MS Finance vs. MBA Finance
I would like to get the forums group wisdom on this. Taking out brand name of the school, networking, leadership, soft skills, etc. Please inform me (us) on the difference in actual education in an MBA focused on Finance and a one-year MS Finance program. Ready, set, GO
MBA students come from a variety of backgrounds. Therefore the finance taught in MBA finance classes tend to start more broad and provide a less in depth education. MSF students tend to be finance majors which allows for a higher level conversation. Also, you are talking about 11 or more classes in finance, more than what is needed for a concentration.
Now this is not absolute as some programs have MSF students sit in with MBA students so that material will be at an MBA level for these joint classes. But the number of classes still say the say.
MBA = generalist MSF = specialist
Would an MBA in Finance with the CFA make up for the lack of rigor? Or is the CFA too specialized to replicate an MSF?
IMO, CFA is more in depth than an MSF.
Listen, you really don't need a graduate degree in finance to work in finance. An MBA is about brand and pedigree and that is what you need in finance. If you want to work in IB, a CFA is largely a waste. IMO, it is a waste outside of Asset Management or maybe something fixed income.
whether you have or haven't done MBA, I don't care. You do sound stupid. MBA is not all about brand and pedigree. It's about the opportunity to network. Otherwise please feel free to do PhD.
CFA is not a waste, because CFA can 1) prove strengths in modeling 2) do equity research, when publicly traded firms chases you for good reviews to help enter IB later (reverse in IB) 3) show that you have more knowledge than FINRA licenses 4) automatic fiduciary duty whenever applies
In summary, you had shit advice. Bye.
See my AMA post as both a MBA and MSF. MSF is usually CFA level 1 equivalent.
That's incorrect. An MSF covers portions of the entire CFA exam.
Comparing L1 to a graduate degree is laughable.
techjobsyankee check out MSF master's incoherent shit again. Guess it's game on.
I compared MSF to "usually Level 1" because MSF are ideally for people who never scratched the finance surfaces. If you are finance undergrad, you get overlaps, period.
If there is a "derivatives" course, will they stop lectures once the CFA Level 1 portion is covered? No way.So they can teach beyond CFA Level 1 if they want, but all in all it's a foot-in-the-door. And I don't give a shit about graduate degrees because it's a "masters". I see such flying shit everywhere.
And apart from that, they teach you how to build models from scratch and also us the tech behind it all which prepares you for a job.
MSF vs mba (Originally Posted: 01/05/2017)
I am 26, without a college degree as I dropped out in my sophomore year due to financial trouble. Since I have worked several jobs mostly mean jobs and now I am making close to six figures by trading derivatives? I want to restart my academic career and starting college again in fall and complete my bachelor degree. Would I be qualified for applying to an MBA program afterwards ? Should I do an MBA or MSF?
Why would you wan't to go to school if your already making six figures at 26? Why not just try to get even better at what you are doing right now? You could be making seven or even possibly eight figures in 10-15 years like the guy who interviewed for Goldman and got his video posted on this site.
I just don't see myself growing any further without a degree and I think it would help me put foot in the door at places that are currently closed for me.
you cannot do MSF without a bachelor degree. as I know, the same is with MBA.
I have received readmission at my previous state school in fall for completing my bachelors, but I don't see a point in not been able to complete it as I would be studying business as opposed to electrical engineering earlier. I want to know whether MBA or a masters in finance which would be better option for me?
MS Fin or MBA? Which school/ program? (Originally Posted: 07/24/2017)
I have a BBus in Marketing and I am wanting to get into Finance (not sure which field exactly). My goal would be Wall Street (stretch).
Here's my background:
Education:
2nd BS Applied Mathematics (did not finish due to relocation) 2nd BS Electrical and Electronics (did not finish due work full-time, bills, irresponsible) BS Marketing with GPA of around 3.3 (I converted our GPA system in New Zealand to USA) Semester abroad in Canada
Work:
1 year part time experience as support to all 63 stores consumer electronics in reverse logistics 0.5 years part time as admin assistant to GM of Operations (same company) Just turned 1 year full time in Public Transport as Information Specialist
GMAT
I did a mock up GMAT exam and I got 100 in my Quant but did terrible in verbal. Overall I got 680.
