Best masters programs for IB analyst
I was just wondering what the best kinds of programs are out there that would help you get into an analyst position at an IB.
So far I've gathered that getting an MSF is beneficial
What about a MS in accounting or Quantitative Methods and Modeling
Thanks guys
A BA? You are talking about an analyst position. Good grades, a kickass resume, and connections will land you an analyst position. If you are looking for an associate position in IB, then got to b-school and get an MBA. What is your background? ie. education, work experience, etc
Yeah my grades are mediocre and i dont have experience and my connections suck.
Thats why I want to add an MS to my resume and compete for analyst positions. I was wondering beside having an MSF what other masters programs help you become more competitive for analyst positons.
What is the Quantitate Methods and modeling, what kind of positions can you get with that?
Dude if you don't know what Quant. Methods and Modeling means you might be fucked
@mdk, No offense, but I have kickass grades, play a major sport, and go to a top liberal arts school (maybe not a true target like Wharton or HYP, but definitely solid street presence) and I wasn't able to get a summer analyst spot and so far I've only got 1st rounds with 3 or 4 places (I really have to make those count, I know, but these are BBs and the competition is stiff). Been networking my ass off, too.... All I get is "Haha, you know I like you kid. Unfortunately, our bank is just hiring the interns from the summer so I can't pass your resume along. But feel free to contact me if you ever need advice."
I feel like it's just not at all easy to get these spots even with grades, ECs, and connections. And now that I couldn't get an SA position, my resume has a serious flaw (took a bunch of classes this summer to fill the gap but it's no IB internship, that's for damn sure). Stole my friend's training materials to study, too.
Now, I'm not one to complain about how no one gives me a chance, poor me, blah blah blah...
But I know that if I was at a school where more banks recruit instead of some east coast yuppie liberal arts place, I could definitely land something and if banks go to one of these MFin programs, hell, I don't have more than a few hundred dollars in my bank account but maybe I could get a fellowship or student loan or something. I know that there are people in my predicament out there so if anyone knows anything about these MFin programs and which ones get banks recruiting for IBD analyst positions (if there are any) please help me out with some info here!!!
Anthony, I know you know a lot about these programs (also love your political posts) so could someone that has the grades, has the passion, but doesn't have the career resource center at his school spend a year at one of these places and turn things around??
Jimbo. I know exactly where you're coming from. I did a SA stint in MO this summer and that certainly was not what I wanted. I actually have little connections, have been trying to network but my alum network sucks cuz my school just harasses its alums for money and doesnt even do a good job at that. The only thing I got so far was an email from a recruiter at JP Morgan asking me to set up an interview for IB to which he never responded with a schedule even though I've followed up twice. The only thing remotely related to IB I have going for me is commercial/corporate banking at JP Morgan. It's tough because my school doesn't have much FO recruiting through OCR. I've contacted 75+ recruiters in the past month alone trying to get my resume around... Maybe, just maybe, someone will give me a first round interview at a BB.
LBS, Duke, UVA have pre-mba masters programs that may set you up with an analyst positon.
Pre-MBA masters? It's my understanding that top MBA programs typically don't take people who already have masters degrees in fields such as finance, management, commerce etc.
Getting a MS in Quant prepares you for what kind of jobs. I did some research and its more math focused so Im assuming that analyst positions are good places. Or Algorithm trading, I do know what Quant means to a rough degree, but I dont understand in what capacity it is used in the financial industry as in what positions make the most use of the skill set taught in MS quant classes.
Im a math oriented person, so I was wondering if I pursued a MS in Quant in what way would I be employed.
