Villanova v. Vanderbilt: MSF

Magua:

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.

How is the cost of living at Villanova that much more expensive than Vanderbilt? And doesn't Nova require a deposit also?

Congrats KKS,

And I'd take Vanderbilt if you'd prefer Southern/Southwest IB. Peronally, I'd take Vandy, but I want to work in Houston.

But yeah, Villanova will place better into NYC.

Villanova is going to be about as expensive as Vanderbilt. Maybe Vandy is a little cheaper, but not going to be a major difference.

So now you are going to go $1,500 into the hole and then have WUSTL and/or MIT come back and make offers and want demands.

All of these programs are different, with different campuses and different placements. I can understand taking MIT above all else, but there shouldn't be a debate about Vandy - Nova - WUSTL.

It's a pretty easy answer between the two. Do you want to work in the Southeast or NYC/Philly?

Obviously you could break into ny market from Vandy and vice-versa, but each program predominantly places you into a certain region. Both schools have a good bit of alumni on the street, I would think more nova, but not sure. I can vouch for nova alum being extremely helpful. Also, if your gunning for straight IB positions, I think Vandy has a good cachet in Charlotte boutiques.

This shouldn't even be a debate. Vandy >>>> Nova.

Vandy vs. Nova

They are both regional.. but nationally which would rank higher? If I go to Boston, La, SF, Chicaca, NY, Atlanta, and Austin which would be more recognizable?

This kind of got into a Vandy vs. Nova debate, but if I were in your shoes I wouldn't care about dropping 1,000 to save a spot at Vandy. I'd do whatever it took to hold out until MIT. If that meant pissing away 1,000 dollars then so be it. That MIT name is as prestigious as it gets and you'll recoup that 1,000 with a sweet job after graduation.

If MIT dings you, then you'll still have a spot at one of the best MSF programs.

And no one is saying Vanderbilt isn't a reputable name. I just think you are placing too much emphasis on it.

As a Villanova alumni I freely admit the limitation of the brand and reputation. As a Vanderbilt alumni you ought to also.

Peinvestor completely detracted from this thread and forced TNA to have to try and defend insignificant talking points. The MSF is a professional graduate degree, not a degree leading to a PhD. In other words nobody cares about the school rank if they can get a job afterward.

In fact there are many cases where you get a much higher ROI by going to a "lower ranked" university that excels at placing in the graduate department you're pursuing. Do you really care about having a marginally better name on your resume to miss out on career opportunities?

And you must be a Vandy grad to defend it like you do. FYI I said I was a nova MSF grad earlier. I have no UG alliance to the school and I know the adcoms at your school very well.

Vandy is attractive to me because its a new city/place, SEC sports, bigger school, I do feel it has a better national brand name as a whole(right or wrong), I have been in the northeast for almost 6 years and would like to get out of the snow eventually, andddd did I mention SEC sports (Vandy sucks, but they get to play bama, lsu, etc)

Villanova is attractive to me because of.. Location both because it is close to NYC, Philly, and DC; location because it is like 70 miles from me and would be an easy relocation, Internship opportunities during the program (HUGE for me giving what I am trying to do post MSF and because of my profile now), and cost as its 10k cheaper to begin with

Though it is interesting you brought UT up as a potential national presence. Is that because of the strength of the undergrad and strength of the MBA?

McCombs is a top UG and MBA b school. It is TX focused but will place well in TX and NYC

Settle down PE

Lol PE dropping the uninformed and biased post. Sorry man, but what you are saying is simply not true or backed up. Then again, this is America and everyone is entitled to their opinion, even incorrect ones.

I think as TNA has mentioned it all depends which region of the US you'd like to work in after your MSF. Please do not go to Vandy because they play (and get trounced) by big SEC football powerhouses. That's thinking like a 17 year old kid. I think they're both awesome schools.

though not 1st tier targets, both have a good amount of alumni on the street. i'd say villanova has more of a presence in the nyc area because of its location. i can't speak for other areas of the country though.

i know bb's and smaller firms recruit at both - if you go to either and maintain a 3.5+ gpa, you'll have opportunities.

vanderbilt

Villanova has a number of alumni at both BBs and boutique firms. I know that Goldman, Deutsche and JPM all recruit for front office positions.

Having said that, if you are in the process of deciding between these two schools note that they are completely different atmospheres. PM me with questions regarding Villanova.

Vandy probably has more alumni in NC, Atl, and Houston offices, but Villanova probably wins when it comes to NYC. Vanderbilt has a little more prestige as an overall school, but you should definitely pick on fit. As CatsLHP said, they are completely different in atmosphere, and from personal experience, I've never felt that Vanderbilt was a very international-friendly school. Much more southern, frat-boy oriented, whereas Villanova, with its location, would probably be a better fit.

I've never seen Villanova on a ranking list.

