6 Free Financial Modeling Lessons...and More.

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 2:31pm

@ Lotion - You can get into a MSF program without a finance or business UG, but make sure your brother does a couple things.

1) Have the necessary math/stats classes. You usually want to have at least business calc with calc 1 preferred. Have some stats and probability classes. If you have those you are good. I'd suggest having a good story for why the switch.

2) Start reading the usual suspects (WSJ/FT, Economist, Businessweek, etc). Be able to know and discuss finance.

3) Try and get a PWM internship or something business related. It will help with OCR when you do get into the MSF and will further show your business interest.

With a 3-3.3 and say a 650 or better GMAT he will be competitive at most schools (with Claremont and MIT being the exceptions). Claremont likes non traditional students, but you are going to want to have a 700 or better on your GMAT to be competitive.

@GS - No, it does not. It might make you want to consider studying something complimentary for your MBA that isn't finance. I want to do an MBA in a couple years and I would study maybe international business, strategy, etc. If you have a good finance background and a masters in finance you don't really need to study it at the MBA level.

Since the MSF is more of a junior degree many people still go on and pursue an MBA later on.

I'm glad to hear that MBA and

Kassad

(King Kong, 1,195

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 3:03pm

I'm glad to hear that MBA and MSF are not mutually exclusive.

Ant, how useful might a MSF be if my plan is to move to buy-side? I may join a temp-to-perm program at a bank soon as an IBD analyst, and if I wind up staying for the long-run (2+ years), I'm thinking that a MSF combined with having passed CFA II (potentially III) will make moving into a hedge fund or asset manager a lot easier.

Note: HF or AM is where I'd like to wind up, as opposed to staying in IBD or going into PE.

What kind of positions at

fedman12

(Chimp, 12

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 3:37pm

What kind of positions at companies recruit MSF candidates? Are FO roles in banking or trading available?

@ TNA I am an international

Seeker

(Baboon, 135

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 3:46pm

@ TNA

I am an international student finishing my degree in 2013 ( non target UG in Acc&Fin) and really interested in a career in IBD. Do you think its better for me to aim for an MSF in the US or just go to top schools in UK (LSE/Imperial/Oxford)? I do not mind if I work in Europe or the US.

Isn't getting both MSF and

ladubs111

(Senior Orangutan, 432

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 3:56pm

Isn't getting both MSF and MBA just a waste of time and $$$.

ladubs111: Isn't getting both

APAE

(Neanderthal, 3,660

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 4:16pm

ladubs111:

Isn't getting both MSF and MBA just a waste of time and $$$.

Nope. The MSF is a junior degree, often for people who studied something quantitative in undergrad but want to learn more about finance and pursue a junior role immediately after completion. The MBA is a leadership role and the ultimate practitioner's degree within the world of business. It isn't that common to have both, but there's nothing forbidden or rare about it either.

A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.

ladubs111: Isn't getting both

Disjoint

(Gorilla, 712

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 5:03pm

ladubs111:

Isn't getting both MSF and MBA just a waste of time and $$$.

Just the MBA is a big waste of $$$ - the MSF is a good option if you want to move into finance or study something useful a bit longer. In Europe almost everyone has a master, so might as well get an MSF if you want to do finance...

That said - I have 5 friends I know of from my MSF who are doing an MBA at the moment, or who have finished it...
So definitely not mutually exclusive.

MSF is only good if you go to

manx12

(Senior Chimp, 17

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 6:04pm

MSF is only good if you go to a SIGNIFICANTLY better university.

MSF is only good if you go to

manx12

(Senior Chimp, 17

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 6:05pm

MSF is only good if you go to a SIGNIFICANTLY better university.

So I need to do a GMAT for my

BlackBox

(Senior Chimp, 19

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 6:06pm

So I need to do a GMAT for my admissions for the MSF, at this stage not really sure if an MBA will be relevant to me but obviously don't want to rule it out, and I wouldn't be so keen on retaking the GMAT. So is it feasible to get into an MSF and an MBA in a five year period (i.e. from admission to MSF to admission to MBA)? Taking the GMAT again wouldn't be the end of the world, just would be handy if I could potentially kill two birds with one stone.

BlackBox: So I need to do a

APAE

(Neanderthal, 3,660

Points)

on 9/2/12 at 9:33pm

BlackBox:

How is this a question? Study hard, crush the GMAT, the score is good for five years and accepted at both types of programs.

A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.

@FSC - MSF plus CFA LII will

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/3/12 at 2:22am

@FSC - MSF plus CFA LII will probably help you with AM more than HF. Then again, the MSF will help you get that first job and without that you can't get the next, etc .

@fedman12 - I'd say most are banking, F500, some AM, Big 4 valuation/advisory, credit analyst. A few people go into/get trading.