I am aiming to get a minimum of 700 Overall — what would be my chances of getting into MS Fin in a top school?
Would MS Fin be better than MBA if I want to get into Finance, specifically Wall St?
Which schools would you recommend? I have a list of schools and I got my eye on Stern, LSE, LBS, UCL?
Would aiming for MIT, Wharton, HBS, etc. be a stretch?
Thank you so much and I appreciate your help!
the more quantitative programs will probably like you 100% Quant profile.
Any meaningful MBA programs MBA business schools">M7/T10/T15 will be a stretch. T25 maybe. your GPA is not terrible or impressive. GMAT is borderline T25 average. You only have 1 year of full-time work so you need superstardom to get in.
MSF isn't a big wall street feeder, and besides, there are many specialty to choose within wall street, so who knows which one you want? (AM, S&T, IB, Risk, else?!)
Hello wsorookie789,
Thanks for your feedback.
Which schools in particular would you suggest?
If my goal would be wall street, which track would you suggest I do? Which one would you suggest: AM, IB, PE, etc?
I am a total newbie on this and still studying what would be a great way to achieve my goal.
I was thinking MSF as I want to transition to Finance and MSF, I think, would be an ideal choice.
Thank you so much.
You need higher score to be both in top MS school and MBA school. Most top MBA school will want more work exp (you are expected to go through the program and become a manager). Top MSFin wants you to have 1 - 2 top percentile test score + a super cool hobby (skydiving or fish spearing of some sort)
MSFin is better for S&T, quant tracks / MBA is better for investment banking. For such a quant heavy profile, a quant track should be better for you. Both should pay the same out of school though MSFin will probably land you an analyst title and MBA associate
MSFin top schools are: CMU, Princeton, Berkeley, etc.
Aiming for Wharton, MIT or Harvard (assuming MBA) would be a super stretch (reason being they want more work experience and often have quants who have much better profiles apply), that said, if you experience some super hardship or has tons of bonus diversity point (disabled + rare nationality), your chance increase substantially with each diversity point
Depends on which way you want to proceed:
MBA: check out GMATClub MFin: check out quantnet
Best
Hello beefphoforthewin,
Thank you for your comment.
If I get overall GMAT of 750 minimum, will it still be a stretch to get into M7? T10-15?
I am South-East Asian residing in New Zealand and have studied in SEA, NZ, and CA. Reason being of not finishing engineering is full-time work and lack of financial resources then took a year break before jumping into business. I have been more interested in business rather than engineering or programming and was basically happy go lucky during the earlier years of my studies. I am on my mid 20's.
I am more interested in MFin rather than an MBA — which school would you recommend? I have my eyes on NYU, LSE, LBS, and UCL. Would this be reachable or is it too much to ask?
Which area of finance would you recommend to start?
Thank you again and I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
MSc in Finance or MBA (Originally Posted: 02/08/2010)
Im graduating this April with a Bachelor in agricultural sciences (i know, not business related) from Mcgill university in montreal, canada. However i dont feel that I like the job opportunities this field opens up for me and i have very seriously began to consider a degree in finance.
Initially i was going to apply to several coop MBA programs in different parts of Canada. This is nice because i have very little work experience and this would give me a chance to enter the finance/business field. However my grades are quite high (My gpa is 3.85 and i scored a 700 on the gmat) and I know that i can get into better schools than the ones that offer coop MBAs in canada. Now, upon further research, i have started to look into msc in finance at a respectable school. What do you guys think is the best pathway? I would like a pretty good starting salary and also a program that accepts students without any prior business degrees.
I want to clear up that relocating to europe is not a problem and I do have european (Italian) citizenship.
do NOT get an MBA. you are not "ready" for it yet.
my perception is that american's don't value masters as much, so i think going to europe is a good idea.
since your canadian, i've taken the liberty of mapping your life out for you. you're welcome.
masters in finance @ LBS -> internship -> M&A london -> MBA -> PE -> master of the universe -> cocaine overdose in Buenos Aires at 70
welcome to the wonderful world of high finance
awful plan
LBS master in finance is for people with at least 2 years of work experience in financial services.
LSE Master in finance is for people with no experience, but good luck getting in. something like 2.5% of applicants are accepted.
Why am I not ready for an MBA? (im not confronting, I actually want to know why you say that because I've been told that many times.)
