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MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]

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SudsMeister
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Concentration: Finance, Sustainability
Schools: LBS '22 (D) Instead Sept 20 Intake CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42
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MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB] [#permalink] MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]   14 Dec 2019, 02:59
Hi,
I (Male, Age - 24) am looking to change sectors and get into IB (London/NY).
Background: B.Com(Hons.) [SRCC] - 79% , CFA L3 passed, GMAT - 750 (Q50V42), 1 year at Barclays as finance analyst, 2 years at Teach For India (NGO -Education).

I need help:
1) Should I opt for MBA or for MFin/MFE? (aim is to get into IB)
2) What are the target MBA or MFin/MFE schools for IB?
Programmes I am looking forward to:
MBA - Columbia, Chicago Booth, NYU, Cornell, LBS, MIT.
MFin/MFE - Columbia, Princeton, MIT, LBS.
3) What schools can be added to the list?
4) Should I even aim for HBS/Stanford/Wharton?]
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Re: MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB] [#permalink] MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]   16 Dec 2019, 21:44
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Hi SudsMeister, thanks for reaching out with your questions, and will do my best to help even though we focus mostly on the MBA side.

I think either degree could lead you to IB. Starting positions/salaries may vary though since MFin students are typically less experienced, roles may be at the Analyst vs. Associate level. Another difference is that MFin is shorter and more focused, so that makes it harder to make a big career switch through the program. If you have taken some finance coursework (assume you have since it was Commerce) and have some finance experience, then I think that switch would be doable. The MFin could also be more limiting down the road, whereas the MBA could open doors to other options beyond IB or finance roles, in case that's a possibility for you.

For the MBA targets, I think you narrowed in on the most well known programs. Could also add Darden, Duke, Yale, Ross to your list. For the MFin targets, those are the top ones, and you'll find many more in Europe than the US. A few others in the US could be Texas, Illinois, or Wash U.

You have a great GMAT and the CFA is a nice boost too. I worry that your GPA could be too low for H/S/W. You could give one of them a shot as a reach (I'd probably go with Wharton since odds are slightly better there) but set your expectations accordingly :)

Good luck!
Kate

SudsMeister wrote:
Hi,
I (Male, Age - 24) am looking to change sectors and get into IB (London/NY).
Background: B.Com(Hons.) [SRCC] - 79% , CFA L3 passed, GMAT - 750 (Q50V42), 1 year at Barclays as finance analyst, 2 years at Teach For India (NGO -Education).

I need help:
1) Should I opt for MBA or for MFin/MFE? (aim is to get into IB)
2) What are the target MBA or MFin/MFE schools for IB?
Programmes I am looking forward to:
MBA - Columbia, Chicago Booth, NYU, Cornell, LBS, MIT.
MFin/MFE - Columbia, Princeton, MIT, LBS.
3) What schools can be added to the list?
4) Should I even aim for HBS/Stanford/Wharton?]
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SudsMeister
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Joined: 04 Sep 2019
Posts: 25
Own Kudos [?]: 7 [0]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Sustainability
Schools: LBS '22 (D) Instead Sept 20 Intake CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42
WE:Education (Non-Profit and Government)
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Re: MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB] [#permalink] MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]   16 Dec 2019, 22:27
mbaMissionKate wrote:
Could also add Darden, Duke, Yale, Ross to your list. For the MFin targets, those are the top ones, and you'll find many more in Europe than the US. A few others in the US could be Texas, Illinois, or Wash U.

You have a great GMAT and the CFA is a nice boost too. I worry that your GPA could be too low for H/S/W. You could give one of them a shot as a reach (I'd probably go with Wharton since odds are slightly better there) but set your expectations accordingly :)

Good luck!
Kate

Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for the assessment.
I am limiting myself to 4 B-Schools (MBA) in R2 so that the quality of the applications do not take a dip.
Which four schools should I aim at, the priorities being:
1) Odds of getting through (given my GPA and work-ex)
2) The school being a target school for IB

The list of schools to choose from as of now is:
Wharton, Columbia, Chicago Booth, NYU, Cornell, LBS, MIT, Darden, Duke, Yale, Ross.

Best
Sudarshan
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mbaMissionKate
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MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB] [#permalink] MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]   17 Dec 2019, 05:56
Expert Reply
Agree with limiting your list so you don't sacrifice quality. Obviously you need to make the final call, as there may be other factors at play or programs you feel really drawn to personally, but I think you need a range of programs to increase your odds. For instance, I might only pick one of the Top 7 programs (CBS, Booth, Wharton or MIT). And then fill out your list with 3 from the remaining ones. I think given your priorities, Cornell is a great one to keep on your list. Also think LBS is worth keeping because it provides some diversity to the US market. And then you could fill the 4th spot with another school you're excited about (or whichever application seems less time intensive to you!). Hope that helps.

SudsMeister wrote:

Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for the assessment.
I am limiting myself to 4 B-Schools (MBA) in R2 so that the quality of the applications do not take a dip.
Which four schools should I aim at, the priorities being:
1) Odds of getting through (given my GPA and work-ex)
2) The school being a target school for IB
The list of schools to choose from as of now is:
Wharton, Columbia, Chicago Booth, NYU, Cornell, LBS, MIT, Darden, Duke, Yale, Ross.

Best
Sudarshan
User avatar
B
SudsMeister
Intern
Intern
Joined: 04 Sep 2019
Posts: 25
Own Kudos [?]: 7 [0]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Sustainability
Schools: LBS '22 (D) Instead Sept 20 Intake CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42
WE:Education (Non-Profit and Government)
Send PM
Re: MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB] [#permalink] MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]   17 Dec 2019, 21:50
mbaMissionKate wrote:
Agree with limiting your list so you don't sacrifice quality. Obviously you need to make the final call, as there may be other factors at play or programs you feel really drawn to personally, but I think you need a range of programs to increase your odds. For instance, I might only pick one of the Top 7 programs (CBS, Booth, Wharton or MIT). And then fill out your list with 3 from the remaining ones. I think given your priorities, Cornell is a great one to keep on your list. Also think LBS is worth keeping because it provides some diversity to the US market. And then you could fill the 4th spot with another school you're excited about (or whichever application seems less time intensive to you!). Hope that helps.


That was quite insightful Kate.
Thank you.
I am striving to complete my Cornell and LBS applications in a couple of weeks.

Just out of curiosity, and in case you've any clue - how is the job hiring in US for international MBA students? I have heard from a couple of students (Class of 2020/21) that many companies (around 30-40%) at Stern, CBS etc. have straightforwardly said that non-Americans aren't eligible to apply in their recruitment process, partly due to the chance factor of H1-B visas.
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mbaMissionKate
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Re: MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB] [#permalink] MBA vs MFin/MFE [to get into IB]   19 Dec 2019, 10:45
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Happy to help. I'm certainly not an expert in that side of things, and would encourage you to check directly with schools' career services teams and their employment reports. My sense is that it has become more challenging and you need to cast a wider net and be prepared to do a lot of networking. Jobs are there but not a given. It is worth looking at which programs have STEM certification, and using that to narrow your list, as that provides an extra year of work authorization. Many schools have recently qualified for STEM certification.

Kate

SudsMeister wrote:

That was quite insightful Kate.
Thank you.
I am striving to complete my Cornell and LBS applications in a couple of weeks.

Just out of curiosity, and in case you've any clue - how is the job hiring in US for international MBA students? I have heard from a couple of students (Class of 2020/21) that many companies (around 30-40%) at Stern, CBS etc. have straightforwardly said that non-Americans aren't eligible to apply in their recruitment process, partly due to the chance factor of H1-B visas.
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