If I get stuck without an IB analyst position, here are the schools that are still on my list:
Top Target schools with Finance Masters: -Princeton -MIT -London School of Economics -Oxford -Cambridge -Imperial College London -HEC Paris (-London School of Business, but it has a work experience requirement of 2 years)
Next Tier of Targets with Masters in Finance: -Washington University of Saint Louis -Vanderbilt -Warwick -Rotterdam School of Management -Stockholm School of Economics -Bocconi
Other Schools with decent programs to look at (fallback schools?): -Claremont McKenna -Boston College -Villanova -Edinburgh -Cass -Bristol -Duisenberg -EM Lyon (French speaking only) -University of Hong Kong?
Rankings for these programs are hard to standardize. It's really based more on the fit for your background and future career aspirations than a static ranking the way you might see undergrad b-schools thrown together. Work experience is an initial screening factor for schools like BC and LBS, while geographic and math level considerations are probably the biggest differentiator among them.
If you want to work in London, then Oxbridge, LSE, Stockholm, Bocconi, HEC, St. Gallen, Rotterdam and to a lesser extent Cass, Warwick and Imperial will definitely help in that regard, with Imperial leading that 2nd tier probably. Those Continental programs also obviously place very well regionally within their own countries and especially languages. If you speak German and want to work in a German speaking area there's probably no better place than St. Gallen, Italian Bocconi, French HEC etc.
If you want to work state side then it's going to be significantly more difficult to secure a US based position from a European b-school. Not impossible, but much harder than it has to be given that your new network is primarily on the far side of the Atlantic. I would rather go to a strong U.S. school than a great European one like Stockholm or St Gallen if I wanted to work in the U.S. afterwards. Your network and OCR (basically the two best reasons to get an Masters in finance) will be much stronger here.
You can also get as quantitative as you want in these, from CMU/Berkely style engineering math to much less intense, some programs even call their degree's master's in arts. Imperial is known for being maths heavy, as are Princeton, WUSTL and Fordham ( a very overlooked quantitative mfin program in NY). MIT says on their site explicitly they are not as math heavy but it's hard to say without knowing their curriculum very well and plus its just freaking MIT.
Past that, it's really hard to distinguish in cold data terms. The overwhelming trend for these schools is to place a few kids in NY in various positions and place the majority of them in MM banks in the region surrounding them. Vanderbilt's definitely going to be your best option in the South and getting towards the east coast, Claremont McKenna will do you wonders in LA, Tulane will give you access to a HUGE network of energy bankers (primarily in Houston of course), while Villanova benefits hugely from its position with the Northeast markets like Philly and NYC. All of these schools will send kids to NYC every year (Tulane used to at least, before Lehman went bust)...with perhaps Nova sending a slightly disproportionate amount of kids to NY based on its location. The same can be said of other international schools like Hong Kong, Melbourne, Monterrey in Mexico yadda yadda yadda.
Princeton is probably the most widely recognized "Top" program in the U.S., but if you ever feel your ego is a bit overinflated, take a look at their incoming class profiles.
Cheers
I 100% think you can turn it around in a year, but you need to have the correct mindset. I have seen a lot of people do it and I have also seen a lot of people blow their shot. You need to understand a couple things first.
1) You only have a year and most programs start in the summer. With that said you need to start networking before you get to school. I would recommend buying the WSO guides, M&I guides, knowing your shit before you start.
2) Know the schools recruiting schedule. Villanova starts OCR postings mid August. This is also a very busy time for the program. You need to have your career services profile set up, resume perfect and hit it hard as soon as the postings start. I have seen too many people get caught up in other things and get into recruiting in the middle of the process (a receipt for disaster).
3) Internships are key. If you didn't break into banking during UG you probably didn't have relevant internships. This is your time to get one. It is going to be tough, but like I said, you need to come into it knowing this is what you want to do. I interned in the Spring and I know people who are interning right now. Makes your resume stand out for sure.
A lot of kids get into the thinking that this is a 5th year for them, they don't realize how fast it goes by or they aren't prepared for the level of rigor an MSF entails. This isn't MBA finance, this is designed to be a very high level of finance understanding. Just have to know it coming into it.
As mentioned above, ranking MSF programs is tough because of how regional they are.