Also, what are everyone's thoughts on getting an MSc in Canada and then going to europe. Is that likely to happen? Im saying that because an MSc at LSE is around 14,000 pounds plus really high living expenses.. I dont know if it's going to be worth it.
LSE offers other programmes that can get you into finance such as their MSc in accounting and finance (good acceptance rate). I know an Italian dude in this program and he got interviewed by most of the BB so I think that you would have a good shot at a finance job following that path.
With your curriculum and McGill on your CV I am sure that you can get in.
Good luck!
Since all the ps above have given you enough advice, I just want to mention, how wonderful "McGill" sounds in my mouth. It feels like gently melted Cheddar.
Do your MBA in Europe.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend doing an MBA here anymore. There is a surplus in the supply of yuppie MBAs causing a consistent depreciation in starting salaries. Not to mention how many MBAs with experience that are sitting at home as we speak. There are plenty of yuppie MBA programs in Europe that open up the same job opportunities as Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, etc and you'll graduate owing 1/3 or less than what you would owe Aunt Sallie Mae. An MBA doesn't guarantee you a job on Wall Street or any job that will pay you enough to pay off the debt without living like a peasant so you should definitely do your homework on tuition costs and employment rates of MBA-Finance alums.
An MBA from the USA at a top 10-15 school is still a great investment. If cost is an issue work for a company which provides tuition reimbursement and go to school PT. The top programs in Europe are just as competitive as many programs in the states and unless they are heavily subsidized cost the same if not more than here. Example:
INSEAD --> Tuition fees for the September 2010 and January 2011 entries amount to €52,000.
That isn't cheap. You can go to lesser known schools in the US for an MBA and save money, but opportunities will be less.
I don't think your blanket statement holds.
I agree with the statement above:
1.) I can confidently say 75% of somewhat decent schools in the US have an MBA program, regardless if they have a large business school or not. The people getting these non-50 MBAs are the type of people who write, "I want to be a CEO of a major company and be rich one day" in their personal statement.
2.) As for the programs in Europe, I've done some research and a lot of smaller schools I've never heard of have surprisingly great placement. I feel you get more knowledge from studying abroad than the actual MBA.
That said, for a recent undergrad, a Msc. in Finance will help you advance your career more than an MBA from a random school.
Did you consider working in commodities espeically in soft commdity markets? Companies like cargil, bunge, louis dreyfus, adm hire tons of ag econ kids... Work as a "marketer" for a number of years and than go get your mba...
Some of the b-schools are overrated I would look at the MBA and MSc courses at Nottingahm Business School. You can get more expertise knowledge and specialise in Finance, Management etc by doing a MSc rather than opting for a traditional MBA: http://www.businessbecause.com/nottingham-university-business-school.htm
^^^Knowledge and specializing mean nothing and should not factor into your decision making. Only three things matter:
1) Placement 2) Placement 3) Placement
cant disagree
cant disagree, everything alse bullshit
MBA or MSc Quant Finance (Originally Posted: 06/21/2007)
Hello together,
what would you recommend someone who wants the opportunity/possibility to work for a HF (and is currently working in consulting)?
Many thanks,
AniraX
I can probably help you. In my opinion, you will be at an advantage w/ a Master's in quant. finance. MBA programs are known for having a broader focus and touching on a lot of soft skills that are not necessary (directly) to the HF world. A lot of HF's do not recruit from MBA programs for this reason and will pull kids from Master's and PHD programs. This is especially so if the target HF is branded as a quant-type fund. Of course exceptions exist, but I am sure others will generally agree.
What about a quantitatve-oriented MBA, i.e. going to Chicago or NYU and loading up on quant-oriented finance and statistics classes? Do you think that this would be comparable to an MSc?
that helps me a lot
It really depends on the hedge fund but I think generally the quant MSc is the way to go. A quant-heavy MBA at Chicago or NYU could work as well. Basically it just depends what kind of hedge fund you want to be at. Certainly there are hedge funds that recruit at business schools and there are hedge funds that recruit at quant MSc programs. It just depends which kind of hedge fund you want to be recruited by.
