Consult about Business Schools (and Master's in Finance)

Hey guys. Before I begin, this is a post I have just posted a while ago to helping me understand the differences between several finance programs. I would like to consult with you with about programs in finance and schools to apply to.

A little background on me: I am an international student, majoring in economics and finance with a minor in accounting – 4.0 GPA and I supposed to finish my bachelor’s degree in a total of 2.5 years (Yes, pretty quickly – I am taking many courses).

I want to get my master’s degree in finance on the east coast only (NY, MA, PA, NJ, MY, …) – it’s just my personal preference. The thing is that, from reading here and on many websites and by looking at different schools’ websites, I have realized that there are a few master’s degrees in finance: MSF, MSQF, MSFE, MQFE, MSMF, and maybe some more. It seems like MSF is the most fundamental/basic program. The rest, quantitative finance, financial engineering, quantitative financial economics, mathematical finance seem extremely rigorous yet more valuable.

The thing is this: never in my life have I been good at math or programming. On the other hand, I believe that sometimes we just need to put in the work if we want to succeed in life. Yet, again, I want to enjoy the program and what I do in general and not to suffer – so I am like in between.

Another thing is that most prestigious schools require these prerequisites: Calculus 1, 2 (and sometimes 3), Linear Algebra, Programming (C ++, Python), and more. I am going to take Cal 1 and 2 and might take Python. Here is where I am facing a little issue: technically, my degree is Business Adm. with a concentration in economic and finance – meaning that I have not taken some of these classes because it’s not part of my degree plan. To be honest, my school is not the very best school in the U.S, to put it mildly. As a small comment, I don’t think I would have maintained a 4.0 GPA elsewhere (but I am a very dedicated student; I do believe I belong in between 3.5-4.0).

Regarding my future career, I honestly still don’t know what financial sector I’d like to work in. I know that I don’t want to just end up at a bank, I want more than it. I also know that some programs look for students with some experience, which I currently do not have and may not have (depends if I could do OPT). I think it’s worth mentioning that while I may not be the craziest-smartest guy when it comes to math and problem-solving, I have good personal communication skills – I make a lot of connections with people. *I am saying it because yes, I can see myself as a manager.

I have provided a list of the schools I have been looking at recently (I'll probably apply 10 schools at most). Obviously, going to a top school such as Princeton or MIT is a priority. But at the same time, I don’t know if it is a MUST. I hear people say that if you graduate from on one those schools, no matter what your grade is – everyone will want to hire you right after you graduate.

So, what do you say guys, any comments, recommendations? To make it easier for you guys (cuz I damn asked a lot), could you number your references? 1 – for the program 2 – the prerequisites 3 – career 4 – schools (plus, should I take the GMAT or GRE?)