Nova actually sends about 50/50 NYC and Philadelphia FYI.
@Anthony, MSF Hopeful, and San Franciscan: Thanks a lot guys. Ton of great info in these posts.
I didn't realize 'Nova had such a solid program and was placing kids in NYC (working in NYC isn't an absolute for me--beggars can't be choosers--but would def be nice since I grew up there and my whole family is there, not to mention that New York is the IB capital of the U.S., of course). I'm absolutely going to look into them now.
I was thinking that maybe I could get a fellowship to study abroad at LSE or something but, if I'm only going to be able to get jobs in London for the most part, I'm not so sure I want to do that. But I'm also not sure if I can afford the Nova tuition. Gotta look into student loans big time.
I should be ok with the prerequisites for the programs: I have a year of financial accounting, intro corp fin, fin statement analysis, macroeconomics. Plus I read M&I interview guide, WSO Technical Guide, and I did the Breaking into WS modeling course. I haven't taken the GMAT yet, though, so I better get my shit together and take it.
Thanks again, guys.
Honestly, I wouldn't get hung up on the idea of "getting stuck in London." I have no intention of spending the rest of my life in London either. The way I see it, you HAVE to go where the best opportunity is. LSE is one of the few foreign schools (along with Oxford, Cambridge, and maybe the Sorbonne) with any name recognition to common Americans and it's a world class institution. If you can perform decently there, then you will have a lot of access to all the top BBs, even if it's just their London offices. Worse comes to worse, you have to work in London or on the continent for up to five years. But then, with that experience, you'll be better poised to break into higher finance in New York (PE and HF Megafunds, etc) than you otherwise would have been placing into a less prestigious/prolific MM or boutique bank from a lower level school.
Agree with the branding benefits San Franciscan brings up. You wouldn't even really need to spend 5 years abroad if it turns out you hated it. You could take your wonderful brand name LSE degree with a few years of relatively exotic European work experience in IB and come back to re-americanize your network with a great brand name b-school. Who wouldn't hire someone with LSE, H/S/W and interesting WE on their resume. Quality will always win out, whatever the preferences.
Definitely talk to Anthony about the Nova fellowship program. He's seen it from inside out and is a great resource.
Also be conscious of programs' starting dates. Some like Nova and MIT start early in the summer, while others will allow you another summer internship chance by starting in the fall like Vandy or Claremont. Positives and negatives to each side.
@Anthony, I didn't realize y'all sent so many to NYC, any idea when Nova will release some more extensive placement data? Be nice to have something as ridiculously detailed as that Vandy post that came out a while ago (since taken down) but at least the positions at the companies would be helpful. Appreciate everything you've been doing for the msf community and glad your blog is taking off.
Good point on LSE brand name. And, yeah, I guess a few years overseas in London could be a pretty awesome experience, assuming I get accepted and win some kind of grant money to go study there (I think I have a decent shot but we'll see what happens).
Ok so here's my question: I'm graduating from undergrad in the spring and let's say I get into a MSF program that starts in the fall. Can I do an SA gig next summer or am I ineligible because I will have already graduated?
Absolutely*! In fact, it's better to do so for two reasons:
1.) You could potentially secure/accept a FT offer before your degree program even starts, then you can go into your program as a BSD who doesn't even need to bother with recruiting.
2.) You will have more experience on your resume for when firms come to the MSF school for OCR, making you more competitive. Also, going back to point 1, you can leverage your FT offer from your SA when BBs come for OCR (sorry for all the acronyms), this is actually a major selling point in a candidacy.
One of the biggest advantages of an MSF is that it extends your recruiting period. You get to use that extra time to secure more internships, get your first/an additional SA position, etc.
(* Admittedly, it depends on when your program starts. Most start in late summer though, so your SA timeline is unscathed.)
I could think of worse things than getting 'stuck in London.'
Agreed!
