MS Finance Profile Review

I would really appreciate any feedback that anyone could provide. Planning on applying to MSF Programs for Fall 2021 admission.

UG: BS in Finance with honors from Pac 12 state school (3.37 GPA)

Work Experience: 3 IB Internships (1 Boutique, 1 MM and 1 BB where I was formally credit trained), BB Rates Derivatives Trading Assistant and F500 Tech Sales

Extra Curricular’s: Athlete (1.5 years on the baseball team), Business Fraternity (Philanthropy Chair), Thesis: a 1-year consulting project with F500 tech company (presented in front of the management team at the company), Study Abroad (Australia and Spain), founded a nonprofit focused on improving agricultural practices in developing countries (currently own a 20-acre strawberry farm in Africa with some expansion planned early next year) and 3-4 other finance-related projects (ex: compared the current valuation of NASDAQ 100 to its previous highs during the tech bubble in the early 2000s)

GRE Score: 160V and 160Q

US Schools:
Vandy, WUSTL, UT Austin, USC, and Villanova

European Schools:
LBS (MFA), HEC (International Finance), LSE (MSc in Finance and Private Equity), Bocconi (MSF), and IE (MSF).

Post MSF Goal: MM PE Analyst, Valuation Analyst or AM Analyst

Reasons for getting MSF: Want to further strengthen my technical skillset and have another opportunity to recruit for jobs (made it to a few final rounds at some MM PE shops before there were some hiring freezes and believe that an MSF would make me a more attractive candidate)

 
Most Helpful

First, think about where you want to end up (US vs. Europe) and what languages you speak or ready to learn. LBS and LSE are English, yes, but I know some IE alumni who said that Spanish is vital there to get a decent job. For jobs in Milan you'd most probably need Italian, for Paris you need French, and Paris will need much more French than Milan would need Italian, IMHO. Also, remember that LBS and IE are mostly known for their MBA programmes.

In your situation, I'd take LBS or LSE above all (maybe LSE over LBS), as they are worldwide-known and have better image recognition than those US schools you mentioned,(again very subjective, as I personally haven't heard of those US schools you are mentioning except for Vandy, but I do know all decent EU schools by hard).

Also, more opportunities in London over Milan/Paris/Madrid.

And btw congrats on all those extra curricular's, they are impressive!

“Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives, living existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon their shoulders is really a sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights. Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor, that to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero. Don’t think. Become.”
 

It's a bit more complicated now with Brexit... So, if you want to end up in London, better start straight from there.

“Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives, living existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon their shoulders is really a sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights. Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor, that to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero. Don’t think. Become.”
 

As you do not have a 3.9 - 4.0 GPA, you might want to increase your GRE score (from my research it is a 640 GMAT score, correct me if I am wrong). LBS and LSE GMAT average are all above / around 700, and the LSE MSc Finance and Private Equity probably even a bit higher. Though I think your work experience should give you a great position if you increase your GRE / GMAT score a bit.

 

What are the visa hurdles you would have to clear to move to the U.K? I imagine there’s probably some stringent requirements.

Are you fluent in a second language? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you need a second language for PE in London. Not at the level of “I can pound it out in 6 mos” (i.e if you have a 640 GMAT equiv I doubt you could pound it out as fast as you’ve decided you could).

Great work experience though. Probably have a good chance at admissions (low gre, low gpa, phenomenal work experience).

 

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