Hi all,
I’m currently considering which masters programmes are best for me given my circumstances. I’m in a unique position where I feel as though I can still apply for pre-experience masters, and will have enough experience to apply for experienced masters.
Profile:
23 yo
Graduated from a top 10 UK BSc Accounting & Finance course in 2021 with a 1st with Honours.
Have been working in Audit at big4 since. Only been on 2 clients, both huge names in the UK. Have 2 promotions (associate to senior associate after six months, then another year to become an assistant manager (my current role)).
I also have a half a year experience of working at a non-profit in my home country(writing political, economical and finance related articles), an internship at a well known hotel brand and really strong leadership experience at my university (won’t go into details to remain anonymous).
GMAT: got a 650 on a cold mock exam from the official mocks. Aiming for 730+ (Will take 2 weeks off work for this in August).
have already spoken with my Senior Manager and know that I will get a strong letter of recommendation from him. Confident I will get a good one from my uni prof too.
Question #1: Will I still be considered for the LSE, Oxford, HEC, ST Gallen, Bocconi and other top European business schools pre-experience masters in finance/management/FE programmes? Would I be considered a strong candidate?
For example LBS has a cut-off of 2 years after graduation, so I am no longer eligible for their MIM programme. However, the above B schools don’t publish any cutoffs of these sorts.
Question #2: Are experienced MFins (Judge, LBS, SDA Bocconi, etc) worth it?
Most of these are 2+ yrs of experience, meaning that I can l apply to these.
The eventual goal is to break into MBB btw.
Thank you!
AFAIK LBS is the only one that has that cut-off. That being said, I'm sure you could ask if they'd consider your application - its not 100% I don't think.
Question 2
Yes, but, SDA Bocconi certainly isn't comparable to the pre-experience ones you've listed. You could also consider MBAs - LBS, ESADE.
Thank you!
Unfortunately, I have reached out to the LBS admissions team and they did confirm that for the LBS MFA and MIM masters a candidate would have to graduate less than/or two years before the programme start year (so for a programme starting in 2023, they would only consider graduates from 2021,22 & 23).
As a side note (just throwing it out there), they were very open to considering my application for the 2023 year, but I didn't have a GMAT to hand, and they couldn't really wait longer. All this is to say that it's possibly to get in after the official application deadlines have closed!
Re SDA - noted! Would you recommend LBS MFin instead? Not sure I would be considered for an MBA, given my lack of experience…
I'm sure the MFIN is good. Maybe it's worth studying up and waiting a year or two for MBA apps.
Something about your background doesn’t add up. All the Big 4 audit programmes are extremely structured in terms of promotion cycles (I have never seen a 6 month senior promote in my life), and they all expect you to do the ACA (which you haven’t mentioned at all). Can you add more colour here please?
Without telling too much:
The usual to go from associate to senior associate is 1 year.
At my firm, the promotions typically happen every X month.I was supposed to start the programme 9 months before the promotion cycle, however this got pushed back by 3 due to Rona.Joined right before my clients busy season. This was a first year audit of a very large firm. Did well enough to get the promo early.
With regards to ACA: passed 10 exams so far.
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