Haha I'm cool with the acronyms. I've been lurking on these boards for about a year. Really helpful site for the common man.
Alright, so, since you have clearly done your research: how hard is it to get into LSE/Oxford/Cambridge?
I can't find any info on the class profile like average GPA, GMAT, etc.
I need to go back and verify my sources here, but I BELIEVE I remember seeing something that said Cambridge was the most selective of those three schools.
Furthermore, LSE's selectivity is supposedly based on the program you apply for. There are several relevant programs, all of which have access to the same OCR. In order of difficulty (LSE only), MS in Financial Economics is more selective than MS in Finance is more selective than MS in Accounting & Finance. I remember seeing somewhere that a guy with a 3.4, a sub-700 GMAT, and little work experience got into the MS in Accounting & Finance. (Again, this is something I need to go back and find.)
Finally, I don't remember much about the Oxford program. I will say though that of the three schools, Oxford would be the one I'd feel most baller about when telling non-finance people where I went to school. My inner prestige-whore pisses his figurative pants a little bit every time he thinks about Oxford.
Would London firms hire an American doing a Masters in Finance from LSE, or would they be adverse, due to visa requirements?
Also, on a unrelated note, would Hong Kong firms hire an American doing a Masters in Finance from LSE? (That's where I would really love to end up.)
Best MSF for IB in NYC (Originally Posted: 08/22/2014)
Hi!
I've been reading this forum for about a year & still have no idea how ta rank msf programms from B-schools. I'm confused.
1) I'm not US citizen 2) I would like to move to NYC 3) I now that it is difficult to break in into IB BB 4) I've already done msf in finance in my country from the top 2 university(GPA 5.0 out of 5.0) & also passed CFA L1 5) now i'm preparing to take FRM L1 in november (i'm working as a risk analyst) 6) GMAT & IELTS planned to take this winter.
Top msf : MIT - it is obviously, but deadline is January 5, so i don't have time to prepare properly.
But what is the second choice?
Could someone please rank this universities and their msf programms? I would really appreciate!
WUSTL Vanderbilt Villanova USC Marshall Boston College Masters in Finance (Carroll) Purdue Masters in Finance (Krannert) University of Rochester: Simon University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign McCombs School of Business Claremont McKenna Cox School of Business
In Europe it is straightforward: (not in particular order) University of Oxford: Saïd London Business School University of Cambridge: Judge LSE Imperial College Business School HEC Paris
Any tips are welcome!
Thank you!
I don't know if you will be able to do a second MSF if you already have one...
You can do it as many times as you want :-)
LSE Oxbridge LBS HEC Paris WUSL CmK UCS
Cambridge MSF is really not targeted at people who want to do business. The program is focused on academics so I doubt that's what you're looking for.
Thank you!
As far as i concerned Cambridge is moving toward more practical programme. Correct me if i'm mistaken.
Princeton and MIT would give you the best shot in the US
but Princeton is much more like a MFE than MSF. if you include some MSF, then you should also include columbia MFE program. i personally think MBA may be better for OP if he only wants IB.
Up! I need more advice
Thank you in advance!
If you want to work in the US it is absolutely critical to get a MSF in the US. Without the OPT it's going to be really, really hard to get someone to sponsor you.
As a top MSF grad here(WUSTL, Nova, etc.) I can tell you that none of them outside of MIT an Princeton will give you a great chance. Nova is the best for NYC by a wide margin compared to Vandy, UT Austin, and WUSTL.
Best of luck
Based on what data source?
Thank you!
Wouldn't it be better to go to Oxford, Emperial, LSE, HEC, Cambridge than Nova for NY?
I highly doubt it. They would be better to go to London, from where you can rotate to NYC after 2 years at most BBs. The problem with a European degree is that you have to convince a bank in NYC to sponsor your H1B, with which you will only be able to start October 1 in the year after you finish your degree. Thus, you will miss training at your bank as this is done over the summer. You won't have this problem with a US degree, as you will be able to work for one year following your MSF. Further, it is infinitely easier to network with US banks if you are physically located in the US.