At the fund I work at (decidedly quant oriented) they told me that if I took time off to go to business school they would pay me less when I got back.
there are different types of hedge funds out there. the ones using fundamental analysis require mbas to analyze financial statements. the quantitative hedge funds require financial engineers. you can get into a hedge fund regardless of the program you choose. it's the type of hedge fund that you need to consider
there is no such thing as a quant-oriented mba program that's so quant-oriented that people will think you're the equivalent of a financial engineer. the two programs are very different.
http://jobsforwallstreeters.blogspot.com We send you quality jobs for front-office positions in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, hedge fund, sales & trading, equity research, and fixed income research.
MBA or Masters (Originally Posted: 06/30/2016)
Hi guys,
I have been offered a place on a Masters and an MBA programme. Same university. I've worked in Asset Management for the last three years and plan is to stay in the same industry.
Can someone offer some advice as to which is best in my case and in general?
The masters is finance-related and therefore quite technical.
Do Inv Banks value an MBA degree as much as they used to?
Please know i'm based in London.
Thanks!
Most important thing is to know what companies will recruit at your program, whether it's MBA or Masters. It sounds like your Masters is not MFin, but what is it specifically?
I am sensing that you want a change of role, so I assume you want to move into investment research?
Some more details are necessary for us to be more helpful to you.
Masters vs MBA? (Originally Posted: 07/30/2017)
What is your opinion, is it always safe to go for a MBA? When you can go get a Masters in Finance???
In Europe it is more common to get a MSc, whereas in the states it's more common to to get an MBA. Both programs are good and it depends on where you are from also. In the US you usually do 2 years as an analyst then go to business school to get an MBA and then you return as an associate or you go to PE or HF. In Europe on the other hand it is not necessarily required to go to business school the same way it is in the US, and also many people get an MSc and then go to investment banking
Either way, both are good programs, if you're in the US get an MBA after 2 years, if you're in Europe get an MSc right after your BSc. I've completed my BSc this year and I'm starting my MSc in October. My school joined the AMBA group so you can only get an MBA if you have 2 years of work experience
I was told (*TOLD) that an MBA really isn't needed. People just want reassertion that they can get into IB if all else fails so they say "M7 MBA." Experience matters more than an MBA. People get an MBA just to take a break from work or pivot industries. People high up in the industry told me this.
In the United States, an MBA is almost always a safe bet.
So the answers above are all right and it depends on what you want
In term of safety, I would think you'll get a good job regardless whether you go to Princeton MFin or HBS MBA. For lower tier schools I really don't know. Probably time to research those schools would be better spent getting yourself into top programs
Msc Finance in Europe or MBA (Originally Posted: 11/28/2011)
Im currently working in the Energy Industry in the US. My undergrad was a BSc in Financial Economics. I went to a top 25 ranked school, but it is a small liberal arts college that I feel the big players wont recognize outside of Newsweek. My main goal is to be working in the financial/consulting/Energy industry in Europe. I'm almost fluent in german and have spent a great deal of time there. I'm pretty unhappy with my job now in that I want to go back to Europe and start my career (Im an American) as soon as possible. I would hate to wait 5 years before I apply to a European MBA program. That being said, I'm not sure if my application is strong enough to get in before. I figured a European MSc Finance would be a good route and a good platform to launch my career in Europe before im 30. Does anyone have any advice on the best route for me to take?
Have you looked at INSEAD admit stats? What makes you think your profile falls short? The fluency in a 2nd language is sometimes the barrier for US kids trying to get into INSEAD, but it sounds like you've got that nailed.
add 700+ GMAT to your fluency in German and US citizenship, then you'll be a rare breed - definitely worth a shot.
with LBS has both a Master's in Management and Finance, 10 months full time. LSE has a broad range of Master's, e.g. even one specialized in Private Equity.
with >2 yrs WE: INSEAD definitely the best, followed by IMD and LBS. class size of INSEAD is 900, last year McKinsey hired 130, BCG 60, Bain and Booz each 40+,...
most of the people at insead who end up at mckinsey or bcg are people going back to mckinsey and bcg. they are all sponsored. actually in their employment reports you can see how many actually went back to their previous employer
You should consider HEC MSc Finance too.
