) 
UG major : international business(BA)
Work experience: 1yr (till now) as research assistant in Central Bank of Taiwan
other experience : led English camps for rural students/ keep taking care of children of AIDS patients 
GMAT: 740 (Q:51, V:39)

appreciated for you help : )

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