MSF Advice: Kelley versus Owen for Life Sciences
Hey ya'll, I hope you guys are having a great weekend! I've been accepted into several MSF programs and wanted to get some outside opinions on the top 2 programs since I'm new to the world of finance.
I graduated back in 2024 with a life sciences STEM degree (3.85 GPA at an in-state non-target) and have been working as a clinical research associate at a hospital. I've been able to assist with a few strategy/operations projects here and there, but haven't been able to switch roles or jobs due to my lack of a technical degree/finance education. As a result, I've chosen to pursue a MSFinance degree since I've saved up a fair amount and have zero loans from undergrad.
I would love to break into a business development or VC-related role in the life sciences, biomedical, or pharma field after completing my program. The top two schools I've been accepted into are IU's 18-month MSF program and Vanderbilt's 10-month MSF program. Owen is ~$75,000 and Kelley is ~$56,000, including living expenses and accounting for scholarships.
I was accepted into Kelley's program earlier, so I've been able to do a decent amount of networking and have gathered more info versus Owen, but I've outlined some of the outstanding details for each program:
Kelley: I was accepted into their CBLS graduate associate program, Kelley has a VC Fellowship program, Kelley is also very heavily involved with IU Labs (which has a close partnership with Plug and Play VC and Eli Lilly), and the 18-month format would allow for an extra semester of recruiting if I didn't get a return offer from a summer internship or allow me to defer classes so that I can potentially continue to work remotely (downside of the program is that I would not have access to the Kelley workshops)
Owen: Vanderbilt is a very well-known program and has very good outcomes (they are more focused on IB, but they have an IB and consulting "academy"). I've been told by multiple people that they have a stronger alumni network, the program also has a leadership development program, and Nashville is a hub for healthcare entrepreneurship.
I know the market is pretty tough/competitive right now, and maybe I'm forgetting additional details for each program. Nevertheless, I would highly appreciate getting everyone's insight on what may be the better fit for my long-term goals.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of your options and how they align with your goals:
Kelley MSF
Owen MSF
Key Considerations
Recommendation
Given your specific goals in life sciences, biomedical, and pharma business development or VC, Kelley’s MSF program appears to be the better fit. The CBLS program, VC Fellowship, and partnerships with life sciences organizations provide a tailored pathway to your desired career. The additional semester for recruiting also adds flexibility, which could be invaluable in the current market.
However, if you value a stronger alumni network and the healthcare entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nashville, Owen could still be a solid choice. Ultimately, Kelley’s offerings seem more directly aligned with your aspirations.
Sources: MSF Class of 2019, MS Finance - University of Rochester, MSF Question and Answer, MSF Class of 2019, MSF or MBA for my experience level?
Since the VC Fellowship isn't guaranteed, does this shift my decision at all against Kelley?
Also, even though consulting isn't my primary goal, I would be more than happy to try and apply for consulting positions out of the MSF degree if it will allow me to ultimately get into a life science business development position or a position at a life science VC firm.
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