I was also wondering this..went to a non target in the states, but have dual citizenship for US and Europe...should i go back to the states? or stay in europe for grad school
My grades in college were bad. It wasnt until I studied abroad in France that i really found my motivation and career goals in life. So thats definitely what concerns me. I worked for the US defense department in Germany last year. Would that count for a year of work experience in addition to my current job? Additionally, I understand how important work experience is to the MBA application, but if i want to be involved in investments/consulting/or energy sector, would a MSc Finance or MBA be more beneficial to my goals?
Thanks guys
How important are undergraduate grades in the application process if you have great essays, unique characteristics, work experience, great recommendations and a 700+ gmat?
depends on the school, and on how unique you are. 700+ isn't that impressive, particularly if you have sub 3.5gpa. 750+ gets you noticed if you have a poor gpa (by that I mean 3.0 ish; if you're in the 2.* range you're probably f'd).
lbs>>>>>>insead
Non-Target choosing MBA or Masters help (Originally Posted: 07/22/2015)
Hey Guys,
I have been reading and searching through every thread on WSO and business school ranking online. I see people saying that not top 10 MBAs or MAFs are pointless and others saying not. For my situation, coming from an ultra non-target private liberal arts college where I was able to get an internal audit internship at a top Management Consulting firm as my final summer internship, I personally think anything can benefit me. To be honest due to my lack of experience in the actual fields I am unsure of exactly what I want to do, S&T, ER, and Corp Fin seem to stand out to me the most. IB is also a favorite of mine but I don't know if I would be able to do the life style.
I have a 3.86 GPA with a major in Econ and minors in Math and Finance. For personal reasons the school must be in the tri-state area or close. For other personal reasons I would prefer it not be the most expensive school, although if it is that good and I can get in, I would probably go.I scored average on SAT with no studying / I did not give a shit in high school which is what set me back so much, so I think I will be able to score well on the GMAT. With this being said my options seem to be;
MBAs: Rutgers Baruch (Zicklin) University of Delaware (Lerner) Temple (Fox)
Masters: Rutgers - Masters of Financial Analysis Baruch (Zicklin) - Masters of Finance Temple (Fox) - Masters of Investment Management University of Delaware (Lerner) - Masters of Finance
My reach applications will be NYU, possibly even Columbia. I left Fordham and Pace out because I heard they were just as good as Rutgers / Baruch, just more expensive.
I plan to attempt to work for at least 2-3 years whether it be operations or something else and unless I network my way to something I can stand and love, after that i will apply.
Are there any of these that I should not consider, or any others that I should consider? And I know to the average person here these are less than ideal, but they seem to be what I have to work with from my research.
Thanks Guys!
Also which of those are top 2?
School Based - I played hockey, am the vice president of my fraternity, was the treasurer of my fraternity, VP of economics honor society, 2 other honor societies
B-SCHOOL or MSF (Originally Posted: 01/31/2018)
Hello,
I studied Biology (BS 3.45) at a state school. I worked for a year in marketing at a Large software company and then taught AP Biology for 2 years in China. I'm in a hard place between too old for MSF and too young for MBA. With those stats, could i get into UTEXAS or other second tier msf. Or should I wait and try for B school in a year or 2. Thanks.
TEACHER181, bummer your thread hasn't had a response yet. Maybe one of these threads could point you in the right direction:
Or maybe the following users have something to say: ManOnTheMoon mdp goldarmor
I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.
Fast track into MBA or MSF (Originally Posted: 07/10/2017)
Hello everyone,
I am an incoming freshman at University of Texas at Dallas. I am double majoring in finance and economics and hope to go into investment banking. I had a couple questions.
1) Would a double major in finance and accounting be better than finance and economics? (Getting the double major doesn't really add that much to my course load, so I think it's a good idea)
2) My school offers a fast track program that allows me to take graduate courses my senior year and finish my graduate degree in one year (5 years total for undergrad and grad). Would it be better to fast track into an MBA or a MSF? If you think MBA, would general or concentrated in finance be better?
Thank you very much for your time and any other advice/tips would be appreciated.
