MSF：Villanova vs UIUC vs UCSD vs Minnesota-twin city
Hi all, i have admitted to the 4 msf programs listed above. But i am a little bit struggling with them. I was wondering if anyone could provide any insight for any of these schools. I really appreciate your help. I will talk about my background briefly. I am an international student majoring in finance, minor in math and econ. I transferred to University of Delaware in my junior year. My long term goal is to step in private equity fund area, and short term goal is to land a job in the states (exactly speaking the research equity analyst). Currently Nova did not give me the fellowship but 10k scholarship. UMN(Minnesota) also gives me 10K scholarship and its program is stem designed(but it is opened this year) . UIUC has a good ranking and the curriculums are really attractive, you could choose variety of free electives(the draw back is 80 percent of the students are international so i just afraid that the class experience is not that good ). UCSD has the highest comprehensive ranking. Its location is not bad. i feel like it is a combination of big data and finance. Somehow the estimated cost is 80k to 90k, relatively expensive . Honestly speaking, i have a preference toward nova. the thing is If i could not find a full time job here, i have to return to my home country. and nova is not recognized in my country.
If you want a job in the US then the answer is Villanova. None of those other three programs will give you any shot of placement and their locations aren't going to make networking or interviewing for a job easy. If you were a domestic student I would say you have two choices (Nova and UIUC), but I would still heavily favor Nova. It has a diverse class, has been around for a long time and has a large number of MSF alumni and placements. The school is maybe 15 minutes from Philadelphia which has plenty of internship opportunities (as do a number of surrounding areas) and NYC is about 1.5 hours away (easily reachable by train or bus). $10k is a great scholarship and the program has one of the more reasonable tuition rates.
I cannot get into details, but they are shaking things up from a career management perspective also. The program does well as it is and will do even better going forward. These changes will be in place before you start so you'll benefit from it.
Full disclosure - I went to and graduated from the Villanova MSF.
Minnesota program is not that bad. UMN is like a Harvard in MN. And it is well known internationally (in top 70 in QS). Moreover, if you want to work in corporate finance/big 4, then choose Minnesota because F500 and big 4 are strong in Minneapolis. Also, you can get something with UMN brand in Chicago if you network a little because It's one of the best schools in the Midwest, directly competes with schools like IU, WUSTL, & UIUC. I would suggest him to go to UIUC or UMN if he wants to go back to his country because they're well known internationally unlike Villanova. Even nationally.
If the goal is to go back home then sure, pick one of those programs. If the goal is to work in the US and not go to a program that is all international then the choice is clear.
I disagree with your UMN comment. UIUC, IU, Wisconsin, Purdue, etc would all be better choices for a Chicago position. And you'd be geographically hamstrung to networking through phone and email because of location.
Thank you very much! Did you go to UMN? I learned from my friends that even the graduates in accounting major could not land a job there. But UMN is really a great school.
Thank you TNA！Since nova will have national ranking this fall， i guess it will be recognized more internationally. I was wondering if you know something about the msf program in UCSD?
Don't go to Minnesota if you want to place anywhere outside of MN. There are more NYC alums than Chicago, and there aren't many of each. That said, if you want to work in Corp Finance or work in Minnesota, MN is the ideal place.
Nova wins for everything else.
Let's see, you can easily graduate from Carlson and go into: Big 4, Banking, Consulting, Corp Fin, Asset Management, etc. Oh, and graduates actually do go to Chicago, NY, or SF. People once living in Minneapolis for more voluntarily choose to stay than to seek out other parts of the country given the quality of life. Even at a grad. school level, the opportunities any Big Ten school offers are second to none (e.g. research, activities, sports, etc.)
Nova? A regional school with limited reputation. It's hard to take advice from an "Intern" or someone who thinks it is "Minnesota, MN".
If I were the OP I would go to UIUC or UMN. International reputation and Big Ten academics. Have you toured any campuses?
My brother goes to Carlson. From what we've talked about, almost all the kids go to Big 4 and corporate finance, and the only banks that recruit are Piper, Harris, Houlihan, and Lazard MM. Carlson sent 0 kids to banking in Chicago out of undergrad for the last two years. NYC placement has been decent the last two years with 3-5 going each year.
