Anyone knows anything about Fairfield U MSF program and surrounding Fairfield/Stamford job opportunities?

I got admitted to Fairfield MSF starting 2014 Fall and plan to finish MSF and accounting certificate in 2016 Summer.
Could anyone tell me what preparation I should make during the 2 years in order to secure a corp-finance related position? I have a bachelor's degree from Fisher College (OSU) and CFA level1...
Does Fairfield has a good reputation and a strong program?
Thanks guys!

25 Comments
 

I'd imagine there are a few local firms that have Fairfield alumni. You're close to GE and Hartford so hit them up as well. CFA L1 is good and OSU is a well known school.

 

I mean assuming your UG was in finance or accounting, I don't know if the cert if going to really do anything special. The MSF might help in the fact that it is a grad degree and you'll be relocated to an area close to a lot of firms. I wouldn't spend big money for the degree though. Are you getting any tuition discount?

 
Best Response
guyfromct

I grew up in CT, their reputation is weak, we have Yale, Wesleyan, Trinity and UConn, not to mention all of the excellent schools in the Northeast which dominate the buyside and NYC.

As another person from CT, I agree. Everyone I know from Fairfield U that works in finance is either at GE Capital (of course there's nothing really wrong with that) or UBS. It's not at all a competitive school to get into and it's not really respected at all in Connecticut. Its reputation in general is far below the schools you listed and I'd argue that even Quinnipiac will surpass it if it hasn't happened already. I'd stay away.

 

I am aware of Tulane's better reputation. However a surprising stats of Tulane's recent MSF program is that there are 180 chinese students out of a 200 total enrollment. As an international student, I was told by the program director that the likelihood of getting a job in US would be extremely difficult.

 

Deidara, what do you want? I think Fairfield will get you a decent local job. Grad school is grad school. I do agree with most people here that other schools will have a better reputation and be more well known, Tulane included. But if you don't want to work in Texas or you have other reasons to be in the North East than maybe Fairfield is the right choice for you.

We need to hear more about what you want and why you are looking at Fairfield. You must have a preference or a reason. This might be the ultimate factor.

 

Like I said before, Tulane MSF has 180 chinese students out of a 200 total enrollment which is crazy. I am an international student myself but have education in US. My top priority after graduation is to obtain a job in US. Therefore with that being said, I am concerned more with the possibility of getting a job than the quality of the job. Tulane definitely has a better reputation than Fairfield or DePaul, but the job opportunity for international student is dismal. The program director admits that most of the international students go back to their home country to find jobs. I think DePaul and Fairfield has the same problem that there are just too many excellent universities competing with them. Fairfield has way cheaper tuition than DePaul and smaller cohort. Need advice please! Many thanks..

 

Which program is cheaper? I know Fairfield isn't ideal, but the location is good, probably less Chinese students and you already have a good UG University.

 

DePaul costs around $ 4,7000 and Fairifield costs around 2,4000. Most of the Fairfield MSF students are from local or NYC working professionals. I'd imagine opportunities of networking with them.

 

Disclaimer- I am also an international student. :-)

I'm sorry, but a program like Tulane's that is heavy on international students is not a good thing at all. It messes up their placement stats and reputation. I would really stay away from any program where there is such a heavy concentration of international students. Also, if the concentration of international students is that heavy, faculty may not feel all that inclined to improve the quality of the program. The students are going back to their home country anyway, so why stress themselves out? The school can become a mere degree factory.

Chill
 

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