MIT and Claremont will give you a reasonable shot at BB ibd in nyc, but the other programs not so much. Just search linkedin - there's like one kid at a BB in nyc from WUSTL msf, a couple BB analysts from Vandy msf, and none from nova msf, but nova has decent MM IB in nyc (think cowem, Stifel, Miller Buckfire)
What kind of linkedin search did you do to get those results?
Thank you all for yours advice!
Any thoughts on Simon Business School NYC MSF ?
Isn't that a fashion school?
Nova places most students in NYC because of proximity and alumni concentration. Like 95% of students go to either NYC, Philadelphia or CT. WUSTL and Vandy all can get you to NYC and have NYC recruiting and placements. With that said, both schools have a pull in their respective geographies. I don't think someone should pick Nova over Vandy or WUSTL simply because of the NYC placements though. All schools with a good ranking and reputation will place you in NYC.
MIT is going to be the best program because it is MIT. Claremont has amazing placements and I am sure can get you a job in NYC, but it is really a big West Coast feeder. Lots of alumni out there and placements in LA and SF.
Nova has people in NYC at BMO, Stifel, Cowen, WF, Barclays, Jefferies, Buckfire, Houlihan, etc. We've had people at a bunch of other banks also that have migrated to PE now. Nova is a pretty wealthy private school that a lot of well off parents send their kids. Parents that work in finance and their kids go to work in finance. I was pretty shocked at how many Nova alumni are on the street. More than other schools? I don't know. Enough for you to get interviews about everywhere on the street and be 1.5 hours from downtown Manhattan.
Pick the school with the program, campus and environment you like the most. NYC is a finance hub so there will always be jobs and opportunities there.
I've also met and know a bunch of WUSTL and Vandy alumni working in NYC, Houston, down south, etc.
UK schools are not really gonna help you to get a BB gig in NYC. But if you want a BB gig your best bet is schools like Oxbridge, LSE and other top schools in Europe. Even if you don't land a gig in London, you would have good chances of landing a gig in either HK or SG.
Breaking into NYC BB gigs from the US MSF landscape is tough as there it does not allow for the summer analyst position and the top schools don't have MSFs except for MIT. Good luck with apps.
MIT deadline is too soon, that is the main obstacle, if it was at least March.....
Would you care to elaborate on that? I want to know more about IBD BB in HK&SG without knowing Chinese.
What schools outside UK, you think are the top? I know only HEC.
Best MSF for Houston Investment Banking? (Originally Posted: 03/17/2015)
Is it SMU Cox or UTA? Or even Vanderbilt?
UT Austin, Tulane, SMU, U Houston.
I would go to Vandy over at least UH and maybe Tulane. There are Vandy grads in banking in Houston (haven't seen any UH, at least at the analyst or associate level) and it's the best overall school listed (although this might not translate to MSFs).
For MSF, definitely UTA and it's not even close.
Best MSF program for Dallas/Houston (Originally Posted: 03/24/2014)
Hey all,
I was curious to your guys opinion on the best MSF program for placement in IB in the Dallas or Houston area. I appreciate any advice!
Thanks,
I think UT Austin is probably king for the state, but I would say SMU is going to be really good for Dallas. U Houston will probably have some pull in Houston. Tulane would be a decent Texas option also.
TNA,
Would UT be better than SMU if someone knew they wanted to be in Dallas? I'm looking at a few different programs and I am not set on one location. I am getting a good basis for which programs that are worth applying to per region.
I think UT Austin is the best Texas program. Outside of that look at SMU, u Houston and Tulane.
SMU is a very regional school. The UT degree will carry weight internationally but the SMU it seems carries weight only in Dallas. Dallas does not have that many IB shops. Houston does. I would definitely go with UT. That being said I have spoken to some SMU MSF grads, as I was admitted to the program. It seems like a solid program if you wanna do oil and gas or real estate. Good luck.