Asset Management, Banking (anywhere outside of MN), and most other "high finance" exits are extremely hard to attain our of Carlson. He hasn't mentioned anything about grad school placement, but I'm guessing it's similar.
Don't talk out of your ass.
MeerkatMerger ChloeJ90 you both really need to stfu and stop misleading OP. I have never even heard of Carlson school of mgmt till I just looked it up. "Harvard of Minnesota"? Rofl bro I guess. Is University of North Dakota the "Harvard of North Dakota"? Just ridiculous. As for Meerkat, the Villanova MSF is 3x more respected than UMN and better than UIUC. This isn't fucking undergrad and no one gives a shit about "Big Ten academics". What does that even mean? Outside of Northwestern/Michigan the remainder of the Big 10 is below/equal to Villanova in academic reputation. I wasn't gonna comment on this thread but I felt the need before OP makes a dumb decision and actually chooses to go to UMN MSF which I didnt even know they had a program till this thread.
That's quite aggressive. I'm providing another set of thoughts instead of the one-sided Nova discussion and general East Coast-bias on this site. This site sure has gone downhill when real estate interns acting like kids are the keepers of knowledge.
In all reality, the OP can't really go wrong with all of their choices.
Agree with you but not your last statement. Nova will make him suffer. It's virtually unknown outside of US. And most of Villanova grads DO end up going back to their countries because it just isn't well known or is not preferred even in NY/East coast.
And yes, UMN does compete with WashU and IU. If you did not know about Carlson, then your dumb. Carlson is in league with schools like Kelley, Olin, Mendoza and others
Didn't you go to SMU Cox? How was your experience? I need a safety and I'm thinking about SMU because I love TX. However, I think Dallas doesn't have a lot of banks. How is it for Houston banking? Is it strong or okay there?
Sorry for the totally unrelated question
In what universe does Minnesota compete with WashU lmao?
Where did I say Minnesota was comparable to WUSTL? Judging by your post history you must be going there now directly out of undergrad?
ChloeJ did and proceeded to call it like a "Harvard in Minnesota". Im trying to tell OP it is in no way a peer school especially if you are considering MSF programs. At no super day I attended was there anyone from Minnesota's MSF. So if they are trying to compete with WashU then they are doing a bad job lol. Undergrad maybe? I have no idea but thats not related to the topic at hand.
MeerkatMerger idgaf what you do professionally nor should you give a fk about what I do. I AM A CURRENT MSF STUDENT AND THE KID IS ASKING ABOUT MSFs, period. I am not from the east coast nor do I even like the east coast so come off that silly argument, I actually turned down Nova MSF. Everything I stated are facts. If OP wants international rep then he should go to UIUC not UMN. I love how people use professional background on this site like being in BB IB or MF PE shields you from being a complete moron. Just stop. OP, once again, do not go to UMN, just don't. Villanova MSF is much more highly regarded than both UMN and UIUC in the states.
I feel bad for the OP. Shit advice going around here beside what Bob is saying. Go compare placements. Good luck finding them for anyone but Nova. Yeah, it's probably not know in India or China. If your plan is to go back then go somewhere else. If you want a job in the US the choice is clear. It's sad and incorrect to even suggest otherwise.
All are fine schools with an ok education, but only one places people into real jobs.
Except that most of Nova international grads go back to their countries because Nova is just NOT strong enough. Even the domestic students get mediocre jobs, let alone internationals
All three schools are essentially peers, with the slight edge to Nova (maybe). I would go where ever the money is.
A few other points:
Exactly. Why I love big 4.
Esuric has over a 100 more MS than silver bananas, chloej90 has about 5x more MS than silver bananas. Both have consistently trolled Nova, Nova is the only one who actually has placements so idk how chloeJ90 can comment on the other two's placements, they are no where to be found. OP, take their advice with extreme caution, it is amazing to me that the moderator labeled Esuric's comment as the "best response". I've given my 2 cents and i'm done commenting so good luck regardless of your decision.
That's because you're jealous. I love his candidness. And he went to WashU, so he knows. UIUC's COB is not a strong business school. Carlson at least has strong alumni base in Minnesota. And yes, many of their grads work in Chicago and Esuric can vouch for that.
