LSE/Imperial MSc Finance profile evaluation

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm a French student looking to start my finance career in London so I plan on applying to an MSc there. I'd love to get into LSE or Imperial considering the brand name, courses, and the proximity to half the financial world.

I'd appreciate some insight on my chances considering 1) My undergrad and GMAT quant score are meh, but 2) I have 1 year of relevant finance experience and my overall GMAT is good

My profile: - Master in Management from a non-target top 10 French business school - GMAT: 740, q47, v45 - Two 6-month internships: ECM at a French bank and Equity Research at a French broker, both in Paris - Foreign exchange at St Gallen university (no idea if this is relevant)

I'm worried that my non-stellar quant GMAT (61st percentile) might fall short of proving that I'm not a moron. I kinda screwed up my time management (I had 3mn left for the last 7 questions) and I only studied for 1 week after work so I'm pretty sure I can improve my score if I take it again in 2 weeks. However this would make me apply late (3rd round).

So two questions : - Is my profile competitive for LSE/Imperial as it is? or else: - Should I retake the GMAT?

Thanks very much !

12 Comments
 
Most Helpful
"Aspiring Expatriate" Good afternoon everyone,

I'm a French student looking to start my finance career in London so I plan on applying to an MSc there. I'd love to get into LSE or Imperial considering the brand name, courses, and the proximity to half the financial world.

I'd appreciate some insight on my chances considering 1) My undergrad and GMAT quant score are meh, but 2) I have 1 year of relevant finance experience and my overall GMAT is good

My profile: - Master in Management from a non-target top 10 French business school - GMAT: 740, q47, v45 - Two 6-month internships: ECM at a French bank and Equity Research at a French broker, both in Paris - Foreign exchange at St Gallen university (no idea if this is relevant)

I'm worried that my non-stellar quant GMAT (61st percentile) might fall short of proving that I'm not a moron. I kinda screwed up my time management (I had 3mn left for the last 7 questions) and I only studied for 1 week after work so I'm pretty sure I can improve my score if I take it again in 2 weeks. However this would make me apply late (3rd round).

So two questions : - Is my profile competitive for LSE/Imperial as it is? or else: - Should I retake the GMAT?

Thanks very much !

gpa?

 

I don't have a precise GPA equivalency (the grading system in France varies from school to school). However, I was in the top 10% of my school, which allowed me to secure my exchange at HSG.

 

Thanks for your reply ! I'm applying to LSE's and Imperial's MSc in Finance and Accounting&Finance. I loved my ECM experience so I'm aiming for IBD.

Now, IBD isn't really quant intensive but they all seem to put emphasis on quantitative experience nonetheless (especially Imperial).

 
"Aspiring Expatriate" Thanks for your reply ! I'm applying to LSE's and Imperial's MSc in Finance and Accounting&Finance. I loved my ECM experience so I'm aiming for IBD.

Now, IBD isn't really quant intensive but they all seem to put emphasis on quantitative experience nonetheless (especially Imperial).

Your profile is really strong. Don ‘t worry!

 

Hi everyone,

Sitrep : I've just received an offer for the LBS MFA, which I plan to accept. I've also been accepted to Imperial, no news from the LSE yet.

Thanks for your support and good luck to future applicants who stumble across this thread :)

 

In aperiam temporibus voluptates vitae. Rem consequatur veritatis maiores.

Optio magnam veritatis rerum in ipsa et sapiente. Voluptas ipsa quam sequi. Delectus quas et ad nemo. Perspiciatis quisquam repellendus maxime exercitationem quam ut velit voluptas. Est eum temporibus quia omnis odio aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”