Getting out of the back office. CFA vs MSF

I am wondering if anyone could offer me some advice. I am a 2015 grad from a Big 10 business school with 3.3 GPA. For the last year I have been working in a markets back office group at BB which I hate. Everything people have to say against the back office on this site is tremendously accurate.

Since July I have been studying for the CFA level 1 which I am registered to take in December. I feel I am on pace to pass the exam simply because of the work I have put in thus far. However in the last few months as I have learned more about the top MSF programs and their placement prospects I am beginning to wonder if I have focused my efforts in the wrong place. It seems a lot of people think CFA level 1 wont really help my chances of breaking into a client facing role. I am not as geared towards IB and I would like to land in sales or private banking.

I have not yet taken the GMAT and do not want to wait another year to apply to MSF programs. After taking the CFA in early December will I be able to cram for the GMAT and make 2nd/3rd round of applications at schools like Nova, BC and Duke MMS. Is it even worth applying at that point. Obviously the MSF programs value lies in on campus recruiting and the ability to rebrand. Is one of these options more viable for me to make a jump to a FO role?

Any type of advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

You have 3 months left until the CFA. Finish that, and then focus on the GMAT for about a month and make sure not to miss the deadlines for the programs you're interested in. If all else fails, if your gmat score is solid you can reapply again in Fall 2017 if you don't like the results you get.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

I don't get why you can't do both. Knock out the CFA, get into a solid MSF program, and finish level 2 right after graduation. I wouldn't waste time applying to either BC MSF or Duke MMS, though. Focus on: Rochester, Villanova, WUSTL, VANDY, MIT, UT and USC.

“Elections are a futures market for stolen property”
 

even level 1 takes a ton of time, so you should finish it on a high note. MSF/MMS is an 1-year interview card for jobs, but it may not always be client-facing jobs either - understand your risk here and know how to use the early master's for the right jobs you want

 
Best Response

Take the CFA. It will help your application. Your GPA is ok, but not great. The CFA will help this. Pass the test, shift gears and see what you get on the GMAT. If you do well, you can apply and most likely get into a handful of programs. If not, you have the CFA and you can try and network into a better job.

 

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