The reason I'm advising him to not go to Nova is because Nova is not all that strong even on the east coast. Domestic students end up with mediocre jobs and most internationals end up going back to their countries. So then why not go somewhere that's at least well known internationally? Plus I love their curriculum. MM banks and big 4 actively recruit there. And yes, it is a Minnesotan Harvard. If you didn't know this, then you have no idea about Minnesotan culture and how well regarded it is there. UIUC is treated as safety by those who don't get into WashU, Northwestern(undergrad), and U of Chicago(undergrad)
ChodeJ90,
What the hell are you talking about in this thread?? I am a Nova alum and I don't understand your hate on the internationals in the MSF program. My class didn't have too many at all and I believe the majority are still in the US working.
Your advice about MN is completely laughable too. The non-east coast bias is making you sound delusional in this thread. "Carlson" haha. No one knew that was the name of their b-school before this thread popped up.
OP, try to ignore the Nova haters in this thread. They don't know what they're talking about. Nova is easily the best of your admissions. Geography is everything in finance recruiting/networking. You won't be taking flights as ChodeJ90 suggested.
The truth often offends.
I hear you man. Good advice all around. Hopefully the OP can sort through the BS.
When are you going to disclose that you're affiliated with Nova's MSF and are an alumni?
Thanks everyone for your precious comments. I am now considering between UIUC and Nova. There is no doubt that UMN is a great school. If i did not land a job after graduation, i will try to do second master in business analytic. That`s my plan afterwards. Just want to add one more comment, Nova will join the national ranking this coming fall hope it will help if i come back to my home country.
Also, i am just curious that why no one suggests University of California- San Diego?
adapt or die dude he is trolling. It would be funny if OP wasn't possibly being misled. Just ridiculous.
Man Oh man. I really hate threads like this. OP is trying to make a serious choice and people are just fucking around. I have no doubt the professors at all these schools provide a top education, but Minn's program doesn't have a professional placements focus. This is why vandy, wustl, etc are regarded higher than other schools who just give you a degree.
Let's just end the trolling and let this kid make his decision.
How can you say that when it's just their first year(class of 2017)???
You know I could say the same about Villanova.
When Carlson has placements my opinion will change. I was more flexible with UTA and USC when they started, but both of those programs are more highly regarded and have IB recruiting. I'm sure Carlson is a good school, but I can't believe you're trying to sell it as the Harvard of the west or whatever.
And no, you couldn't say the same thing about Villanova. Villanova has a history of placements to include IB. They have a dedicated career function for their MSF program. The school is also located within 4-5 hour DRIVE of 5 major US cities.
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http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MSF/Admissions/Placement%20Information
Here are the UT Austin placement information. Includes firms that interviewed MSF students as well as hired students. Big banks, consulting firms, lot of energy and F500. Pretty diverse.
USC doesn't have placements posted, but they are re-focusing on the career aspect of the degree. IMO, you don't need to see career placements to know that you can get a great job with the USC brand. It's USC! I like placement reports and think they are a good practice, but I the reputation of a school and who comes on campus to recruit is enough indication of a programs quality in many circumstances.
Placements depend on opportunity and execution. Schools provide the opportunity and students execute. I have no doubt that USC and UTA provide plenty of opportunity for students.
Yeah I have to admit that I was way off on this thread. Nova is definitely the better option based on the information provided in this discussion.
Take a lap
Talk shit, go ahead. Unlike others here, I'm actually interested in the facts and I'll change my position when confronted with contradicting evidence. I have never seen Villanova's actual placements. I don't know if they just started posting them. In the past, I've only seen extremely ambiguous lists of schools that interviewed MSF candidates and unconfirmed information on ANT's website.
Esuric you have been trolling Nova since before I was making my MSF decision over a year ago. They have had placements up for every class for at least the past 4 years... which means you have been trolling Nova without actual data, not even making the effort to actually be knowledgeable about the school you constantly troll. Smh.
I know that they have terrible banking placements and that, year after year, students actively complain about how the program is managed and the quality of the placements. Do you want links or are you good?
You're incorrect.
2015 banking placements. Janney, Mufson, Stifel, Freeman,Carl Marks, Keefe. 7/16 and this is off the top off my head. Basically 50%.
Every program has complaints. I've seen and heard them from Nova, Duke, Georgetown, and USC.
This thread devolved into a total shit show lol. @OP I would go with Nova, but go into it ready to hustle and assume that worst case, the career center will be of no help.
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