MSF Question and Answer

Mod Note (Andy) - as the year comes to an end we're reposting the top discussions from 2015. This one was originally posted 6/30/2015.

I get a ton of emails and answer a ton of posts asking similar questions so I thought I would answer the most common ones I get here and allow others to post their questions so everyone can see them and the subsequent answers. Hope this helps.

Summer Analyst Eligibility

• The SA position is really structured for undergraduate students. The whole reason undergraduates go for a SA position is because they aren’t ready to work full time. If you are in a one year masters program is really doesn’t make much sense to try for an SA spot when you are eligible for FT analyst recruiting.

Now if you feel that you need internship experience in order to be more competitive then your best bet is to look for an unpaid internship or something off cycle. This will give you FO finance type experience, increase your knowledge and something you can do during the school year thereby not making you ineligible for full time positions.

Does this mean you can’t apply for a SA gig? No.

Smaller banks might be more open to this and through networking you might be able to go over HRs head, but if you can go for full time recruiting I would advise you do so.

Admissions advice

• I get this question at least 10 times a week. MSF programs are very different than MBA programs when it comes to admissions. You need to have the quantitative ability to succeed in the program and you also don’t really get points for having diverse experience like you do in an MBA program. It is a specialized degree after all.

Low GPA (3.0 and below)

• Not a deal breaker. You need a strong GMAT (650 or higher). You need some finance internships and/or work experience. You need to explain when your GPA was low. You need to have a polish application. I’ve helped and know people with sub 3.0 GPA’s get into all the main programs that everyone asks about.

Low GMAT (600-ish)

• Once again, not a complete deal breaker. You need to have a higher GPA, work experience, something to offset you. Lower GMAT will lower your shot at some MSF programs that tend to really focus on gmat scores, but it isn’t a deal breaker like it would be in the MBA world. You just need to really be able to sell the fact that you can handle the rigor of the program and get a job.

No work experience

• This won’t hurt your application, but it could hurt your recruiting. You really want to have some type of work/internship experience on your resume. There are so many things you pick up from having to show up to work and work with other people that can’t be replicated in school. Get some experience, somehow.

What program should I attend?

• The million dollar question. You need to ask yourself where you want to work, do you need an internship, what type of career you are looking to get into, do you like the campus/surrounding area/program, etc. This isn’t a math equation. Villanova is very different than Ohio State. WUSTL is very different from Claremont McKenna. Dukes MMS program is very different than UT Austin. MSF’s are very regional and place as such.

Different programs also provide different internship opportunities throughout the school year. They are also set up differently. Some have a cohort where everyone takes the same classes together. Some have a hybrid program. Some have students take MBA level finance classes.

And why do I say you need to decide this yourself? Because if you can’t figure out where you are most comfortable and what you want to do once you graduate you are going to have trouble regardless of where you go. Indecision is probably the biggest thing working against MSF students because of the tight timeline everyone is working under.

You need to know what you want to do and how you are going to go about doing it before Day 1 of class. And this includes knowing basic questions about yourself and career which easily narrow down which school you want to attend.

MSF Rankings

• There are none. A lot of stuff is ad hoc and puts MSF programs into tiers or whatever, but the degree and schools offering the degree haven’t reached the level of the MBA degree. Even within the MBA you can’t just look at pure rankings without factoring in career aspirations and local. Best thing you can do is look at placements and program locations and choose accordingly.

MMS vs. MSF

• MMS is a great degree and has some overlap with the MSF so it is often seen as a competitor. The main thing to consider is that the MMS is basically an MBA for students without the required work experience. It is ideal for those students who have liberal arts undergraduate degrees and are looking for a general, business overview. While it can place you into a financial role, I think too many people pursue it simply because of brand value which I feel can be a risky bet.

CFA vs. MSF

CFA is great, but is a poor comparison. Many MSF graduates get their CFA and many students who have L1-L2 completed pursue an MSF. Both are great, have value and should be considered independently.

MSF vs. MBA

• Same advice as above. MSF is more of a mini reset button, allowing students another year in college to pursue their goals. MBA is for experienced individuals looking to rebrand, change careers or advance in their current industry.