In the end the double major won't matter too much tbh do it if you can keep your gpa up, and the general consensus is usually to avoid an MBA right after undergrad and get some work experience first
Assuming you still want to do IBD a couple of years in:
1) UTD is a plenty good school for its value but for any IB jobs in Texas, UT Austin and Rice and other good schools elsewhere will take your job. You'd be better off trying to transfer to UT after your 1st or 2nd year (I know UT has some kind of program where they promote kids from other UT campuses) compare to taking silly, easy classes and having double majors. All the trouble will be worth it once you get that IB gig. Heck, transfer anywhere else top 20 or above
2) Do not go into fast track of any program (MBA or MSF), same argument hold here. UTD is good for its value but won't get you where you want. There are plenty better MSF (Vanderbilt, UWash, Princeton, etc.) and definitely plenty better MBAs (I won't list them out)
That said, "some" UTD kids do end up in Tech Consulting (pay pretty well). If you still reason yourself to stay at UTD (for financials, family, scholarship,etc.) reasons, feel free to reach out to all the alums and seniors (not the best ones or the luckiest ones but all the other ones) to have a real feel of how the job market is. I would also talk to UTD MBAs and MSF alums about jobs if you want to do it straight. The general advice is a no, I would advise the same to someone at Notre Dame (they have the same program)
MBA or MSF with Advising Experience (Originally Posted: 10/03/2017)
Hello All,
I am new here and have been digging around trying to get some information on where to take the next step in my career. Most of the info I am seeing is about Analyst. I am currently a Financial Advisor with a large global bank. I have been in the financial industry for about 5 years now. Though I am an FA now I have considered going to a wealth management team down the road. Of course plans can change, but I never see myself leaving the financial industry be it individual or corporate investment or money management.
My question is will an MBA look better to clients and employers or will the MSF be better suited since I don't plan on leaving the industry? Wanting to go into management is not high on the priority list at this point, but I don't want to cap myself or limit my value by doing the wrong degree now.
I graduated from no name college with a Bus Admin degree. The second part of this is what schools would you all recommend? I live in the DC area so online is heavily being considered. I have looked at Penn State, University of Miami and Syracuse as well as couple others that don't rank as high. I am not going for Ivy league, but want a well respected school.
Thanks in advance for the feedback.
Jon
Uptown Girl, have you checked out these or run a search:
More suggestions...
I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.
Trying to break into IBD - MSc or MBA? (Originally Posted: 02/09/2018)
Trying to break into IBD at a BB in the UK.
Have been working for 6 months now at a small advisory firm doing valuations, should I enrol into an MSc before I get too much work experience, or should I wait it out for 3 years and do an MBA?
Background: -Non-target UK uni -Engineering degree (2:1) -Don't know what rejection feels like because I don't even get interviews -Broke and dead on the inside
Obviously a lateral move into a BB now would be perfect, but I have higher chances of winning the lottery than even getting an interview. Feel free to share some monkey wisdom
Hi SupremeLeader, check out these threads:
Calling relevant pros to the rescue! London calling @FakingItAndMakingIt" brazil
If those topics were completely useless, don't blame me, blame my programmers...
Masters in Finance or MBA from accountant to ER? (Originally Posted: 06/02/2010)
Hi everybody, new to the forum but I have been doing a couple of readings here and there~~
Long story short, I hold a masters degree in engineering from Cambridge and an undergraduate engineering degree from Imperial College. I have started working in one of the big 4 firms as an auditor and I am about to obtain my CPA soon. I would like to break into the ER sector and I am currently making plans for further study. What would put me into a better position, a masters degree in finance or an MBA degree?
Please also suggest some top tier programs for me if I were to take a masters degree in finance.
PS: I am currently working towards my CFA as well (passed level 1 exam, working on level 2..)
Thanks so much!
depends where for each, but generally mba is better
Just get an MBA, it covers for a masters in finance (sort of) and opens up a lot of doors in multiple industries.
I think the Master in Finance at LBS would suit you perfectly. If you know for sure that you want to work in Finance it is better than an MBA.
If you are getting a CFA, do you really need a masters or MBA? (BTW I'm just reiterating things that I've read on this board... I'm one of the blind leading the blind). CFA's (from what I've read) have networking events and even CFA clubs in major cities. This would probably be just as good (if not better) for ER networking opportunities over MBA/Grad school.
My guess is that there's no point in the MS if you're going to pass all 3 levels of the CFA, but definitely do the MBA.
Have you been applying directly to ER positions? I have seen plenty of recruiters looking for qualified accountants for ER/M&A/CF positions.
Go to www.efinancialcareers.co.uk and type ACA in the search bar. With Cambridge + chartered accountant you should be getting interviews. This is a US site so people will tell you you can't break into finance from accounting, but if your in London it's absolutely false.
