Msc. Finance hurts your MBA Prospects - Why?

Hello Everyone,

I've noticed a lot of posts on these forums about a specialist Master's hurting your chances of getting into an MBA program but not a clear reason why. Could someone elaborate?

Advantages:

-Better shot at entry level positions (especially for non-target undergrads)
-A more in-depth understand of the technical aspects of Finance
-More networking with Alumni and professors
-Head start on the CFA exam

Disadvantages:

-Later start on your career
...???


For someone from a non-target undergrad an Msc. in Finance just makes sense to me. How could a non-target job applicant get a solid entry level position in order to get the work experience to get into a top MBA program when there is so much competition from target schools? If all things the same, a Master's in Finance would get an interview over a Bachelors in Finance.

 
AnthonyD1982:
They hurt you because Admin question why you are going for an MBA after your MSF. Kind of like getting a 2nd MBA.

I agree with Affirmative's post. Even if an MSF would be considered a 2nd MBA, I'd argue that the benefits of the MSF out-weigh the disadvantage of going back to graduate school.

Besides, there are many simple answers to side step this question. "I want to switch industry", "I want to switch locations", "I want to learn different aspects of business".

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/company/trilantic-north-america>TNA</a></span>:

They hurt you because Admin question why you are going for an MBA after your MSF. Kind of like getting a 2nd MBA.

agree. As incoming MSF student, I see that it'd be super awkward to study MBA in Finance later....

 

I don't think it will hurt your MBA chances, especially if you get good grades at your MSc finance. if you look at class profiles of many top MBA programs, a sizeable (5-10%) portion of the class has another advanced degree. If adcom jokingly asks "why MBA" (i say jokingly b/c ultimately they want your money), the obvious answer is to say "i specialized in finance with the MSc and now I feel ready to learn more about the managerial side of business, and an MBA will allow me to do that"

 
Affirmative_Action_Walrus:

I don't think it will hurt your MBA chances, especially if you get good grades at your MSc finance. if you look at class profiles of many top MBA programs, a sizeable (5-10%) portion of the class has another advanced degree.
If adcom jokingly asks "why MBA" (i say jokingly b/c ultimately they want your money), the obvious answer is to say "i specialized in finance with the MSc and now I feel ready to learn more about the managerial side of business, and an MBA will allow me to do that"

That's an awful statement of generalization. Advanced degrees have many types, MEng MD PhD MS MA, but few have business MS actually, except few MS accounting for earning CPAs.

The cost-benefit analysis depends on the current state of every applicant. Hurts more for kids from good UG schools, benefits more for some non-target

 

Completely disagree that getting a MSF has any bearings on getting into a MBA program. I attended a top 5 MBA program and worked in adcom during my time there and not once did I ever hear anyone discount a candidate because of a MSF. For adcom, it's really about what applicant did with the MSF and how they performed during the MSF that matters. There seems to be a confusion around MSF vs. MBA. They are intended to be two completely different degrees even if some of the learnings overlap. The MSF is a deep dive into learning financial principles and valuation techniques whereas the MBA is a general management degree oriented around learning how to appropriately apply those finance principles. In other words, the MSF equips analysts with the ability to crunch numbers whereas the MBA prepares future CFOs with the ability to understand and dissect financial analysis.

 

In aus non-MBA masters are for those who haven't already secured a grad job. There are 2 different types of finance masters degrees.

1) Master of Commerce - 1.5 year full time - essentially a condensed undergraduate degree for those with a non-finance education - option of majoring in finance

2) Master of Finance - 1 year full time - for those who majored in finance in undergrad and couldn't secure a summer internship and subsequent grad spot. - claims to expand on what has been taught in undergrad. At most Go8 (Group of 8, ivy-league equivalent in aus) universities, they include a large portion of undergrad units - Macquarie university's Master of Applied finance is arguably the best option is aus.

Both of these do little to improve your chances at getting into a Go8 MBA as there is a large emphasis on pre-MBA work experience and in particular in management positions (average MBA applicant is older in aus than in the us)

 

Master's degree won't hurt. Be careful saying you'll get better ECs by the time you apply - if you haven't got anything solid going on yet, it will only become tougher as work takes up more time - definitely doable, but make it a priority and don't let time get away from you. Also would highly advise taking GMAT before you start BB IB if at all possible, it'll just be easier - especially if you have time off work as you're leaving/your last few weeks will be more cruisy.

 

Slightly unrelated, but could you shed some light on how you broke into ER from an MFin/MSF program? I'm potentially looking to do the same.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

I did a boutique ER internship prior to my msf and basically targeted groups where my chemical engineering background was at least somewhat useful. Did the same in the msf program and I ended up in oil & gas ER. For banking, I did the same once again and ended up in a chemicals BB ibd group. My best advice is to leverage your exp/interests. It was easy to show interest in the oil & gas and chemicals sectors with my chemical engineering degree. Being able to demonstrate interest in a given sector goes a long way, especially in ER

 
bearing:
Economic History? Do you want to become an academic?

No, but I enjoy studying global macro, globalization, previous deleveragings, asset class returns throughout these credit cycles in comparison to the present credit crunch, etc. I was thinking about LSE's MSc Finance but meh, I'll be learning this on the job?

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

They are very different degrees. Why do you want both? A MSF is not at all necessary for banking. If you follow this path you are going to have to explain very well why you did the MSF and why you want an MBA now and what your future goals are.

 

I am currently in Vanderbilt's MSF program. I was a non-finance major and had two years experience in a completely unrelated field to finance so needed an MSF to break into investment banking. I have already signed an offer let for an analyst program starting in June. I am just looking to the future to see if an MBA would be a possibility after I complete this program.

 

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