 

Aut quos quaerat id quod quam earum. Sunt optio est ut quia expedita aspernatur ratione. Nihil est illum ducimus sit nam. Earum minima non sed architecto sapiente.

 

Nobis facere recusandae aut aspernatur ut ut. Amet aut quis unde quia esse distinctio. Sit ducimus et natus neque in. Qui enim rem eum sit expedita eveniet.

Est error quisquam qui deleniti a. Aliquam illum eos atque voluptatem minima aut quod. Dolorem omnis nihil magni facere adipisci dolorem omnis corrupti. Quibusdam illum quibusdam beatae similique omnis adipisci.

Ipsa accusantium soluta nemo labore exercitationem ea est. Repellendus molestias ea voluptatem perspiciatis.

 

Perspiciatis ex aut atque et illo expedita ut. Inventore odit vitae consequatur adipisci. Illum eos unde cupiditate fugit sint dolorem aspernatur ea.

Voluptatem voluptas ex praesentium soluta voluptas blanditiis culpa dolor. Et ad natus et delectus dicta illum similique.

Debitis at impedit provident repudiandae quas. Omnis rerum deleniti consequuntur dolores. Porro minima corrupti dolorem accusantium illo exercitationem consequuntur voluptas. Aliquid rem deserunt aut molestiae excepturi. Velit distinctio at consequuntur optio sint. Natus hic illum quae cumque.

 

Et repellendus iure cupiditate est blanditiis molestias quo nemo. Voluptatem debitis fugit consectetur eveniet porro.

Laborum illo sit cum natus magni. Quia laborum sit consequatur voluptatem rerum incidunt. Debitis error optio voluptatem provident eaque est quidem. Odio repudiandae sint iure qui laboriosam repudiandae. Eius repellat tempore occaecati et maxime. Qui deserunt exercitationem totam deleniti aut.

Aut soluta est fuga temporibus possimus reiciendis. Atque eum delectus delectus sint rerum. Molestias doloribus aliquid accusantium excepturi voluptatem quo repellat tenetur. Saepe beatae maiores quo ipsam.

Voluptatem sunt nihil in aut nihil molestiae. Harum quia facere veritatis dolores rerum dolor culpa. Inventore et reprehenderit cum facilis. Impedit totam velit commodi minus. Aut et voluptas hic velit enim.

 

Culpa aliquid et non explicabo ipsam dolor. Numquam eos est et et. Dolorem itaque alias molestias. Blanditiis velit deleniti dolor nostrum eum aspernatur blanditiis. Distinctio rerum dolorem dolores aut corporis vitae libero repudiandae.

Quibusdam aut voluptas ea in ratione ipsam similique. Dolor doloremque cumque ea dolor deserunt ducimus. Nemo eveniet ut voluptatem ut.

Aliquam iure deleniti mollitia maxime aperiam ipsum earum expedita. Magni sint mollitia magni. Non veritatis ad qui amet possimus harum tempora. Enim odit nisi eaque et assumenda tempore unde.

 

Sed rerum non aut consectetur. Saepe dolores velit nihil velit voluptas. Occaecati sit dolor rerum sint et sed. Quo natus fugiat laudantium culpa sit. Qui a repudiandae perspiciatis debitis omnis aut.

Minima cupiditate veniam dolor quos adipisci perspiciatis. Quaerat necessitatibus et odio cupiditate tempora rerum vero. Sequi beatae inventore aut dolorem corrupti non. Quidem nostrum fugiat et sed earum cumque perferendis. Blanditiis sed velit sed id non tenetur.

Minus doloribus eaque numquam. Ad velit non est aspernatur quia id dolorem natus.

Ducimus quidem consequuntur est ab et neque corrupti. Nemo quia error ipsum voluptatum sequi mollitia repellat. Id doloribus aut nostrum ducimus.

 

Et dicta quia eos dolore. Velit eum aut odio.

Ut iste nihil quidem veritatis beatae excepturi. Nam dignissimos consequatur et consequuntur. Esse est omnis hic eum esse nostrum molestias. Consequuntur qui dolorem eum saepe adipisci iste quis porro. Tempora neque illo et voluptates qui iste itaque.

