Duke MMS
Hey guys,
Just had a quick question or two about Duke's MMS program. As someone who is looking into different MSF/MMS programs, I was wondering how Duke's MMS program would "rank" if it were to be compared to a current MSF program? I understand the comparison is of two pretty different programs, as one focuses strictly on finance and one has a more general, management curriculum, but just wanted to get a sense of how the program is perceived or ranked as compared to other schools/programs in terms of quality, OCR, brand name, network, etc. Which MSF program would be it be equivalent to/which would beat it out?
When it comes to what I'm looking for and my background, I'm a recent graduate from a non/semi target school with a degree in Finance. I'm looking into both MSF programs and Duke's MMS program because although I do have an interest in corporate finance, I'm very open to other areas of work as well, such as Energy, Tech, and even Consulting, which is why the MMS program appeals to me. I'm also open to working anywhere around the US really, but prefer the Midwest, Northeast, and South.
Any info/help you guys could provide would be great. Thanks.
Good q. Perhaps list a few Ms programs and your degree and ask people to rank them.
Also allow people to include a gap rank, in case the difference is too much
E.g Princeton Msf vs Boston Msf
-Princeton Msf -gap -Duke MMS Boston Msf
So as @techjobsyankee recommended, I'll list a few programs and you guys can rank them in order of how you think the programs would be ranked. Also, I studied Finance in undergrad as I stated in my original post.
I didn't include MIT and Princeton as I know those are the top two by a decent margin and are more so an MFE than an MSF.
Also, feel free to include a "gap" if you would like to, as @techjobsyankee stated.
If you consider consulting/management as your first choice: 2,1,3,4,8,6,7,11,5,9,10 If you consider finance as your first choice: 4,8,6,2,1,3,7,11,5,9,10
So, according to you, it looks like overall the Duke MMS program is pretty good if it were to be ranked along with these other programs.
Surprised the USC and BC programs are that low, or at least the BC program from what I've heard/read. Interesting.
Good list brah.
Duke's MMS is a cash cow. It isn't a serious program. The school just profits off of its brand. The placements are weak year over year.
Duke's MMS and MQM take internationals (read: no work permit=harder to get jobs) with no work experience and place them into decent corp.fin. and cor.dev. jobs. Vanderbilt's MSF takes Americans with previous experience in IB boutiques and places them into another IB boutiques and sometimes into MM IB. From this perspective, the placement in Vanderbilt's MSF is better (if you value IB a lot, which is probably a right approach), but the career boost is way more significant in Duke's programs. And the career boost is the right measure, in my opinion, because you cannot do much about what you have right now (you cannot just become a U.S. citizen with experience in IB). Also, what matters more than the school's brand anyway?)
Duke MMS AMA (Originally Posted: 03/10/2014)
Ask me anything. I'm willing to talk about everything from academics to life in Durham.
Background: Non-target grad, two summers of IB, one regional boutique and the other at a smaller MM (50 man shop). STEM Major, research background. Low 3s GPA, 680 GMAT. Strong LORs.
Application Process: I applied in round 1; The process was very fit focused and they look at fit both ways, not just are you a good fit for Fuqua, but is Fuqua a good fit for you. Interviews are very behavioral and focus in on leadership and teamwork, mine was very conversational, my interviewer had grown up near where I had interned and we spent a lot of time talking about that. Know what Fuqua is about, the school prides itself on turning out leaders of consequence. So softs are important in demonstrating, leadership, teamwork and community service. Aspirations of people in the program run the gamut from IB/Consulting to entrepreneurial to social enterprise. More people lean consulting than anything else it seems.
Why Fuqua: I was admitted to a few other programs both MiM and MSF, the reasons I chose Fuqua were: the network, it's Duke and the loyalty and depth of the network are amazing; the academics, our professors are among the best in their fields; the location, I like the South, I went undergrad in the South and long term I plan to remain here; finally, the OCR/OCI is stronger here than at most masters program.
Where am I going after: I am joining a boutique management consulting firm, they have a great culture, the comp is amazing, they matched NYC pay in a very low COL Southern city, they specialize in an area that I love and they are in growth mode.