THanks for the input guys, really appreciate it!!
Actually, I am now based in Hong Kong (the weather is crazy here :), working towards my CPA (just the final papers to be completed). I am not sure how much of a difference does it make when comparing the investment industry in US, London and Hong Kong?
I am definitely working towards my CFA at the same time, just that I couldnt manage the time to get my level 2 done as work + CPA takes up most of my time already...
MSF Soon vs MBA Later (Originally Posted: 01/05/2013)
Hello All, I have a little predicament regarding the next step I should take.
Background: I graduated UG with Finance from a non-target midwest school back in 2009. I am currently working as Business Operations Analyst with F500 Energy company. This position is similar to an FP&A position but focused on a division in my organization.
Goal: My goal is to get in Corporate Finance in F500 preferably in the tech sector.
Steps: I am currently trying to decide if I should go back to school and get MSF from one of the top tier program. If I'm going this route, I would probably try to do it fairly soon. I'm thinking this would provide a reset and help leverage my position into corporate finance in other sector or possibly banking. In addition to that, I would go to MBA after a few more years of experience.
An alternative is to wait a few more years, skip the MSF, and get into top 20 MBA program and go from there.
Question: Should I even try to do this MSF -> New job -> MBA or just stick with current job -> MBA route?
Disclaimer: I am currently on work Visa and would be an international student. This might affect some recruitment consideration as far as I know.
I would recommend waiting and going the MBA route down the line and skipping the MSF. Most MSF programs are built for recent college graduates and do not require a large amount of prior work experience. MSFs are also often tailored to career starters/boosters vs. MBAs which are often career changers. It sounds like you have a good job now and a resume that depending on other factors could warrant a top-20 MBA acceptance. This would be your meal ticket into the Corp Fin job you are looking for. Just my two cents, good luck with the decision.
After going through the process and speaking with a ton of admissions people and doing interviews, they really do like recent grads. I graduated in 2011 and I was afraid I would be considered a year too old. However, I know Princeton and Illinois programs are geared towards individuals with more work experience as opposed to recent college grads.
So with that said, going that MBA route may be more fitting to you at this point, but then again, I am no expert in this.
If you are definitely gonna do the MBA (which both your paths indicate) I think adding the MSF is pretty costly and not all that helpful. It's just one degree too many. And since you can go from your current job direct into an MBA, I don't see a major advantage for you doing an MSF also.
I have a pretty similar situation. I will be graduating soon. I am an international student. I want to come to US for higher studies and i want to build a career there. Now, I can try for the MSF in 2014 ( as i have no job experience) and then give a try to build up my career. Or, I can wait and gather some job experience, after which i can apply for an MBA and try to build up my career in US from there after.. What will be the optimal decision for me ?? Please help :(
P.S. I am a finance major and want to stay in my subject in my joblife also. But i havent chosen any particular finance track yet e.g. corporate finance or investment banking etc.
MBA v. MSF v. Quant in a nutshell (Originally Posted: 02/20/2013)
http://www.princeton.edu/bcf/newsevents/in-the-news/links/20070900-GARP…
I don't really see anything competing with the MBA as the article alleges, and really I don't think the two should be compared. They are marketed to different sets of consumer (e.g. 0-2 work experience and 2-8 work experience people), and they are marketed as providing different skills (e.g. MSF technical knowledge, MBA some technical knowledge but mostly "management" training").
Thanks for posting this. Pretty dated article. Since it is GARP it is more geared towards the increase in MFE programs than the typical MSF programs that people on this site routinely inquire about.
I think this reflects a couple things.
1) Saturation of MBA's 2) Desire to keep wallet share of students without putting people in MBA programs without the necessary experience 3) Pure revenue generation desire from universities 4) Increasing complexity of finance 5) Student demand
Applications have leveled or dropped at a lot of non top MBA programs and schools are looking for a way to provide a graduate offering that is shorter, more focused and provides a better ROI for students.
MSF/MBA or no? (Originally Posted: 04/10/2013)
Hey guys, quick question
I'm a sophomore majoring in finance at a non-target school (U Central Florida). Because I don't go to a target school, I've been putting a lot of thought into getting my masters in finance after I graduate but that is still up for debate. Ideally, I'd like to graduate and land a job as an analyst or maybe in consulting, but that seems like a stretch right now.
