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turbojuly
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TitanRConsulting
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turbojuly
Joined: 12 Jul 2023
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MBAGuide
turbojuly
Hi guys,

I'm planning to apply to several MSc in Finance program this Fall. I'm targeting MFin at MIT, MFin at Princeton, MSc in Finance and MSc in Finance and Private Equity at LSE, MIF at HEC, MSc in Financial Analysis at LBS.

This is my profile:

I'm an undergraduate student at a target business school in Europe. Merit scholar, my GPA is 4.0, and I'm in the 99th percentile of all undergraduate students at my University. Good extracurriculars (senior position in my University Finance student association), but I lack work experience (didn't manage to land any internship, in my country it is extremely hard to get one before Master's degree).

I would like to get into one of these business schools with a merit scholarship (based on academics), particularly large if I get into US Masters, I'm not from any underrepresented group. I was wondering what GMAT score should I look for.

My first attempt (online) was far below my expectations, I got 650 (Q49, V30, IR 7, AWA 6). I screwed up the verbal part as it was the last and I lost focus because I thought Quant went bad (instead this didn't happen). In my four previous simulations (also official) I had got at least 730, with Q49-50 and V40-42. I would like to retake the exam (in a different order xD, verbal first) and aim for Q50 and V42.

Is there any other program you would suggest (where I could get a merit scholarship)?

Thanks in advance!


turbojuly


Your profile is impressive specifically your academics. However, if you are looking for a career in finance, an internship can help you stand out from the crowd as it helps you reflect on real-world applications you have experienced and how that may have fueled your interest in exploring the topic further. Given the lack of internship, you should look at schools that are more academically oriented with paced out programs. Also, at a school like LBS, there is more emphasis on hands-on experience (thus valuing your internships) than some of the other academically focused programs on your list such as LSE or HEC Paris where you can also leverage the opportunity to intern along with the course.

For MSc Finance applications, I advise you to address the following points in your application to demonstrate a strong motivation for the program:

Academic focus: Aim for a high GMAT score. Highlight any other academic accolades, scholarships, or recognitions you have received.

Proof of enthusiasm and motivation for the subject: Provide context regarding your passion for finance, starting from an early stage, and supplement your interest with examples of relevant courses, internships, or projects you have undertaken.

Understanding, experience, and appreciation of the subject through real-life applications and projects: Utilize insights from your internships, jobs, or other finance-related projects. Discuss specific projects or finance-related topics that have been pivotal in motivating you to further explore the subject.

Super curricular activities: Share details about supplementary books, articles, research papers, or newspapers you have read. Highlight any relevant podcasts you listen to and explain how these activities support and complement your interest in the subject.

I strongly advise you to cover these points thoroughly in your SOPs.

Additionally, having a variety of extracurricular activities and language skills is advantageous. Discuss how these experiences and skills can contribute to your future as a business leader.

Here are a few other points to keep in mind:

1.Demonstrate originality and a thoughtful approach in your application.
2.Show active engagement with the target school and potential recruiters to learn about the post-MFin prospects, showcasing your conscientiousness. My applicants who recently successfully converted their offers from LSE had actively reached out to professors and engaged in discussions to gain meaningful insights about the program and courses. Demonstrating enthusiasm to truly understand the academic environment at LSE and other schools can greatly contribute to your success.

As for your GMAT, you should focus on improving your verbal performance but try to maintain your quantitative score. Regardless, with a strong application expressing your motivation for the master's program, you should be accepted to the schools of your choice with a scholarship.

Best wishes

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting

Hi Aanchal,

thanks for your answer!

Honestly, my top choices are the US (simply because I would like to work in Investment Banking in NY or San Francisco, and to achieve so you need to study in the US) with the MFin at MIT, and in Europe LSE and HEC Paris.

LBS is kind of under these schools, it is in my rankings only because it is in London and because there is a possibility to get merit scholarships (which in LSE, from what I understood, are few).

I have interviewed a lot in this year to get a Summer Internship also in small firms, but some were looking for students in MSc with possibility of starting working full-time, others wanted me but in time periods that I could not conciliate with my University classes. Therefore, as I lack work experience, I agree with you that I definitely need a high GMAT score (the question is how high? 730? 740 or even more?).

Fortunately, I have many extracurriculars and I speak 3 (and I am learning a fourth) European languages.

With "Active engagement", do you mean that I should start attending all webinars about MSc programs of these Universities?

Thanks
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turbojuly
MBAGuide
turbojuly
Hi guys,

I'm planning to apply to several MSc in Finance program this Fall. I'm targeting MFin at MIT, MFin at Princeton, MSc in Finance and MSc in Finance and Private Equity at LSE, MIF at HEC, MSc in Financial Analysis at LBS.

This is my profile:

I'm an undergraduate student at a target business school in Europe. Merit scholar, my GPA is 4.0, and I'm in the 99th percentile of all undergraduate students at my University. Good extracurriculars (senior position in my University Finance student association), but I lack work experience (didn't manage to land any internship, in my country it is extremely hard to get one before Master's degree).