If you want IB then you need to be closer to Houston and UT Austin is your best bet. The only BB IB groups in Dallas are JPM's middle market group and half of their retail group. On the other hand, Houston has solid group of IB. UT no question.
I was really impressed with SMU and the campus was outrageously nice. Very solid network in Dallas and I felt like it was well regarded in the rest of Texas too.
anybody have any thoughts on Rice?
I want to caveat this comment first by saying that I have zero knowledge about the MSF programs at these schools. However, I previously worked at Big4 in Dallas, and now a REIT in Austin, and both places have had a generally negative attitude toward recruiting undergrads out of SMU. SMU is an expensive private school with average academics, and in a state where most of middle and upper management consists of public school Longhorns and Aggies, the SMU name isn't going to do you many favors on paper.
If the SMU MSF program has a significantly better reputation for academics, or you are certain Dallas is where you want to be after graduation, then I'm sure that program will be fine. If you want to open more doors with a name that carries more weight and tap into a state-wide network, I think UT would be the right decision.
I got accepted until both, I think I would have gone to UT between the two and I even went to SMU for undergrad.
Best MS Finance programmes in US? (Originally Posted: 08/16/2011)
Hi all,
I am considering applying for a MS Finance programme from a reputed institute in US. I have already done MBA. I was working as a stock analyst with a financial newspaper here in India. But I wasn't happy with the way my career was shaping up. However, when I read about top MS Finance programmes in US, I realized they are really quant intensive. Few things I would like to know:
a) First of all, which are the top MS Finance programmes in US?
b) Programmes, which are good, but are not very quant intensive?
c) Is it necessary to know what exactly am I gonna do after the programme? I went through the student profiles at some universities and they seem to suggest that students come with a very clear mind as to what kind of jobs they wanna get? For instance, an X person was working as a junior actuary before the programme and went on to get a senior position as an actuary after the programme.
d) How is the job scene for international students, if they manage to get into a reputed MS Finance programme?
regards, Karan Sehgal
I'm not sure courses can get you jobs...
I don't believe this one either.
well guys can you elaborate a bit more...
What?
a) focus on the top finance schools - those being Wharton, and UChicago, among a few others.
b) this is an oxymoron. good finance classes are at least somewhat quantitatively intensive.
c) you're not going to do anything after taking a single course, or more accurately, taking a single course isn't going to set you up to do something that you aren't currently qualified to do. you need a degree, and for that, you need to be accepted to a particular degree program. In all likelihood, you can't just take a single class without being an admitted student in such a program anyway.
d) it's barely tolerable for people coming out of awesome universities. for international students, coming from a "decent" college? I assume that means you need to be sponsored for a Visa? your chances are probably slim to none.
just fyi guys- in british terminology (and hence Indian): course = degree
OP: your educational background is not a right fit for most US MS Finance degrees. They prefer students without MBAs. The ones that accept MBAs are usually more quantitative degrees - financial engineering, etc. Lastly, top graduate programs in finance in the US are extremely competitive (and placement for an international student is unlikely/very difficult unless he graduates from a top program).
This isn't the best board to discuss international students. One major consideration is where will an international student have the least amount of disadvantage (compared to domestic students) in terms of hiring in these major international centers (NY-USA, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai) and go from there.
You should check out Princeton's MFin program. They've got a pretty nice placement record, I would say: http://www.princeton.edu/bcf/graduate/placement/
Best Masters Programs for IB Recruitment (Originally Posted: 09/18/2010)
What are some of the best masters programs for IB Recruitment?
I'm thinking about the MSc Accounting and Finance at LSE. Anyone have insight on this?
financial engineering but you gotta be above average IQ chubby
I like all the LSE MSc programs and am also looking at MSc programs. I hear the Acct&Fin program places well as that degree has been around much longer than the pure Finance MSc (so the alumni you interview with will be more likely to have the degree in Acct&Fin rather than Fin). What's also nice is that Acct&Fin is supposedly easier to get admitted to.