How many of you guys got your MSF or MBA? Do you honestly think its worth the time and money? What about becoming a CFA charterholder? I want to have a good job but lately I feel as if thats not achievable without going to grad school.
Let me know what you guys think
Create a long-term plan for yourself but allow for some flexibility. Both degrees offer different opportunities and career trajectories. Keep in mind that there are many paths to success and either degree is not a ticket to success. You are only a sophmore and you should focus on doing what you can for summer internships. Perhaps, you should even consider doing very well and transferring to a "target" school of possible.
An MBA can be worth the time but most people will argue only if in a top 10 or top 20 or top 25 program. Again, this depends on where you are in your career when and if you decide to pursue a degree. In my opinion and MSF won't help too much for consulting.
MSF at a top program or an MMS/MiM from UVA/Duke/Wake will be worth it, but you can network your way in. View an MSF/MMS/MiM as a backup plan.
so ur a sophomore why not a- transfer to a better school if u can get in or b- grind your shit out over the next 2 years instead of thinking of an MBA in 7 years time?
I think the best option would be to transfer out to a target school. If you cant transfer (for whatever reason, it should be a good one) then I would network and try to break in that way. If both the above fails, I would consider a MSF/MiM unless you can get some type of job that can leverage you to a top MBA after working a few years. I think that a top MBA is more of a sure thing than a MSF/MiM.
Network, network, network. Consider transferring to a target school, too.
You need to work for several years before you get an MBA.
Nihil vitae consequatur qui consequatur. Qui quia autem velit culpa est harum similique non. Nulla ut rerum asperiores repellat omnis quia repellendus.
Et blanditiis et animi. Vitae accusamus sit et est magnam perspiciatis quidem. Architecto consequuntur rerum quae natus autem. Magnam consequatur corporis dolor vitae modi adipisci optio. Et aut harum sit et nemo saepe sed.
Cum commodi occaecati explicabo optio ut rerum. Officia earum voluptatem praesentium quo.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Aliquam impedit perferendis est. Ut suscipit commodi rem similique hic non voluptates.
Rem asperiores consequatur doloremque vel. Quos qui maxime eos placeat fugiat. Suscipit magnam sed aspernatur aut porro et aut. Excepturi laudantium praesentium id a excepturi et ut dolor. Officiis consequatur consectetur rerum qui.
Facilis consequatur alias aut qui nisi aperiam. Est eius voluptates vitae expedita. Magni omnis et hic eius incidunt. Tenetur sint accusantium cumque consequatur non. Earum qui dolor explicabo.
Sed reprehenderit commodi provident modi. Deleniti qui ullam quisquam deserunt soluta sed. Voluptatem adipisci nam fugit corporis soluta. Commodi ducimus nihil non est minima cupiditate. Molestiae in non deserunt. Adipisci voluptas saepe voluptatem voluptate debitis.
Iste aut exercitationem sed accusantium. Quia assumenda accusamus excepturi magnam. Quam qui doloribus accusantium qui aut rerum.
Nisi consectetur qui pariatur autem asperiores quidem autem error. Dolorem ut nostrum dolor vitae. Vel nihil quo est non. Nisi omnis labore impedit fugit et. Similique facilis dolores natus facere.
Neque facere rerum enim. Id cum reiciendis et consequuntur earum. Quam quisquam eos provident quae voluptate occaecati inventore. Est repellat explicabo reiciendis soluta facilis necessitatibus nihil. Vero alias animi consequuntur et. Est magnam ex sed culpa quia ut.
Exercitationem ipsam ut nesciunt enim ratione. Magni qui temporibus minus incidunt maiores. Impedit doloribus est deleniti necessitatibus ipsum fugiat sit sed. Nihil eum repudiandae voluptas optio.
Eaque adipisci aliquam atque quo vitae. Sapiente nemo blanditiis temporibus eligendi commodi labore consequuntur dolorem. Ab eos quia libero aut.
Sint dolore laborum ratione aut hic ipsam sed officiis. Quaerat tempore rem laboriosam quasi. Qui eum harum necessitatibus est possimus. Quisquam suscipit voluptatem dolores deleniti sunt impedit atque neque.