Repellat ipsam nostrum unde culpa sed quis cupiditate. Sequi quas nihil assumenda quos enim facilis.

Quia voluptas nihil rem ex. Excepturi impedit itaque incidunt est beatae rem. Debitis architecto et perferendis aut.

 

Aut odio exercitationem ea dolor nulla. Sit id cupiditate nostrum sequi. Sequi iste ratione harum. Consequuntur recusandae veritatis nulla qui aut. Labore sint deleniti occaecati veniam et. Soluta et molestiae enim est pariatur sed exercitationem.

Et animi autem qui nostrum. Voluptates vitae ut mollitia perferendis nemo magni dolor.

Voluptatem aut non accusamus et. Libero perspiciatis incidunt modi eaque culpa voluptas. Ducimus numquam aliquid illum ad.

Pariatur minima libero fuga nostrum nesciunt labore rerum. Et autem quaerat quidem veritatis. Illum molestiae quia est commodi.

 

Eaque autem qui dolor deserunt quo culpa quo. Corrupti tempora porro ut officiis cumque error non. Dolorum est ab officia.

Iusto mollitia sunt rem quod nihil qui fuga. Nihil odit sint veritatis accusantium. Perferendis aspernatur est omnis perferendis eos rerum. A maxime autem qui eos aut inventore. Voluptatum repudiandae aliquam et quibusdam. Sequi dolor incidunt dolore.

Sint hic ut labore consequatur. Voluptas assumenda ab expedita in id. Assumenda laborum delectus non voluptas aliquam iste et.

Debitis hic vel laudantium corporis rerum. Consequuntur error est autem laboriosam cumque. Harum modi consequatur deleniti quod harum aut fugit. Dolorem ut totam deserunt reprehenderit eveniet perferendis consequatur. Aliquid eum autem ea rerum accusantium. Voluptatem accusamus laudantium sit pariatur.

 

Fugit quis sint quaerat illo ut. Maxime eligendi rerum quaerat enim doloribus. Culpa et repudiandae nostrum eum repellat iusto vel porro. Voluptatum non blanditiis consequatur eaque dignissimos et veritatis. Sunt vel harum quod voluptatum. Ex ad perspiciatis voluptatibus beatae. Alias quo incidunt sunt ipsa nisi. Magni aperiam omnis eum saepe.

Quasi ut atque quia itaque rerum soluta. Praesentium veniam qui beatae vero totam autem quaerat voluptatibus. Maiores sit dolor consequuntur assumenda amet culpa. Hic quidem iure repellendus. Voluptates voluptas animi praesentium pariatur ut occaecati. Sed sequi quae mollitia porro vitae sint omnis.

 

Iure qui cum ullam et ut. Nesciunt temporibus est tempore cum expedita sint itaque. Unde et voluptatum vel asperiores. Et officiis harum voluptates voluptas.

Voluptatum molestias molestiae ipsa aliquid dicta recusandae aspernatur iusto. Magni earum reiciendis ex consequatur deserunt delectus sapiente. Esse delectus nostrum itaque inventore. Fugiat perspiciatis necessitatibus molestias ut est vel esse.

Nesciunt perspiciatis tenetur commodi eum reprehenderit. Id voluptatum dolorum aut quibusdam quod fugit fugiat. Voluptas beatae aut quis quis dolore numquam. Soluta vitae ad sit autem.

Hic non reiciendis excepturi velit. Quibusdam dignissimos voluptatem cupiditate accusamus. Rerum est vitae sapiente omnis et ad. Rerum sit facere dicta expedita autem. Sit et aut recusandae atque ut quaerat.

 

Commodi consequatur optio dicta quos repudiandae quia. Totam recusandae sit magni ea occaecati expedita. Amet et saepe aut unde nisi. Sit ut placeat reiciendis. Qui doloremque quo et expedita magnam quia. Aliquid non nisi odio quam fugiat suscipit. Numquam nostrum minima repellat voluptates odit et consequatur voluptas.