Villanova has a very strong alumni network on Wall Street. All of the BB recruit for front office positions at Villanova. As others have mentioned I think that it also has an advantage on location. As for atmospheres I can't speak to that, but if you are deciding on career ops only, then I think Villanova would def be the right call.

An to indian-banker comment, I know that Villanova was ranked the 12th best undergrad b-school. I believe it has also has been on other rankings as well.

Go with Vandy.

At least 2-4 people in each class are from there. I might see 1 person from Nova in the analyst facebooks.

Also I'll take Nashville over Philly anyday of the week. Visit both schools, and you'll probably understand what I'm saying.

Vandy has way more social prestige, probably better for networking

I agree with ginNtonic. Even in NYC, I would say Vandy has the edge. Nobody really views Villanova as an academic powerhouse, while Vandy is a strong school nation-wide.

Vandy's a better school, end of story.

I never saw a Nova student at my internships. I did see Vandy students. Anecdotal, but probably telling.

A. I think it's pretty retarded to choose a school based on banking exit ops

B. Vandy is a Top 20 school, Top 20 party school (playboy), and a sweet 16 basketball team (I'll take SEC football/basketball over Big East anyday)

C. Warm weather, Nashville is a fun city, and all of the girls are hot (and scored over 1400 on the SATs)

D. It's actually a very highly-respected school (at least everyone in NYC knows of it), and a lot of people I know passed on Ivyies for Vandy, because of B. and C.

Had a friend get an associate spot at a good MM out of Vandys MSF program.....I realize your interested in reseach, but I'm sure Vandy would be fine for that.

Message AnthonyD1982. He is a Nova MSF student and would be happy to answer all your questions.

Hi..Mr. machineman82

I would say whatever you opted to study (equity or fiexed income research) are at parity to give you opportunity in getting your dream job as long as you like doing what you're studying :D

And as for the place, I would say Villanova can be your first option as the uni provides so much for their students through their strcit requirement. For example, Villanova strongly discouraged full time work for students undertaking full time study in MSF.

If you wish to know more experience about people studyign in Villanova, you can check our website in http://businessbecause.com/why-i-chose/why-i-chose-villanova-school-of-…

You also can join businessbecause and get to know more ppl in other business schools across the world. Moreover, you can exchange experiences studying business ^__^

ps: you also can add me in businessbecause (Ni Wayan Dharkanti)

All the best for your future study

Can anyone else comment on these two programs? Thanks in advance...

vanderbilt isn't that in Tennessee? Wtf is that the blue grass state? who the hell wants to live there. what northeast big city would even recruit there for OCR?

No damn employer wants to fly into Tennessee unless Elvis comes back from the dead.

Vandy no d.

No summa classez = opportunity for internship.

I went to Vanderbilt for my undergraduate degree and can tell you that there are a good amount of recruiters (M/B/B, BB, etc.) from the Northeast.

Nashville is a great place to live but more importantly, you can be recruited for jobs in Atlanta, Charlotte, and other regional financial hot spots.

I admit, I have no love for 'nova. That being said, in terms of recruiting, I don't think nova has any presence for grad level roles. I'm sure there are plenty of monkeys from 'nova.

I'd suggest looking at the recruiting stats for both programs, and I'm confident that Vandy will have an enormous advantage.

I go to Nova. Message me and we can chat. I can put you in contact with a kid who went to Villanova for UG and is now in the Vanderbilt MSF. Figure that will be a solid counter weight to any pro-Nova comments I might have.

When I was looking at MSF programs I really just looked at BC, Vandy and Villanova. All three are about comparable in my opinion and all have their strengths and weaknesses.

Vandy had some decent OCR from what I remember. Places pretty well down south. I took this from their website: http://owen.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbilt/Programs/msfinance/msfinance-succ…

Honestly, I am going to assume since they put this on the programs website they consider this to be their "all stars" so to speak. I mean if Vandy places 100% into Goldman Sachs they would advertise that, correct? Villanova has alumni doing the same or better.

I will say this about Villanova. I was not a natural fan. Now that I am finished with the program I must say I am proud to list it on my resume. Program really incorporates suggestions and changes. Villanova's MBA program is all for people already with a job so the MSF is where all the focus goes. If you want corporate finance you will be surrounded by people working in that field so it isn't hard to go that route. Plenty of finance and F500 companies in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. The strongest thing is really the alumni base. Very helpful and all over in the financial community. Obviously not as deep and high level as say Wharton alumni, but if you cannot find a mid/senior level Villanova alumni at almost every single bank you are not looking hard enough. OCR is fine, mainly middle market IB and stuff. Bear and Lehman recruited heavily here so the school took a little hit. Things are picking up with the economy so I think you will be fine. Either way message me and we can talk further.

I can speak to the Villanova Alumni community, I had no finance work experience and as Sophomore an Alum opened a summer intern spot for me on his team at a BB.

Associate

Nova alum are crazy good. Will go to bat and will get you FO interviews.

If you can get an internship go to Vandy. If you cant go to Nova. Purty simple.