I would like to get into one of these business schools with a merit scholarship (based on academics), particularly large if I get into US Masters, I'm not from any underrepresented group. I was wondering what GMAT score should I look for.

My first attempt (online) was far below my expectations, I got 650 (Q49, V30, IR 7, AWA 6). I screwed up the verbal part as it was the last and I lost focus because I thought Quant went bad (instead this didn't happen). In my four previous simulations (also official) I had got at least 730, with Q49-50 and V40-42. I would like to retake the exam (in a different order xD, verbal first) and aim for Q50 and V42.

Is there any other program you would suggest (where I could get a merit scholarship)?

Thanks in advance!


turbojuly


Your profile is impressive specifically your academics. However, if you are looking for a career in finance, an internship can help you stand out from the crowd as it helps you reflect on real-world applications you have experienced and how that may have fueled your interest in exploring the topic further. Given the lack of internship, you should look at schools that are more academically oriented with paced out programs. Also, at a school like LBS, there is more emphasis on hands-on experience (thus valuing your internships) than some of the other academically focused programs on your list such as LSE or HEC Paris where you can also leverage the opportunity to intern along with the course.

For MSc Finance applications, I advise you to address the following points in your application to demonstrate a strong motivation for the program:

Academic focus: Aim for a high GMAT score. Highlight any other academic accolades, scholarships, or recognitions you have received.

Proof of enthusiasm and motivation for the subject: Provide context regarding your passion for finance, starting from an early stage, and supplement your interest with examples of relevant courses, internships, or projects you have undertaken.

Understanding, experience, and appreciation of the subject through real-life applications and projects: Utilize insights from your internships, jobs, or other finance-related projects. Discuss specific projects or finance-related topics that have been pivotal in motivating you to further explore the subject.

Super curricular activities: Share details about supplementary books, articles, research papers, or newspapers you have read. Highlight any relevant podcasts you listen to and explain how these activities support and complement your interest in the subject.

I strongly advise you to cover these points thoroughly in your SOPs.

Additionally, having a variety of extracurricular activities and language skills is advantageous. Discuss how these experiences and skills can contribute to your future as a business leader.

Here are a few other points to keep in mind:

1.Demonstrate originality and a thoughtful approach in your application.
2.Show active engagement with the target school and potential recruiters to learn about the post-MFin prospects, showcasing your conscientiousness. My applicants who recently successfully converted their offers from LSE had actively reached out to professors and engaged in discussions to gain meaningful insights about the program and courses. Demonstrating enthusiasm to truly understand the academic environment at LSE and other schools can greatly contribute to your success.

As for your GMAT, you should focus on improving your verbal performance but try to maintain your quantitative score. Regardless, with a strong application expressing your motivation for the master's program, you should be accepted to the schools of your choice with a scholarship.

Best wishes

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting

Hi Aanchal,

thanks for your answer!

Honestly, my top choices are the US (simply because I would like to work in Investment Banking in NY or San Francisco, and to achieve so you need to study in the US) with the MFin at MIT, and in Europe LSE and HEC Paris.

LBS is kind of under these schools, it is in my rankings only because it is in London and because there is a possibility to get merit scholarships (which in LSE, from what I understood, are few).

I have interviewed a lot in this year to get a Summer Internship also in small firms, but some were looking for students in MSc with possibility of starting working full-time, others wanted me but in time periods that I could not conciliate with my University classes. Therefore, as I lack work experience, I agree with you that I definitely need a high GMAT score (the question is how high? 730? 740 or even more?).

Fortunately, I have many extracurriculars and I speak 3 (and I am learning a fourth) European languages.

With "Active engagement", do you mean that I should start attending all webinars about MSc programs of these Universities?

Thanks



turbojuly

Thoughts on GMAT
​I often advise applicants on this forum to look at GMAT scores with the quantitative and verbal sections individually. Admissions committees evaluate your performance along with that of your peers (from your population group) on a normalized curve. For example, a Q49 score (~75th percentile) is considered borderline for overrepresented demographic groups at top business schools. If your quantitative score is near this value or you have exceeded this threshold, the admissions committee is confident that you can handle the academically demanding curriculum.
Your verbal score is more likely to reflect your ability to participate in discussions in a truly global and diverse group.

Similarly, for applicants whose native language is English (e.g., from the U.S. and the U.K.), adcoms would be concerned if the applicant's verbal score is well below the threshold for their population group. If you are a non-native English speaker with a balanced GMAT score, i.e., you scored well on the quantitative section, you can worry less about your overall GMAT score.

Overall for I would suggest above 710 as long as your score is balanced, meaning your Quant score is above 70th percentile. But ofcourse, higher scores on the verbal section would be even better.
Your undergrad academics also strengthen your case.

Active engagement
Yes. Showing that you've done your homework and have a well-thought-out plan having interacted with schools, alumni and industry experts will greatly increase your chances of getting accepted. You can also send cold messages to alumni working in your target sectors on professional platforms and connect for insightful discussions. You can always talk about what you learned from these interactions in your SOPs/interviews, which has further reinforced you interest in the particular school. All things considered equal, I can say with certainty that this will increase your chances of landing a spot at the school in question.

Best wishes


Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]