I'm 25 and dont have much finance experience. Would it be better to do a 1 year masters in finance and then work for some more years and then go to MBA ( which hopefully will help me get into a top 10 MBA) or just go to a top 15 MBA program if I get in?
I hear getting to the buyside is very tough if not in the top 10.
unless it's MIT (and even with doubt), don't come into a master's program that doesnt give you internship times. MBA seems to be a good choice.
For your situation, (I may be biased, but) a big school may help you more, because it may help you see more out there. You seem to be undecided in your post, and MBA Adcoms may have picked up that about you. They at least want to see one solid career path instead of jumping around without an exact objective.
if you got invited for interview, it means they're not terrified at your GPA at the least. so round up a good answer for "WHY?" and then move on.
I say you need at least have one highly feasible story for your goals. You can also check Michigan Ross' Youtube to learn about how to handle interviews. High-level but very useful for big pictures.
1) MSF programs provide plenty of opportunity to intern (during or before the program).
2) MBA is a fine choice for people with 3-5 years of work experience, but without quality work experience the best MBA that people can get into will largely be worthless.
greekmyth - no one can answer your question without more help and backstory.
What kind of UG school did you go to? What was your GPA? What work do you do now? Are you progressing at your job? Making good money? Happy/miserable?
What do you want to do? Work in finance in general? Banking specifically? Any regional preference?
Have you taken your GMAT/GRE yet? If so, what score?
I could go on and on. Need more information to form an opinion. I'll check back if you respond, but right now I just can't give you any advice until I know more.
I had more about myself before but took some of it down. I have interviews to a couple of schools in the 10-15 range. I was working in marketing and then switched recently to a finance job in real estate ( nothing prestigious though, its given me a great look into real estate finance though. Either way I would do a MSF or MBA before continuing at this job as it would be more beneficial to my career). I would like to eventually land in a hedge fund but after talking to some recent alums at the school I'm applying to they think top ten or bust for the buyside. ( Many said I would most likely have to do IB before being able to transition over). I could probably get an IB internship for the summer though before the MBA, ( provided I get in)
I went to a top 3 lib arts school. GPA 3.0 and GMAT is low 700s. I have very good extracirruclars but my gpa is going to kill me.
I could do a masters of finance and then work for 2 years in a more relevant field and then try to get into a top 10 MBA but maybe I'm just being greedy.
I'd be totally fine with being in La, NYC, or chicago. Texas I'm not sure but probably. I'll most likely want to come back to Los angeles at some point. No chance I get into Stanford or UC Berkely, and I dont get the sense UCLA ( although ranked highly) and USC place well into IB or buyside.
Am I too old for a Masters? ( 25, 26 soon) I'm not really sure it makes sense to wait for an MBA provided I get into 1 of the 2 schools I'm interviewing at. If I were to do a masters it would be at USC, UT Austin, or Vandy. ( Would be cool to have that network without using the MBA but I think I'm just too old for it.
If I could get an associate position from a Masters in finance and then use the MBA to get to VP level it would make more sense but it sounds like most MSF are for entry lvl finance jobs.
lol "doesn't give you time for internship". I got an internship before my MSF and I am at another part-time now. So that is 2 in the span of 6 months... @whattherock" some of your criticisms about MSFs ring true but when you say stuff like this it makes you seem like a troll. OP, if you have 2 or more years experience I'd go with the MBA if you get a top 15.
I'm not sure what makes you think I'm trolling. I'm just making sure that people don't think about MSF like a magic act.
@greekmyth dude did you not research about the MBA profiles at all? top MBAs round their median at 5 years post-undergrad, top 3 LAC is definitely not a problem, 3.0 GPA isn't the problem, mediocre jobs isn't the problem. ---Know-nothing is a huge problem for you.
Thanks Bob. I have 3 years of experience in marketing/sales for a healthcare company and then by the time I matriculate ( provided I get into an MBA) I'll have 1 in real estate finance. But no big companies or relevant IB experience.
It sounds like the MBA is a better choice than the MSF for me, unless I get into none of the MBA programs I apply to. I'm annoyed I didnt hear about the MSF 2-3 years earlier. That would have helped me a lot. Too bad.
I think the consensus here is that if you get into a top 15 MBA you're good to go for BB associate banking positions, you can even spin the real estate finance experience for summer associate positions, so I'd go that route if you can get into one. @whattherock" I am not even sure what you're talking about at this point.
My advice is as follows. Get a little more RE experience and apply to programs and in the T15-5. Low 700's is very good. GPA is tough, but not a killer. Your school will help you and you have some good, although not great, work experience. Your goal should be IB Associate post grade and then use that to plot your future. Not sure where you got Hedge Fund from. Nothing about your profile screams that. If anything I could see you doing banking and maybe going into REPE or traditional PE. With your marketing background you could stay in that part of industry and just move up the chain there.
UCLA places into banking. So would Northwestern, Michigan, Duke, etc. All schools I could see you getting into. I wouldn't do the MSF at this point because you have too much experience and need a degree that provides more career options.
Adding the obligatory "if you're not interested in real estate long term, don't do a MRED"
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