The other programs I'm going to apply to (if I don't get a solid FT gig) are:
Reach Schools: -Princeton MFin -MIT MFin -Oxford MSc Fin -Cambridge MPhil Fin
More Realistic: -Imperial -HEC Paris -Stockholm -Rotterdam -Warwick
Same, if I don't get a solid FT gig this is my plan of action. But, say you get an MPhil Fin at Cambridge is it easy to work back in the U.S. or are those people working in London?
From what I hear, you would need to network your way back to the US. That being said, you'd be very hirable in London and can just transfer back to the US after you get a couple years of great experience in London.
What about this? What is it??
London School of Business MSc in Investment Banking and Securities
I haven't seen/heard of that one. Just looked into it and need to say that unfortunately the London School of Business and Finance is not the same thing as the London Business School. Although the course material is probably pretty relevant in that program, I can't imagine it places well, because it's not in the discussion of relevant MSc programs every time the talk comes up. I think LSE is a much better choice if you can get in.
Everything I have ever heard has said that it is tough to go from a school in the UK back to the USA. Not saying it is not going to happen, but if you want to work in the states you should get a US education.
Getting a Masters Degree (Originally Posted: 07/16/2015)
I am working in a bulge bracket investment bank now, and looking to apply for a Masters degree in finance/financial engineering/financial math. Would like to switch into Asset Management/investment research afterwards. What are the best programs in the US and any tips on the application process?
Thanks!
.
MSF for IBD, which would you pick? (Originally Posted: 03/28/2013)
Hello everyone, I have a question for all of the monkeys here.
If you were dead-set on IBD, and came from a non-target with a mediocre GPA, which MSF program would you attend? Which do you think would give you the best shot to land an IBD gig?
Southern Methodist MSF Pros: Strong in Dallas, good rep Cons: Weak everywhere else, mostly foreign
Tulane MSF Pros: Good school, good Houston placements (energy) Cons: Heavy international, weird location
Johns Hopkins MSF Pros: JHU has a great rep. Powerful name. Generous fin aid. Cons: New-ish business school, weak IB recruiting
Santa Clara MSF Pros: Great location in Silicon Valley, generous fin aid (new program) Cons: Weak IB placement/recruiting
Also, assume plentiful networking on my part.
My placement hopes:
Reach: IBD Pub Fin / DCM / ECM Fit: Corporate/Commercial/Private Banking at BB "Safety" (hate to use this word) : CF at F500, Government finance, Ops at BB
Career goals:
2-3 years analyst (any type of banking) MBA at Top 15 (Yale / USC / UCLA / UT / UVA ) Corporate Development / Consulting
Thank you everyone.
1:JH 2:SMU 3:Tulane 4:SC
gentle bump
Why are you not applying to Vandy, WUSTL, Nova, UTAustin?
^ I am applying to Vandy & WUSTL. But I doubt I will get in.
Missed the deadline at Nova and UT. Didn't get serious about this until February
Bump
If you legit want in at nova let me know and I can help. I thought you were going to shelve the MSF this year?
Why not just wait until next year? Waiting a year would allow you to apply to the top MSF programs, which you are unable to do now.
^ :/ It's starting to look like the best thing. Problem would be landing a respectable gig from my nontarget school.
I am currently interning at a Defense firm in Corp Fin, my supervisor has mentioned he would love for me to come back full time after graduation. It is mostly mindless work, cost analysis type of stuff and presentation materials. Would you recommend I do this and reapply to all the top programs as opposed to going to Tulane/SMU/JHU/SCU now?
Why not intern at a boutique or something? Take a look at MSFHQ.com. Placements fall dramatically once you move past MIT, Vanderbilt, Villanova, and WUSTL.
