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MazeRun
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 Updated on: 05 Jul 2026, 08:01
Originally posted by MazeRun on 04 Jul 2026, 08:32.
Last edited by MazeRun on 05 Jul 2026, 08:01, edited 3 times in total.
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Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate your honest opinion about my chances of admission to Master in Finance programs.

My profile:

- Bachelor's degree in Law from iran
- GPA: 17.5/20 (approximately 3.5/4.0)
- GMAT Focus: 685
- IELTS: 7.5
- After graduation, I have been working in a law office for a year, so I have no professional experience in finance.
- No academic background in finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, or business.

I'm mainly interested in Master in Finance programs in the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Canada.

Most universities seem to state that applicants should have a quantitative academic background (such as finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, or similar) to be admitted to a Master in Finance. Since my background is in Law, I'm wondering how strictly this requirement is applied in practice.

My questions are:

1. With my profile (Law background, 17/20 GPA, GMAT Focus 685, IELTS 7.5, and no finance work experience), do I have realistic chances of admission to good Master in Finance programs?
2. To what extent can a 685 GMAT Focus compensate for the lack of a quantitative academic background?
3. Are there any universities you would specifically recommend for someone with my profile?

I'm looking for practical experiences from applicants or admissions consultants rather than just what's written on university websites.

Thank you.
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kingbucky
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 05 Jul 2026, 03:08
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(2) A 685 in the GMAT translates to 97 %ile. And that would definitely compensate for the lack of Quant courses in undergraduate. But, I think the MiF does not require as rigorous quant as it is required for engineering. Let's wait for admission consultants to give their opinion. All the best for your applications, keep us updated !
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MazeRun
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 Updated on: 05 Jul 2026, 08:10
Originally posted by MazeRun on 05 Jul 2026, 05:27.
Last edited by MazeRun on 05 Jul 2026, 08:10, edited 1 time in total.
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Thanks for your insights.
Hopefully, some admissions consultants or people with similar backgrounds will also share their experiences.
kingbucky
(2) A 685 in the GMAT translates to 97 %ile. And that would definitely compensate for the lack of Quant courses in undergraduate. But, I think the MiF does not require as rigorous quant as it is required for engineering. Let's wait for admission consultants to give their opinion. All the best for your applications, keep us updated !
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 05 Jul 2026, 07:56
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Is 680 a GMAT Focus score ? Is it a typo ?
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MazeRun
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 05 Jul 2026, 08:04
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My mistake .meant 685
pintukr
Is 680 a GMAT Focus score ? Is it a typo ?
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GyanOne
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 06 Jul 2026, 21:56
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Your situation sits at an interesting intersection: a 685 Focus is genuinely competitive at several target programs, but the law-only background creates a real screening risk that the GMAT alone cannot fully offset.

•⁠ ⁠The quantitative requirement in MiF admissions is applied on a spectrum, not a switch. Programs like HEC Paris and Rotterdam (RSM) have historically admitted candidates from non-quant disciplines when the GMAT quant sub-score is strong and the applicant can demonstrate self-directed quantitative preparation; what they are actually screening for is "can this person survive derivatives pricing week one," not "did they major in maths."

•⁠ ⁠Your 685 Focus helps more on the quant side if your GMAT Focus Quantitative Reasoning score is 85th percentile or above; that number matters more to admissions committees than the total score when your degree sends no quant signal at all.

•⁠ ⁠The gap that matters more than your score is the absence of any finance or economics coursework, and the concrete path through it is completing one or two online courses (CFA Institute Investment Foundations, or a Coursera financial mathematics module) before applications close, then referencing them explicitly in your application.

•⁠ ⁠Canada (Schulich, Rotman, Queen's) and the Netherlands (RSM, Tilburg) tend to apply the quant filter less rigidly than top French Grandes Ecoles for their general MiF tracks, which makes them stronger starting points for your profile.

Focus your energy on the quant sub-score and one tangible finance credential before submitting.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed. Contact us directly - submit a query here.

MazeRun
Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate your honest opinion about my chances of admission to Master in Finance programs.

My profile:

- Bachelor's degree in Law from iran
- GPA: 17.5/20 (approximately 3.5/4.0)
- GMAT Focus: 685
- IELTS: 7.5
- After graduation, I have been working in a law office for a year, so I have no professional experience in finance.
- No academic background in finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, or business.

I'm mainly interested in Master in Finance programs in the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Canada.

Most universities seem to state that applicants should have a quantitative academic background (such as finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, or similar) to be admitted to a Master in Finance. Since my background is in Law, I'm wondering how strictly this requirement is applied in practice.

My questions are:

1. With my profile (Law background, 17/20 GPA, GMAT Focus 685, IELTS 7.5, and no finance work experience), do I have realistic chances of admission to good Master in Finance programs?
2. To what extent can a 685 GMAT Focus compensate for the lack of a quantitative academic background?
3. Are there any universities you would specifically recommend for someone with my profile?

I'm looking for practical experiences from applicants or admissions consultants rather than just what's written on university websites.

Thank you.
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MazeRun
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MiF Chances : Law + GMAT 685 07 Jul 2026, 01:29
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Thank you so much for your detailed response.
I have a few more questions if you don't mind.

For my case, how much value do admissions committees place on credentials like the CFA Foundations certificate or finance-related courses on Coursera and edx? Are they mainly a way to show interest, or can they genuinely strengthen an application?

Also, what about university extension courses (such as Harvard Extension, UC Berkeley Extension, or UCLA Extension)? Do they carry significantly more weight than online certificates from platforms?

One last question. If I apply to slightly less competitive universities instead of the main target schools, would my chances improve because of my non-finance background? Or is this decision more about each university's admission policy, regardless of its ranking?

Oh one more thing I was wondering about.
You mentioned programs like RSM, HEC, Rotman, Queen's and Schulich. Were you using them just as examples, or do you think someone with my profile could actually be competitive for schools at that level after strengthening the application?
To be honest, I wasn't even thinking about those kinds of target programs. I was aiming more at solid universities a tier below . Would strengthening my profile with online certificates make a meaningful difference there?

Thanks again for taking the time to help. I really appreciate your advice.

GyanOne
Your situation sits at an interesting intersection: a 685 Focus is genuinely competitive at several target programs, but the law-only background creates a real screening risk that the GMAT alone cannot fully offset.

•⁠ ⁠The quantitative requirement in MiF admissions is applied on a spectrum, not a switch. Programs like HEC Paris and Rotterdam (RSM) have historically admitted candidates from non-quant disciplines when the GMAT quant sub-score is strong and the applicant can demonstrate self-directed quantitative preparation; what they are actually screening for is "can this person survive derivatives pricing week one," not "did they major in maths."

•⁠ ⁠Your 685 Focus helps more on the quant side if your GMAT Focus Quantitative Reasoning score is 85th percentile or above; that number matters more to admissions committees than the total score when your degree sends no quant signal at all.

•⁠ ⁠The gap that matters more than your score is the absence of any finance or economics coursework, and the concrete path through it is completing one or two online courses (CFA Institute Investment Foundations, or a Coursera financial mathematics module) before applications close, then referencing them explicitly in your application.

•⁠ ⁠Canada (Schulich, Rotman, Queen's) and the Netherlands (RSM, Tilburg) tend to apply the quant filter less rigidly than top French Grandes Ecoles for their general MiF tracks, which makes them stronger starting points for your profile.

Focus your energy on the quant sub-score and one tangible finance credential before submitting.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.


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