Mod Note (Andy) - this was originally posted 8/25/15 but we know @TNA" loves answering these questions so bumping up again to the top
With the MSF recruiting cycle quickly approaching, I thought it would be helpful to create an updated MSF thread for everyone applying to the 2016-2017 MSF cycle. Feel free to post questions for this years upcoming applications here. I will answer what I can. Good luck everyone!
| +100 | 2024 TARGET SCHOOL RANKINGS - OFFICIAL | 61 | 1h | |
| +53 | Northwestern vs Georgetown | 24 | 17h | |
| +46 | NYU Stern is a Hellhole | 24 | 8s | |
| +18 | Over the Top Institutional Analysis vs. Old School Owners | 0 | 3d | |
| +17 | Rutgers Honors College vs Penn State | 6 | 4d | |
| +17 | Transferring from target to semi-target: stupid? | 18 | 3d | |
| +17 | Got admitted to Bocconi, now what? | 13 | 2d | |
| +16 | MiM vs MiF for IB | 6 | 5d | |
| +15 | FRANKFURT SCHOOL OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT for Bachelors Degree | 11 | 2d | |
| +14 | Are Nottingham and Bristol still "solid" semi-targets? | 11 | 14h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Rochester - mainly F500 type placements. I have met some Simon alumni on the street though. Villanova - Banking/F500/Big 4 TAS, etc. Mainly in the north east (Philly, NJ, NYC). Boutique/MM. Claremont - Banking/F500. West Coast focused. MM/Elite Boutique/Some BB. UF - unless you are a UF UG the program is closed to outsiders. Amazing placements. BB/MM. Southern and NYC placements. Columbia - not sure. 2 year program. Think PhD-lite. I am sure if placements are your goal this degree would allow you the opportunity to interview at any top shop.
2) JHU and Fordham are all very good schools. Their MSF programs will provide a great education. The issue is they don't have a history of placements which many (most) MSF applicants use to decide where to attend. If your main (only) goal is to get placed and have those opportunities then I would probably apply elsewhere and keep these as your backup.
Wake Forest MiM - It is a good program. Southern type placements. Obviously you'd compete again UNC, Duke, UVA, etc. Other top southern schools. I'd say Wake would be good for F500 placements. Maybe a southern banking placement from time to time, dependent on the student. The nice aspect of the Wake program vs. Duke's MiM, is that Wake doesn't admit business UG's. Levels the playing field for the class.
Stevens - no clue. If you are a non-math UG I would probably shy away from MFE type programs. Learning curve will be incredibly steep and odds are, if you make it through, you'll struggle and not be mid/top of your class.
The MSF still isn't considered on par with an MBA, at least from a branding perspective. You'll be an analyst candidate, not an associate like with an MBA. If you have the experience, do an MBA. That being said, placements are key when selecting an MSF program, without a doubt. The people that were/are most successful are those that have a clear idea of their goals and how they plan on achieving them. The year goes by very fast and you need to hit the ground funning day 1.
You'd have to apply and interview for a SA in your senior year. If you didn't do that I'd try and get a summer internship at a boutique to boost your resume. Most msf students aim for FT positions post graduation. Some do SAs, but it's a little tough going that route considering the fact that you'd be a masters graduate working with a bunch of juniors.
I'd try and land a job coming from UG, if thst fails roll into an internship and then the MSF. Use the masters to convert to FT.
I think you'd get into most of the schools you listed. With that said, I would strongly advise you to look at MBA programs as I am going to assume you have more than one year experience. Military, especially the role you were in, combined with your stats, should help you get into a number of very good schools.