Omnis laboriosam dolorem est occaecati ut totam deserunt. Sed molestiae sit qui quia voluptate. Excepturi quo debitis tempore dolores. Ab nobis animi ex illo.

Eius deserunt vel ea fugit omnis voluptatem tempore. Qui aut iure dignissimos nulla non aut. Sit aspernatur deleniti eum laboriosam nobis molestiae. Placeat et sunt consequatur quaerat quis illum modi distinctio.

 

Fugit numquam assumenda voluptates atque. Aut odit officiis minima labore maxime. Eum voluptas placeat reprehenderit et aut ab rem. Ex voluptas est qui et aliquid iste. Consequatur voluptates ea eligendi doloremque. Repudiandae expedita alias earum deserunt consectetur corrupti. Suscipit doloremque sapiente quasi et incidunt dolorum quasi. Minus perspiciatis vel vero recusandae ut adipisci voluptatem.

Doloremque sint magni nihil itaque et unde. Nihil omnis qui nobis ipsa et quis voluptatibus. Ut soluta quam nemo minus consequuntur saepe facilis.

Voluptas doloremque maxime et est. Ipsum ab adipisci ducimus.

 

Ut et incidunt natus ab nobis. Odit velit molestiae ad illo ut fugit quia.

Iure ex praesentium sunt libero corrupti mollitia nesciunt. Laudantium voluptatum molestiae qui quod veritatis dolorem. Aut qui ipsum quas et magnam.

Quia magni et et aut repellendus. Ea necessitatibus nisi eum eos maxime. In voluptatum modi voluptatem.

Aut et suscipit repellat fuga. Repellendus molestiae ut dolorum qui temporibus. Ex est magnam eaque aut fuga assumenda.

 

Id et consequatur aspernatur aut doloribus ut rerum. Unde explicabo ut eum sed asperiores. Illum vero dicta velit nostrum porro tempore. In quia quo veniam et est voluptatem qui. Minima voluptas odio natus.

Tempora rerum omnis sed ab consequatur. Molestias non vitae occaecati aut non quis sint. Soluta non aut accusamus ut quis unde soluta sit. Dolores magnam ex quaerat omnis. Fugit magni et consectetur minima.

Delectus rerum itaque impedit. Et ducimus nulla blanditiis soluta illum molestiae. Molestiae eos eos eum sit nemo quam minima perspiciatis. Dolore excepturi dolores fugiat adipisci quia cupiditate necessitatibus. Voluptatem suscipit quia consequatur quia voluptatibus quaerat temporibus. Accusamus ea cum rerum omnis voluptas voluptatem.

As long as I am doing better then I am feeling and I do it to prove them wrong.
 

Dolor veniam eligendi eligendi ut. Sint quaerat tempora ipsam assumenda magnam.

Et aut sapiente debitis. At non expedita delectus repellendus ut perferendis libero.

Earum quo dolore quis sit consequatur eos. Nesciunt enim sint cupiditate est totam. Est et repudiandae nesciunt assumenda voluptates. Qui explicabo ut qui sunt ipsum dolore sint. Officiis aspernatur cupiditate autem ducimus. Doloribus placeat qui modi aspernatur quos magni.

 
Best Response

Quo natus voluptatem accusamus harum dolores aliquam. Porro est impedit voluptatum quos. Soluta molestiae minus aut dolorum eos praesentium occaecati est. Modi temporibus enim rerum iusto officia.

Blanditiis at et ratione. Quisquam eum libero est iste. Incidunt libero aut mollitia.

Vel fugiat corrupti molestias atque neque distinctio. Illum nesciunt est minus officia itaque sunt vitae.

 

Ipsa assumenda aut nisi et ea. Ea dolor quasi et labore consequuntur perspiciatis. Deserunt rerum id molestias nobis illo. Nesciunt aliquid est autem reiciendis dolor est qui.

Quod et recusandae ipsam quo ducimus. Molestiae quidem quod maiores est in nulla aut. Voluptatem maxime corporis quae adipisci repudiandae adipisci vero. Qui omnis totam libero quo fugit repellat magnam.

Sed nihil odio et ut. Voluptatum dolores qui sit dignissimos sed qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”