International student: Double major in Finance & Econ or Masters in Finance for STEM?

Dear WSO Members,

This is my first post ever on WSO and I'm excited to receive your opinions on it. I am an International Sophomore pursuing Finance at a Semi-Target in the Midwest and am interested in pursuing a career in Investment Banking. Given the fact that banks require at least a 2 year commitment, I am focusing on getting a STEM designation so that I can work for 29 months through OPT. I have 3 options to do so:

  1. Do a double major in Finance and MIS: Take 18-19 credits a semester, waste a lot of time on MIS (as it is something that I don't really want to do), opportunity to intern once at an IB, and graduate in 4 years. I am currently pursuing this option.

  2. Do a double major in Finance and Economics: Take 15-16 credits a semester, partially interested in Economics, opportunity to intern twice (2 summers), and graduate in 4.5 years. I would also qualify for Masters in Financial Math (not too interested but putting it out there).

  3. Do a major in Finance and a Masters in Finance (some universities provide STEM designated Masters in Finance, including mine): Take 18 credits a semester, graduate in 3.5 years, opportunity to intern twice (one summer is school and one summer after school) and pursuing a Masters in Finance might make me a better candidate for H1B.

Thank you for your suggestions.

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