@seeker - Sponsorship is difficult to come by in the US right now so if you aren't a citizen you will be facing an uphill battle if you are specifically looking at banking. I usually advise international MSF students to be broad with their job search.

So in your case I would probably recommend a top UK/European program. Do remember that Europe's economy is in rough shape also so nothing is for sure.

@ladubs111 - You need strong work experience to be in the running for a top MBA. Without that you are at a disadvantage. The MSF helps you with this. It can also help you make up for a poor UG GPA or experience. Also, remember, that while the main MSF schools (Nova, Vandy, BC, OSU, Claremont, etc) might not be Ivy's or full targets, they are well know and well ranked schools. A lot of MSF students come from small schools, lower ranked state schools ,etc. Places that don't even have strong F500 OCR. So many times these MSF programs are a brand increase as well as offering better OCR.

So no, I wouldn't say it is a waste. You should also remember that a large amount of MBAs have other masters also. People with Macc's, masters in engineering, international relations, etc.

@Blackbox - You would have to apply on your 4th year of work, assuming you got a job as soon as the MSF ended. Since it is good for 5 years and you would take it before the MSF started (and MSF's are 1 year programs) you would have 4 years remaining before you apply for your MBA. Feasible, but just keep that in mind.

+1, I'll be applying this

Points)

on 9/3/12 at 8:24am

+1, I'll be applying this fall for the '14 MSF/MMS... the light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

'Before you enter... be willing to pay the price'

for s/t or maybe prop shops,

CKIB91

(Senior Chimp, 28

Points)

on 9/3/12 at 1:07pm

Will be applying to MSF/MMS

General Disarray

(Senior Gorilla, 792

Points)

on 9/3/12 at 2:04pm

The schedule has been posted

pktkid10

(Baboon, 170

Points)

on 9/5/12 at 9:13pm

http://www.msbusinessdegrees.

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/5/12 at 9:21pm

HI, I little bit

satyajit86

(Chimp, 8

Points)

on 9/7/12 at 3:20am

$atyajit

An MSF is a specialized

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/7/12 at 9:57am

Which one is preferred by the

satyajit86

(Chimp, 8

Points)

on 9/7/12 at 11:36am

$atyajit

I'd probably look into a

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/7/12 at 12:12pm

Still debating on whether or

Thurnis Haley

(Orangutan, 367

Points)

on 9/9/12 at 5:26pm

I come from a non-target and

djryan21

(Monkey, 41

Points)

on 9/27/12 at 6:46pm

Jack Mehoff

An MSF is one way to get into

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/27/12 at 7:03pm

TNA does Villanova have any

Points)

on 9/27/12 at 8:08pm

'Before you enter... be willing to pay the price'

I think the placements are a

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/27/12 at 9:35pm

If you look at career

TheLastCall

(Baboon, 134

Points)

on 9/28/12 at 12:36am

-1

TheLastCall: If you look at

Points)

on 9/28/12 at 5:51am

'Before you enter... be willing to pay the price'

BepBep12: TheLastCall: If

TheLastCall

(Baboon, 134

Points)

on 9/28/12 at 1:15pm

-1

MIT / Princeton stand alone

Points)

on 9/28/12 at 2:16pm

'Before you enter... be willing to pay the price'

TheLastCall: BepBep12: Th

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 9/28/12 at 2:21pm

+1 for MSF 2014 I want to

epoch707

(Monkey, 34

Points)

on 2/8/13 at 9:51am

My finance blog: patientcashflow.com

Just got acceptance into the

Points)

on 2/9/13 at 10:57pm

internship experience*

Points)

on 2/9/13 at 10:58pm

I applied this year and I

futurectdoc

(King Kong, 1,675

Points)

on 2/10/13 at 1:04pm

epoch707: +1 for MSF 2014 I

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 2/10/13 at 3:25pm

Applied to both mba and mfin

Points)

on 2/10/13 at 4:20pm

^ great app. Right now I am

epoch707

(Monkey, 34

Points)

on 2/11/13 at 10:53am

My finance blog: patientcashflow.com

epoch707: ^ great app. Right

Points)

on 2/11/13 at 1:58pm

mbavsmfin: Applied to both

KKS

(Gorilla, 644

Points)

on 2/11/13 at 6:10pm

KKS: mbavsmfin: Applied to

Points)

on 2/11/13 at 6:34pm

mbavsmfin: KKS: mbavsmfin

KKS

(Gorilla, 644

Points)

on 2/11/13 at 8:44pm

KKS: mbavsmfin: KKS: mb

Points)

on 2/11/13 at 9:34pm

So I got accepted into the

Points)

on 2/12/13 at 3:41am

Hershswish: So I got accepted

KKS

(Gorilla, 644

Points)

on 2/12/13 at 4:33am

Hershswish: So I got accepted

(Human, 13,536

Points)

on 2/12/13 at 9:47am

TNA: Villanova has all the