MSF Typical Student

Wow, I just stumbled into this forum and this stuff is on the money with my experience. I just recently got accepted to Villanova too and several other prog. Villanova is actually my front runner of the school I am considering(Vanderbilt, Boston College, Tulane, UIUC).

I am actually a Finance Major at a Top Big Ten school and this is my take about from my research and advise about picking schools. My prof. (MIT PHD and work on wall street for several Years) Told me that wall street recruits regionlly because they believe east coast education cetainty and recuitment costs. He said that back in the early 90s his firm didn't even recuit people out of Unv. of Chigaco because of the uncertainty of quiality human captial.(But, i don't know the validity of that). But, I am also in the same boat with you. I am in it for the streghtening of my education in Finance. The biggest selling point about villanova the lenght of the program 12 mo vs 9 mos and the focus on graduate level quantitive and PHD level finance courses. Oppose to the other programs where the pitch is that you don't need a backround in Finance. Below is my opinion through my own research and advice from my prof. from different backround:

Villanova Pitch: Strenghten Finance Backround
Pros:
Top-Notch Placement(Big Investment Banks and Brokerage houses)
12 mo program Day Classes
Strong Professional Development Services
Prime Location
Student Manage Fund required (Hand on Experience on Investment)
Strong focus on Quant (stotastic process aka mathmatic with random variable usually used on the Black-Schole Model)

Cons:
Nationwide Reputation (In the East it is known as a close to Ivy League but everywhere its not well known)
Strict structured program (No electives they structure the program as is)
Cost of Living expensive

Vanderbilt pitch: Don't have to a finance backround we will teach you
Pros:
Top-notch Academic program
Top Faculty
Networking (taking Classes with MBAs)
Personally tailor your degree, very variable
Academic Reputation world-wide
Cost of living
Day Classes
Small size classes

Con:
Circulum is only 9 mos
In Nashville, far from money centers
Placement & Recuitment is Suspect
Competition with MBAs for Jobs
-Vanderbilt doesn't have a Undergrad Business Program Purely Grad
Student Management Fund is optional (take away from overall education)

Boston College pitch: Don't have to a finance backround we will teach you
Pros:
Excellent Placement
Top-notch Faculty
Location (Close to all money centers)
Academic reputation as a School and in Finance
Networking (classes with MBAs)
Top-Notch Placement

Con:
9 mo program
Circulum is suspect
-(Coming from a strong finance backround it seems like the courses taught are the same as the undergrad courses)
All Classes are 4:30-9:30
Competition with MBAs for Jobs
Large Classes 50+
Student Management Fund is optional
progam cost 50K for 1 year

Florida Pitch: Strenghten Finance Backround
Pros:
Nice Weather No winter
Small Classes
Great Career Devlopment
Student Management Fund
Business School is well known Nationally
Day Classes
Cost of Living

Con:
Marginal Faculty
Placement is Suspect
-They mainly place in the south
No recognition as a recruiting ground for Wall Street
Known as a Party school less known as a Academic School
Weak Network

I still havn't made my decision yet but I hope my opinion helps everyone else. If anyone wants to add in on it feel free to. But, what my profs. tell me is placement is key since each program costs between 30K-50K. It would defintely suck to have a grad degree and not be able to get a good job.

PS: Your prof is wrong. Its generally better to have a grad degree and 3 year work exp. than just simply 4 yrs exp. if your trying to get into a IVY league MBA program. But, If i go to villanova which most likely is the case. I hope we cross paths becasue it is a good decision to get a grad degree especially in 1 yr.