Villanova v. Vanderbilt: MSF
Hello everybody,
I am graduating with a BS in economics in December 2011 and have been seriously considering both programs.I have no relevant internship experience and post grad employment doesn't look great. Basically my grades were not good enough to get into a good university(state non-target) and I need another chance at recruiting and to take the finance courses I missed out on as an econ major. I know both programs have pros & cons but I could really use some insight.(I have yet to take GMAT)
As an aside: I prefer to work in NYC - Eventually pursue MBA - Interested in M&A.
Cumulative GPA 3.8 major 3.94.





Have you checked MSFHQ.com?
Have you checked MSFHQ.com? "Ant" on this forum also went to Villanova's MSF program, I think. You may want to PM him.
Villanova. Has some solid
Villanova. Has some solid placement and is closer to the city for NYC networking.
"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
Both schools have their pros
Both schools have their pros and cons. I'll let this thread be an open debate before I inject my opinions.
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
Villanova. Because Anthony
Villanova. Because Anthony goes there!
Vandy because other better
Vandy because other better looking people are applying to Nova and don't want the competition...just kidding. Gotta go with Nova though. Networking, location, etc.
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
I am leaning toward Villanova
I am leaning toward Villanova because of the location which seems better for NYC recruitment. Also Vanderbilt is nearly $10,000 more in tuition. My only real regard for Vanderbilt is that after completing the MFS you can come back and complete an MBA in one year. Plus it seems as Vanderbilt alum have a strong presence in NYC, not sure compared to Villanova.
Yeah, the Vandy 1 year MBA is
Yeah, the Vandy 1 year MBA is solid, but I would think that you could get into a better MBA program after some time on the street. Nova MSF places mostly NYC, but also in Philly. Alumni are concentrated in NYC. PM me for more info.
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
SEC>Big East. Placement be
SEC>Big East. Placement be damned.
Where I unload on Twits and take verbal S***s
The opportunity to get a 1
The opportunity to get a 1 year MBA at Vanderbilt after doing an MSF is NOT a selling point. If your GMAT is high enough to get into the Vandy MSF program, you will do way better than a Vandy MBA after a few years in finance.
Yeah, I agree with Buyside.
Yeah, I agree with Buyside. Nova has a 1 year MBA option also (which before it gets flamed, is decent for those working in Philly). With that said, neither should factor in your decision.
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
Both good schools with pretty
Both good schools with pretty good placement. But for NYC, I would roll with Nova.
Best advice I can give: Land a relevant internship during the spring and summer before you start your MSF. Too many people enter into these programs w/o any experience and assume they can land BB FT offers. Not saying its impossible, just an uphill battle.
With the Vandy MSF I can see
With the Vandy MSF I can see an internship before it starts, but with Nova would it have to be a part-time thing while you're doing the summer classes?
How do Villanova students typically cover this requirement?
Magua wrote: With the Vandy
With the Vandy MSF I can see an internship before it starts, but with Nova would it have to be a part-time thing while you're doing the summer classes?
How do Villanova students typically cover this requirement?
Its not a requirement, just a suggestion. If classes start in the summer, find a boutique that will allow you to work around your schedule. Again, just a suggestion but it will pay off when fall recruiting rolls around.
Ok, I have a moment to reply.
Ok, I have a moment to reply.
Vanderbilt has a great MSF. They place very strongly down south and some in NYC. A good mix of F500 positions as well as some banking/trading/ER/PhD, etc. They are located out of Nashville so if you like the south and Nashville, you are good.
Villanova also has a great MSF. Placements for Villanova are mostly in NYC, with a strong Philadelphia pull. Very, very few F500 placements, mostly banking or RE/Commercial Lending/boutique shop stuff. My class was a normal class in my opinion. We placed into PE, MM banking, restructuring, corporate banking rotational programs, boutique shops in Philly and NY, some smaller consulting shops, etc.
On campus recruiting at Nova is mainly MM IB's, but bulge brackets come for the undergrads for S&T and some banking. GS has S&T SA recruiting on campus, JPM, BAC, etc. Many of my UG friends are working in S&T at BB firms or banking at BB firms. The school is extremely well off and well regarded.
We all know rankings are bullshit, but when I went for my MSF, the UG B school was ranked 10. It slipped to 20 after we graduated, but it goes back and forth. Yes, I know, most top schools do not have an UG B school. Even if you add them in front of Nova you still have the UG B school ranking in the 20-30 range. When you factor out that a Cali school will place more into Cali than NYC or Philly, you have a pretty solid school.
Example, UCLA is a better school than Villanova (pure rankings), but Villanova will place you better in NYC and Philadelphia. So if you want to work east coast, go Nova.
I digress.
Tons, tons of alumni in NYC.Tons of alumni in Philly. I interned at 3 shops when I was going for my MSF. You can easily do internships during the year since you are 15 minutes outside of Center City. Some people love Philly, some hate it, but it 100% does have a lot of finance and financial firms.
The MBA's at Nova are also pretty legit. It is a function of Villanova being the best PT MBA program in the Philadelphia area (pure rankings). I am in class with PE guys, corporate bankers, ex Goldman asset management VP's, mid level corp finance people, KPMG, Duff & Phelps, Blackrock, etc. Once again, not Wharton, but if you want to work in Philly or NYC, plenty of fish in the sea.
Salary in Philly is going to be less than NYC (obviously). Street in NYC is like 70-75. Pay in Philly for banking will be in the 60's. bonuses will depend on the shop. Housing in Philly is 1/4 the price. A sick loft in Philly is 1300 a month, center city. Quadruple that in NYC. Yeah yeah, I know, Philly is not NYC, but it is 1 hour away and it is a great city so who can complain.
Nitty gritty.
Nova is a very rich and very small school. Girls are hot (legit hot)
http://www.brobible.com/Story/104259
The MSF program is established and on its 6th or 7th year. We have alumni going to Booth, as associates at banks, VP's at some, in PE in NY and in Philly, in PhD programs, etc. I am happy I went and love the school.
I personally am working very, VERY hard at improving the program and if you decide to go to Villanova you will run into me more than once. I know all the past MSF alumni, the current class (before they came) and most of the forming 2011-2012 class.
Anyone interested in Villanova or MSF programs in general, please feel free to PM me. As people in this thread can attest, I make time no matter what.
Anthony
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
Wouldn't BC versus Nova be a
Wouldn't BC versus Nova be a better question?