My chances at top MSF programs (realistically-be harsh please)

I would add Villanova... I am in the program now and there are 3 of us from Cali. Especially since you are open to moving east. I may be blind but if you have a business undergrad you are disqualified from Virginia (if you already screened yourself through that then I apologize.. A lot of people don't realize that fact)

Undergrad was a BA in Economics. What are my chances at Villanova you think? 50%? My whole goal is to narrow down the number of programs I will apply to so I'm just trying to find best fit according my profile.

Something else that might be helpful in terms of evaluating are career interests: I'm looking to pursue venture philanthropy / impact investing longer term career wise but also interested in technology start-ups. Post graduation I am interested in IB, PE, VC, Consulting & AssetM really open to anything I have an opportunity to learn from.

Why don't make up your mind how quant heavy you want your program to be and which companies recruit where to narrow down your choices?

Is there any "system" behind your school choices? I can only speak for the European schools, but why f.e. Said (which is a MSc in Financial Economics btw) but no LSE, why Cass but no Imperial?

And more importantly, what are your plans after your Finance Master? Do you want to work in Europe, the US or Asia? In Markets, IBD, Risk Mgmt, Consulting, F500?

above_and_beyond

Is there any "system" behind your school choices? I can only speak for the European schools, but why f.e. Said (which is a MSc in Financial Economics btw) but no LSE, why Cass but no Imperial?

And more importantly, what are your plans after your Finance Master? Do you want to work in Europe, the US or Asia? In Markets, IBD, Risk Mgmt, Consulting, F500?

this

TNA

You would be in at Nova, BC, Rochester. Most likely at Vandy. Competitive at WUSTL. Virginia would depend on your major as business students are excluded from their MS Commerce program. Supposing you are an econ student you would be competitive with UVA.

Claremont as you mentioned likes a higher GMAT. Being a minority, having international exposure and being bilingual (tri?) will probably make you competitive.

Your international schools are random it seams. Apply to LSE and maybe one more UK school. Then do maybe one continental Europe school. I'd lean towards the INSEAD MSF they have, but whatever you want.

What are you trying to do for a career and where are you trying to work? Seems to me that you have an interest in being international so why not just focus on LSE and INSEAD?

Thanks, this is very helpful. I would love to go to LSE or INSEAD but I didn't think I would be very competitive there. My undergrad institution is not very well known and I feel that plays against me at top schools like those. From their website it seems they only take GMAT 700^ and top 10 undergrad uni's applicants but perhaps that is not the case, do you know anyone from a similar level undergrad that got into these programs?

kinghongkong

Why don't make up your mind how quant heavy you want your program to be and which companies recruit where to narrow down your choices?

Thanks, I will do a more rigorous analysis on that front in the coming weeks. Still not sure how quant heavy I want the course to be, probably not incredibly quant heavy but not too lacking on the quant side so somewhere in the middle would be perfect. Are there any schools that are traditionally heavy on the Quant or lacking too much on the Quant that I can begin discarding in your opinion?

above_and_beyond

Is there any "system" behind your school choices? I can only speak for the European schools, but why f.e. Said (which is a MSc in Financial Economics btw) but no LSE, why Cass but no Imperial?

And more importantly, what are your plans after your Finance Master? Do you want to work in Europe, the US or Asia? In Markets, IBD, Risk Mgmt, Consulting, F500?

Geographically, post graduation I am very flexible, my preference would be to go somewhere I haven't been before. Perhaps China/SE Asia/Africa or land a job that permits me to travel but not opposed to something else.

Immediately post graduation career wise I would prefer to get into PE/VC but would also be satisfied with IBD/Consulting/Markets. Long term I am interested in Venture Philanthropy/Impact Investing/Tech Startups/Starting my own Business.

The methodology behind the list I posted was a balance between a few reaches a few safeties and a bulk of schools I thought I was likely to be competitive at. Simply looking to narrow down the list but I am more than open to adding another school I might have overlooked if people think it is a good fit for me. For example, I would love to attend LSE but felt it might be too much of a reach given my undergraduate institution is not on par with most of their incoming class's alma matter... But perhaps Upedigree is not as big a factor as I perceive it to be?

Am I underselling my chances at top programs? Or am I being realistic with my targets schools thus far?

vike27 kinghongkong:

Why don't make up your mind how quant heavy you want your program to be and which companies recruit where to narrow down your choices?

Thanks, I will do a more rigorous analysis on that front in the coming weeks. Still not sure how quant heavy I want the course to be, probably not incredibly quant heavy but not too lacking on the quant side so somewhere in the middle would be perfect. Are there any schools that are traditionally heavy on the Quant or lacking too much on the Quant that I can begin discarding in your opinion?

Glad that I could help.

However, I am not aware of which schools are more quant heavy and which aren't. I think you will just have to work through their websites or contact the schools directly.