Marquette University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Pace University, Drexel University [which MSF Program to choose]

I’m an applicant for the captioned universities and I have gotten AD of Master of Science in Finance from MU, RIT, and Pace now. I’m still waiting for the update from Drexel. Here is some info about each program and I sincerely hope that you can give me some advice. Thanks in advance!

【I upload the table for comparison in a form of pic. here】

Actually, it seems to be a hard decision for me this time. First, the point is that I place a high emphasis on the practical techniques and networking opportunities both the university and alumni can bring to me. Also, I plan to work in USA for several years after my master’s graduation. However, my situation now is whether to choose a gap for next year’s application, for other schools such as NYU, CU etc., or just go one of the listed schools and pursue my study in USA, for a better knowledge of the market demands and obviously get more info on other schools and job market. I concentrate in the financial/consulting industry. My ideal locations are NY, Boston and Chicago.

Either comments or suggestions are keenly welcomed here! Thanks for your concern and please just give any idea on school choosing, placement stats, school transferring/ re-application (if possible), or current/future situation about the job market, things like that. =)

Yours sincerely,
Kite

 
Best Response

First question, why are you even getting your MSF? Financial/Consulting industry is too broad. What exactly are you looking to do? Are you simply using this as an opportunity to stay in the US longer, assuming you were unable to land an undergrad offer?

None of those are going to help place you into top groups or firms IMO. Do you have any other choices that are higher up in terms of prestige and/or rankings?

Marquette has some alumni in Chicago and Minneapolis, but you'd get far more traction in Milwaukee and maybe even Madison. Not sure if UW has an MSF program yet, but its students will be held at a far higher regard than a master's degree student from Marquette.

If you put a gun to my head, I'd probably go with Drexel. They have some guys at decent MM groups and a few in BB. Marquette has some at MM groups in Chicago and MPLS. Don't know much about RIT. Pace is in the lower tier of schools just in NYC. Going to be hard to compete with anyone coming out from the higher ranked schools.

 
peinvestor2012:
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/company/trilantic-north-america>TNA</a></span>:
Marquette doesn't have a master in finance. Are you talking about their economic analytic program?

Honestly, I wouldn't do any of these.

He's talking about the MS in Applied Econ. If you click on his thumbnail he lays out each degree and some details.

Thanks for your reply, TNA and are you a alumni of Villanova? so glad to meet you here! haha when I say this, I mean, all of you=) Yep, I put a comparison list of schools in the left corner of my post. ;p

 

Thank you so much for your replies and opinions! There was a delay in updating your comments, so I printed the follow-up question above. Zoomie, thanks for your info and they're both awesome! But I do consider more about the placement and scholarship in these universities currently.

 

Dear Peinvestor, I did submit my application to BC and Villanova. Both of them are my dream school. However, I didn't catch up with the first round because that my previous Toefl score is not enough. My undergraduate major is International Economy and Trade, with a gpa 3.7-3.8. I'm still waiting for the update status. You bet that it must be really hard to compete with other candidates when hunting a job in cities like NYC or Chicago. So I'm wondering whether it is a good choice for me to just participate in one of those programs and make a gap for the next year's application. I'm now a senior undergraduate. BTW, since you mentioned that Drexel wins your preference here. Could you please offer me more info about their faculty and internship opportunities? Thank you!

 
pocketfox:
Dear Peinvestor, I did submit my application to BC and Villanova. Both of them are my dream school. However, I didn't catch up with the first round because that my previous Toefl score is not enough. My undergraduate major is International Economy and Trade, with a gpa 3.7-3.8. I'm still waiting for the update status. You bet that it must be really hard to compete with other candidates when hunting a job in cities like NYC or Chicago. So I'm wondering whether it is a good choice for me to just participate in one of those programs and make a gap for the next year's application. I'm now a senior undergraduate. BTW, since you mentioned that Drexel wins your preference here. Could you please offer me more info about their faculty and internship opportunities? Thank you!

My advice, if these are your options, find a recent (graduated within the past 2 years) alumni from the program and ask them for a 15 min interview. Ask them about career development options, on-campus recruiting, brand name once they went to the marketplace, etc.

 
peinvestor2012:
pocketfox:
Dear Peinvestor, I did submit my application to BC and Villanova. Both of them are my dream school. However, I didn't catch up with the first round because that my previous Toefl score is not enough. My undergraduate major is International Economy and Trade, with a gpa 3.7-3.8. I'm still waiting for the update status. You bet that it must be really hard to compete with other candidates when hunting a job in cities like NYC or Chicago. So I'm wondering whether it is a good choice for me to just participate in one of those programs and make a gap for the next year's application. I'm now a senior undergraduate. BTW, since you mentioned that Drexel wins your preference here. Could you please offer me more info about their faculty and internship opportunities? Thank you!

My advice, if these are your options, find a recent (graduated within the past 2 years) alumni from the program and ask them for a 15 min interview. Ask them about career development options, on-campus recruiting, brand name once they went to the marketplace, etc.

Sounds great! Do you think it will be a good way to find someone via LinkedIn? I just get my WSO journey started and I think it's a marvelous place to facilitate my career path and learn more comprehensive knowledge of this industry. Thanks again for your valuable advice.

 

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