MSF Q&A

Hi MSFHQ!

I have a question regarding a specific MSF program. What do you think of the Vlerick program (in Belgium) and its placements? I heard it has one of the best ROI in Europe, and it is decently ranked in the FT and The Economist.

Thank you!

Don't know too much about the program. I am focusing on expanding my posts to more European programs so I will look into it. I think the FT rankings are a good guide regarding continental European programs. They have a new ranking coming out so keep an eye out for it.

IMO, it all depends on your citizenship, language skills and where you want to work. What does your profile look like and where else have you looked at applying?

Hi,

I am targeting US schools for MSF courses(not MFin) and a few from Europe (HEC,LSE). I think i am more comfortable scoring at GRE than GMAT. But as i see here, most have GMAT score.
1)Does giving GRE put me at a disadvantage vs GMAT?
2)Are there any schools which dont accept GRE?

Thank you so much.

I replied in the other thread, but the GRE is fine for most schools. If it isn't listed on their site as taking it you can usually email and adcom and they will take it. Some schools might not though, but they will not be the majority.

What US schools are you looking at? What is your profile like?

Concerning career goal essays for MSF programs. Generally how far out do people layout their wanted career progression? Like going out to 5 years after graduation verse the end point of your career. I am just trying to figure this out as I am hitting a brick wall due to it.

Realistically you want to talk about how the MSF will get you that first step and then talk about the 3-5 year goal. You can talk about your ultimate goal of being a CFO or a fund manager, whatever, but I think having a 1 and then 3-5 year plan is pretty good. Be detailed for the first plan and slightly less so for the 3-5. I personally think laying out too ridged of a 3-5 year plan is inviting disaster. Life changes too much.

Awesome thanks for the help.

M.Sc Finance at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management or MSF at Bentley University? I'm Asian. So visa issues are a major consideration for me. I also know only A1 level of German, which isn't much.

I'd really appreciate some speedy advice to be honest! Need to respond to the univs pretty soon. Thanks a bunch!

Do you recommend the UT MSF for foreign students? How realistic is it for foreign students (British) to be placed in the U.S after the masters? Obviously McCombs has a strong reputation in the U.S but I am worried about its international reputation especially if it is not feasible to work in the U.S after completion.

I am going to assume you a fluent in English coming from the UK and all. IMO, being able to speak and write in a business setting is what hurts most international students. The visa issue just makes things even worse. McCombs is a top US business school and there are plenty of international UG's and MBA's. I am sure the school has a good reputation overseas which should help if you have to go back and work.

Also, McCombs is a big oil and gas feeder. Since O&G is global I would imagine you'd be able to find an oil company that would be willing to sponsor.

Either way I think it is a good program that should help you regardless of if you stay in the US or go back home. On a side note, have you looked at the usual UK programs? Why are you looking at McCombs specifically?

Yes English is my first language. Choosing McCombs as it's probably the top U.S university that I can get into. I did well in the GMAT (750) but my grades are quite poor (Around 3.1-3.2 in finance from a well know University roughly converted from U.K. scale). I think that U.K schools put more stock into collegiate results whilst the U.S schools put more stock into the GMAT, especially for foreign students. This allows me to get into stronger U.S schools than in the U.K. I also have an interest in the energy sector so that's obviously another big plus for McCombs, although I would prefer to go into IB initially and eventually move towards energy rather than going straight into energy corporate finance. I was offered a place at McCombs this year late in the process but I decided to do an internship for the year to gain more experience and put less financial strain when I do the MSF.

My main worry would be that if I take it there will be an issue with getting placed in the U.S. Whilst McCombs is known well in the U.S it is not that well known in Europe. I have no problem living in the states as I love the country so if placement for foreign students wasn't a major issue I would love to do the MSF next year.

Would I be correct in saying that the only MSF/MFin unquestionably stronger than UT is MIT?

Thanks for your help

Hi,
This is puneeth from India working in investment bank as a test engineer for over 3 years.
I am interested in ms in finance and was looking at HKU as my prime option.
I wanted to know the career option after graduation.

Thanks awaiting reply.

Hi Anthony,
Thank you for your inputs on this forum. They are very helpful.

With my background (given below). Could you please suggest top 5 schools for MSF in terms of placements for international students. I'm not looking at computational finance / engineering offered by most institutes, but would like to specialise in risk management with added focus on computational and mathematical tools.
In one of your posts I read that most Msfs don't accept MBA s also the likes of BC, vanderbuit seems to accept mostly freshers, going by their class profile.
Background :
1) nearly 4 years experience in equity research
2) CFA L2
3) GRE: verbal 161, quant 165
4) decent recos from my previous managers and directors
5) MBA from decent institute in India
6) Gpa 5.47/8 in grad, UG Gpa 3.3

I've already applied to MIT, HEC, LBS... Looking for couple of schools in states

I think there are a lot of good MSF programs in the states. The issue is they are largely regional and some aren't known overseas. UT is a great program, but so is Vanderbilt, WUSTL, Claremont, USC, Boston College, Villanova, etc.

Hi..Need advice. I have 10+years experience with 6+ years in Business Finance, Corporate Development, and Sell-side M&A. I have an engineering background and have done a one-year MBA in Finance in 2008, but now want to join an MSF course in the US. My gmat score is not great (610), I have applied to UIUC, GWU and Florida based on the responses from their Admissions teams on taking in students with 10+years experience. Which colleges do I have a shot at? Should I apply to any other colleges?How strict is GWU about students meeting the required credit hours in Finance?
Thanks!

Not sure why you want to do an MSF with all that experience. I'd recommend PT MSF programs to you, but I sense you want FT programs. Of the FT options, I like UIUC the best. If you are open to PT programs then check out JHU. Boston College would fit your GMAT score. Baruch in NYC would be ideal. Rochester has a Manhattan program as well. Bunch of options.

MSFHQ Thanks for your response. I got a wait-list from UIUC today. What are the chances of an admit with a WL in UIUC?