URGENT!!!! CMU MSPPM vs. Warwick MSF vs. Queens' MMF vs. Villanova MSF?
I received an offer from CMU'S MSPPM, concentrating in Financial Management, a conditional offer from Warwick's MSF, and still waiting for results from Queens' and Nova. (highly possibility from the last two as well)
AND I really don't know which one to choose now.
CMU:
PRO: brand name
CON: heavy burden on finance, 2 years of study, heavy work load,
WARWICK:
PRO: 1-year, brand name in Asia and Europe,
CON: will be hard to find a job in NA, coz my bf is coming to NA next year and we've been long-distance for 1 year...so I wanna come back to stay with him;
not the best programme at Warwick...
Queens':
PRO: 10-months study; part time so I can work at the same time, therefore save money and earn experience
CON: not sure if the word "part time" will have any negative effect on job hunting; the brand name doesn't compete with CMU and Warwick
Nova:
PRO: reputation in NY, low tuition, 1-year program
CON: no brand name, not sure if I can find a job outside NY, e.g. Toronto
All my families are forcing me to choose CMU, but I'm just not sure if the brand name will worth the money and 2 years......also a little bit afraid of the heavy work load...a little bit sick of study now...
I need to reply to Warwick and CMU in 3 days, so need your help now!!!!
THANKS!!!





I think CMU would be the
I think CMU would be the favorite here. ANT did Villanova's MSF program and can probably weigh in soon.
While we're at it, what is your tolerance for risk and your current line of work? If you graduate from CMU in two years after spending/borrowing $90K and can't land a job except in your old line of work because there is another market crash, would that completely ruin your finances? Or would you be OK?
Work hard, play hard.
I was in similar situation a
I was in similar situation a year ago. You need to determine the following first:
1. Do you need brand name on your resume?
2. Where do you want to work?
One question for you is that I assume you want to work in finance since you posted on WSO. So how will a master in policy at CMU help you?
IlliniProgrammer wrote: I
I think CMU would be the favorite here. ANT did Villanova's MSF program and can probably weigh in soon.
While we're at it, what is your tolerance for risk and your current line of work? If you graduate from CMU in two years after spending/borrowing $90K and can't land a job except in your old line of work because there is another market crash, would that completely ruin your finances? Or would you be OK?
Thanks a lot for the questions.
I just graduated from University of Western Ontario last Oct., not Ivey, and right now taking some additional courses, so I'm not working. And since I submitted my application in Jan., I wasn't considered for scholarship, but I'll try others. However, I don't think I can work part time to save money becoz of the heavy work load. Thus, I won't be able to do much help to save money by myself. and my parents will pay all of them for me.
Although, they can afford that, it's their life saving after all, and I don't think I can bear the guilt and burden if there is another mkt crash like you said.
however, the reason my parents want me to go to CMU is becoz they believe that a highly respected brand name will always be a plus in every aspect for my future, especially for a girl. and they'd like to do whatever they can to build me a bright tmr. But I'd be killed by the guilt if I can't find a great job in 2 years....
humble_dude wrote: I was in
I was in similar situation a year ago. You need to determine the following first:
1. Do you need brand name on your resume?
2. Where do you want to work?
One question for you is that I assume you want to work in finance since you posted on WSO. So how will a master in policy at CMU help you?
Thanks for your help too~To answer your questions:
1) I earned my undergrad degree at UWO in Canada (honors degree of double majors in Accting & Financial Econ), went exchange at HKU, and did a summer intern in the head office of Bank of China (not finance related, but social security and pension funds related). I also did a summer intern, accounting related, in a small Chinese company, and several volunteers in school clubs.
that's pretty much everything in my resume and I don't know if a brand name like CMU would make more marginal benefits than Warwick or Queens.
