MSF Program to IB from Non Target School

Hi all,


I'm a current junior at UMiami and interested in IB. As I've seen thus far in the internship search, IB is tough to pull from my university. Can a MSF program be a good way to get into IB from a non target undergrad? My plan would be to get an internship in some form of banking or research Summer 2021, graduate In Spring 2022, and then start MSF in Fall 2022. Currently without much internship experience in finance, would gain most professional experience in Summer 2021. 

Please let me know, I've been hearing mixed reviews about placement after MSFs.  Here is just a quick list of universities that have MSF or similar programs I identified if anyone could comment specifically on each program:


NYU / MS Global Finance

Columbia   /  MSFE

MIT    /    MSF

Princeton     /   MSF

Cornell   /    CFEM

UT Austin   /  MSF 

LSE    /   MSc Finance

LBS    /     Masters in Financial Analysis

Vanderbilt      /    MSF

Yale        /    MSF Asset Management

UC Berkley      /     MFE

UCLA       /         MFE

WUSTL  /   MSF

UVA      /      MS Global Commerce

Oxford     /     MSc Financial Economics


Please let me know!

 
Most Helpful

You can absolutely get into IB via a MSF after attending a non-target program. I've known ppl who've gone to much worse unis than you and did well post an MSF

But you have way too many schools on your list, I suggest narrowing it. 

I've known ppl who've done MIT/Vandy and gotten pretty good jobs after. P'ton is hard to get into, but if you can make it in you're good. Columbia's program is newer but location location location. Cornell's program is a total cash cow that bills int'l students full fair with poor placement and a weak OCR, would 100% avoid that one (G'town has similar issues). Yale's program is very new, so no comment but Yale SOM is an extremely well run b-school that's been making huge strides in the past 10 yrs. The others in the US I'm less familiar with, suggest you drill into them a bit & speak to recent grads when you're ready to apply. If you want to do UK, you're looking at the right ones.

As for your undergrad, I've met one or two ppl who went from there to ER roles (strong students who networked like crazy) then to MM HFs. So it's definitely possible, but not probable in this covid environment.

Good luck!!! 

 

I think an MSF would work well if you were able to gain marketable experience beforehand. Otherwise, it’s an expensive way to pay into an extra shot at recruiting for an entry level position.

Assuming you go down the MSF path, it’s worth noting that there is a big difference in curriculum and placement between corp fin focused MSFs (Vandy, WashU, UT Austin, etc.), the quant focused MFEs (Princeton, Columbia, Berkeley, etc.), the generalist master’s (UVA Commerce, Duke MMS), and the European programs (LSE, LBS, etc.). MIT fits in the middle of the corp fin and quant spectrum and Yale, while a great name, appears to be a specialty program targeting more towards asset allocators than IB work.

Ultimately, you really have to know what you want and whether that’s going to be a good fit for the program. The focus of the program (at least at these caliber of schools) will be a more important decision for you to make than the school (or brand) itself.

 

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