Could also return to school to finish a double major (aerospace or history), but I am not too keen on this option
Thoughts?
I would return another year.
Can you expand on that?
Dude, listen... there is no reason to rush into an MSF. I'm was/am dead-set on IBD as well, but I've learned from my Junior and Senior years of recruiting in banking (and coming so close to landing FT 'gig) that you need to have your ducks in a row before you're ready to compete. Sure, people get lucky and land banking positions, but I wouldn't rely on luck to get by. So when I didn't land an IBD position and didn't get the GMAT that I needed to get into a top MSF program, I took a year and worked in CF as an FP&A analyst. Sure, it's not always the most exciting thing with all the formalized reporting, variance analysis, and b/s management presentations, but that's part of the grind. IBD recruiting is already difficult enough, don't make it more difficult by wasting $40K on a program that doesn't have a solid history of placement or enough Alumni out there willing to help. Might be worth it to swallow your pride for a year and work in CF at your A&D position, I did exactly that and I'm headed to 'Nova now to finish what I started as a Junior.
Leaning toward A&D. Guys, can't thank you enough.
And KKS, LA boutique jobs are owned by USC/UCLA people. Out of reach for me.
The schools you listed won't get you in unless you are some superstar networker.
Source: I am currently in one of the commonly listed MSF programs with a similar background, and its quite difficult as it is.
Best non-mba programs for placing into IB? (Originally Posted: 08/20/2010)
Hello,
Here's a brief background - I'm a recent 23 yr old graduate of a small (albeit prestigious) liberal arts school in the midwest, I had about a 3.3 gpa, I majored in history, I did my senior thesis in psychology, I played varsity football, and most of my work experience to date is tutoring/counseling at schools and juvenille detention centers.
I've recently decided that PE is my eventual career goal. Step one is going to be getting some pre-MBA IB experience. But I don't really have the qualifications to get hired at an IB. So, I'm looking for some masters programs that might place me into an IB. I was hoping that some of you might have some suggestions.
Thus far, I've heard...
Masters of Science in Engineering (MSE) Masters in Financial Engineering (MFE) Masters of Professional Accounting (MPA) Masters in Management Science (MMS...at Duke) Masters in Marketing Masters in Applied Economics Masters in Economics
FWIW, I think that I'd eventually like to work in a PE firm in San Francisco, so maybe I should be looking into the top investment banks out there, and the Masters Programs that place into them.
I'm really looking forward to hearing what all of you have to say!
Best,
Blue
...ps...here's a less brief background, for those that are interested - - - I got into a lot of great schools out of high school, including Northwestern. Had I known then what I know now, I probably would have just went there and majored in finance. But, I was raised by simple-minded parents in a small-midwestern town, and I knew nothing of finance...really...until my senior year of college. I majored in history...and attended a school that had recruited me...because I wanted to be a high school football coach/history teacher. But, over time, I began to lose interest in the sports/history sides of things, and to gain interest in the psychological development side of things. So, I started looking into Educational Administration...which led to me looking into Management Consulting Firms that hired educational administrators...which led me into the larger world of Business, Finance, and Private Equity. But, it was too late to switch schools, or even majors, by the time I realized that I wanted to go into PE, so here I am. I know that my 3.3 gpa in History seems pretty low...but...#1) my school is famous for grade deflation. graduate programs in the area tend to raise our gpa's when put up against other applicants by 0.2 to 0.3 points. #2) history was one of the toughest majors at my school, most would say the hardest next to the hard science majors. #3) I started doing really bad in my history seminars (like, a few C's) once I lost interest in the field of study, so, it dragged my overall gpa down.
havent you already posted this like 3 times? not to sound like an ass, but most of what needs to be said has been said in the other forums i think. sounded like duke and uva were the suggested routes
right, there's been a lot of disagreement about which is the best though, so i was hoping to get some additional responses from a more IB-oriented crowd.
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