2)I want to work in banking or consulting. and from what I know, CMU's public policy master with concentration in financial management has sent many students to consulting area.
yzyejc wrote: Although, they
Although, they can afford that, it's their life saving after all, and I don't think I can bear the guilt and burden if there is another mkt crash like you said.
however, the reason my parents want me to go to CMU is becoz they believe that a highly respected brand name will always be a plus in every aspect for my future, especially for a girl. and they'd like to do whatever they can to build me a bright tmr. But I'd be killed by the guilt if I can't find a great job in 2 years....
So for your particular situation, I would ask for a deferral from CMU and try to land a job, first. An MS is a lot more powerful if you have some experience first- particularly in finance.
Work hard, play hard.
I think it's kinda funny that
I think it's kinda funny that you describe Villanova as having "no brand name"...yet I've never heard of Warwick or Queens and I live in a major northeast city
I'd say that outside the US
I'd say that outside the US and UK, more people would know Warwick than Villanova. I think that's what he's referring to.
If you want to work in
If you want to work in Toronto don't go to Nova. Honestly, if you think the school has no brand name we don't want you to begin with.
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
Warwick if you want to work
Warwick if you want to work in the UK.
Queens for Canada.
Villanova for NYC
It really is just that simple.
I am with about 15 undergrads who all have BB FO offers. Half my class went into banking/PE. In the USA, especially east coast, Villanova is well known.
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
first of all, disregard
first of all, disregard everything your prestige whore asian parents say because they probably don't have a clue. secondly, don't make a decision based on a relationship.
the school with the best placements on your list is Warwick, which is very strong in London. personally i would just network like crazy and try and get an unpaid internship at a boutique and take it from there. with your experience, or lack thereof, the only kind of job you will be able to get post-masters is the same as what you can get now (boutique), so i don't really think a masters is good value.
the academic box on your resume has already been checked (honors in accounting/financial econ with a good student exchange), the area you need to improve in is experience. more academics will add very little to your resume, whilst any direct finance work will add a lot. so again, i would just network and try and get any unpaid boutique internship. i'm pretty sure you would be able to land something in HK/SG, and if you speak Chinese on the mainland.
Agree with above
Agree with above
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
Both ANT and LLcoolJ hit the
Both ANT and LLcoolJ hit the nail on the head: ANY Program you do, make sure you do something relevant to your career goal in the summer before school starts!!
Just reinforce what ANT's idea: If you want to work in UK or HK you can go for Warwick, but I am not sure how are the international student status put you at UK but assuming you area Canadian citizen it shouldn't be a problem to work at UK.
Question for you ANT, it says on the website MSF students at nova have an average work experience of one year, do y'all have prior finance experience? Thanks!
adapt or die wrote: I think
I think it's kinda funny that you describe Villanova as having "no brand name"...yet I've never heard of Warwick or Queens and I live in a major northeast city
Maybe because their are not in NE???Warwick is in UK and Queens Canada.
I agree with the rest of the guys,choose based on the region you want to work.If you want Europe,Warwick has an excellent reputations,but you wont be able to find an internship during your studies,since its on a small city.
That is the average WE. I had
That is the average WE. I had 3+ years. Many have zero
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
adapt or die wrote: I think
I think it's kinda funny that you describe Villanova as having "no brand name"...yet I've never heard of Warwick or Queens and I live in a major northeast city
Sorry for that, I only said so becoz not so many people in Canada or China know much about Nova.
can_lah wrote: I'd say that
IlliniProgrammer
??? I think CMU is the real
Work hard, play hard.
ANT wrote: If you want to
ANT wrote: Warwick if you
LLcoolJ wrote: first of all,
humble_dude wrote: Both ANT
IlliniProgrammer wrote: ???
Ah, missed that. Thought it
Work hard, play hard.
IlliniProgrammer wrote: Ah,
yzyejc wrote: But what is
adapt or die wrote: yzyejc
LLcoolJ wrote: first of all,
Forget about the Queen's!
ethanmasa wrote: Forget about
They had a program manager