MSF or CFA
Hello everyone, in need of your help!! I’m a recent CUNY graduate “non target” and i want to get into High Finance. Graduated with a GPA of 3.57 (Magna Cum Laude) while working 50-60hours a week. Unfortunately i do not have any internships under my belt whatsoever. I’ve been applying for jobs for 4 months and not a single interview. Do you recommend me to do MSF or CFA in order for me to get into Investment Banking? I am currently living in NYC but i do not mind moving to another state for my MSF or job. Any help would be appreciated!
Anyone?? I appreciate all the help
It will be difficult without any internships or relevant experience. Worry more about gaining related experience than to continue schooling.
CFA is something you can do while working/job searching to stand out a bit.
The MSF really doesn't help for IB unless you have some related internships.
I totally understand but the thing is i’m not even landing any entry level interview related to finance. Applying in NYC, Dallas and Austin.
Is there something you recommend me to do? What kind of jobs should i applying for?
Thanks for the help #plaxo3
Since you're in the hole and trying to climb out, maybe don't limit your locations to just those cities. There are tons of other small/medium cities with middle and front office work available.
MBA at this rate. No internships in 4 years will make it hard to find anything.
Thanks for the reply James. In order for me to do MBA i need at least 2-3 years of work experience. Is there any specific roles you recommend to apply for now so i can get the experience?
CFA is useless for investment banking
Any suggestions for my situation?!
Figure out what you’re looking for. Believe it or not, there are a LOT of different branches of finance beyond IB, all fulfilling and rewarding. AM, PB, trading, sales, etc
Go for a MSF.
CFA isn’t gunna help you break into a higher finance job and you don’t have enough experience for a top MBA program.
I would go for a top MSF program if I was you. I will get you another chance to get an internship or two and hopefully get a full-time gig.
The masters in finance program is not gonna help you the way you think. A lot of these people who succeed from these programs are ones who just got unlucky during IB recruitment in their junior years but were otherwise very prepared. What I would do is start working and get some experience and go the mba route. Your GPA is fine, just smash the GMAT and try to get into a top school. Then go from there.
Hey Analyst 1, thanks for the feedback! Any specific job roles you can recommend me to apply for now in order for me to get few years of experience?
In your case, what I would do is just start with something. If you can afford to do this try and work for free at search fund or something in the US. If you can’t afford that, then just try and get a job in anything. Retail banking, commercial banking, etc.. just start and get experience. Then once you have experience you can do your MBA.  it’s a tribe and true process that’s been accomplished by many people.
I don’t think you fully understand how MSF programs work.
While many people who didn’t secure an internship or full-time position straight out of undergrad pursue this path, there’s more to it. For instance, some individuals who were initially unprepared for IB recruiting, like myself, have successfully landed IB positions after graduation. I dedicated significant effort and preparation to achieve this.
Additionally, many MSF graduates aim for careers in asset management, equity research, or consulting, not just banking.
Working in retail or commercial banking for a few years before pursuing an MBA is an option. However, this route might not significantly improve your chances of getting into a top MBA program. Many applicants to these programs come from top consulting firms, investment banks, private equity, or corporate development roles and have strong GPAs/backgrounds. While not impossible, it can be a challenging path. Moreover, an MBA doesn’t guarantee a high finance job.
Lastly, MSF programs are more affordable than MBA programs and don’t require extensive work experience.
I know Columbia has a solid MSF program and I think there’s other schools that offer MSF programs in the city. I would check them out.
I know you aren't winning interviews, but are you having networking calls. They should at least be able to point you in the right direction on what might be possible. The way you put this forward sounds like someone with no experience trying to win in an online application contest. I'll give you a hint, without relevant experience, you will lose. On the other hand if you worked 50-60 hours a week while graduating magna cum laude, you should have a good story to tell, so networking could be effective. (I don't mean to throw too much shade, I basically made the same mistake when I was looking for my first real job).
Have you passed the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) test by FINRA?
In my experience this was a good way to show some firms I am willing to put in the work to get interviews.
For reference, I went to a non-target religious school and graduated in May. Once I had the SIE I was able to land a lot of interviews where I live in the south. Eventually ended up with a analyst position with WF!
Machunt thanks for the feedback!
Where in the south did you apply and also was it IB the job you landed?
Would love to connect with you!
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