MSF Now or Wait?
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I think if anyone can make it work, you can with that GMAT. It's worth applying. Also throw in Duke's MMS- they place well enough and would take you. I wouldn't try for LSE or LBS.
Keep in mind, the percentage of kids getting BB IBD from an MSF that isn't MIT/LSE/LBS is almost nil. I haven't run into any of them. Your best shot is to break into a MM firm and lateral, or try a different industry until Bschool.
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Oddly I was in a very similar situation, although I didn't even consider a masters at the time. I took the long route and did the MBA. Same GMAT as well haha
My advice would be to try, your GMAT is great. Apply to all 4 and if you don't get in - no harm done. If there is an optional essay - just take ownership (maybe you were too focused on extras....) for your GPA and then cite reasons why its not indicative of your abilities (730 GMAT, improving grades, so on). If your work experience is 1 year of a staff accountant you won't be getting any relevant finance experience anyway, so I'm not sure that would really help. Apply this year and then again next year if you need to...If you can get a job in something more finance related, then it may be a different story.
What about ASU, Florida, UT Dallas, and Texas A&M? I think they are all ranked above SMU.
rankings are meaningless, UFlorida is great but only open to UF undergrads, the rest of those schools most definitely do not have a better MSF program than SMU.
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Certainly makes sense - have you tried connecting with any students directly? They would probably be able to speak to whether or not work experience has any bearing on recruiting. I just really don't think a year as a staff accountant will make much of a difference. Honestly if you got a 730 after 2 days of studying, why not put in a week and see if you can crack 750? You would be over the middle 80% in that which would hopefully offset your GPA. I think you have a good chance of getting in to a program, but I have no idea how much it will help you. Probably could get a better job than what you have lined up right now I would guess, analyst or possibly TAS group could be within reach. Also, if you have a 3.5-3.8 GPA in the MSF, it will also offset your low UG GPA if you ever decide to go after an MBA.
side note: As I said, I had a similar GPA when I graduated and started as a staff accountant at a tiny company. So I definitely feel your pain. I was interested in getting in to public accounting though - it was a little easier of a transition. That is one path you could take - Staff Accountant - CPA firm - TAS group(maybe) - MBA - Finance. Little different path, but it's an option. TAS would be a great fit if you want to do consulting/valuation stuff as well.
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