MSF Application Advice

Hey all,

I would be applying for the class of 2017 and I would still like some advice.

I go to a top 50 school and am an accounting undergrad, but it is a top undergrad accounting program. 3.6 GPA. Decent extracurriculars: college athletics, humanitarian service in foreign country, ESL tutor, and club VP.

I have done internships with a local VC, a local HF, and a VC in the Middle East.

Goal is to do banking in San Francisco.

I am interested in doing a MSc in either the US or the UK.

Top choices are:
- US: MIT, Vandy, UVA, Duke MiM, CMC, USC
- UK: Oxford, LSE, LBS MiM, UCL, Edinburgh, Manchester

I just had a few questions:
1. Based on my other info, what kind of GMAT would I need for my top choices ?
2. Any ideas how these choices would place for IB in SF?
3. Other good schools to apply to as either first choices or back-ups?

Thanks!

 
THBanker:

Id drop MIT and not waste the time on an app unless you have some super math background you didn't disclose.

Why do people keep propagating this stereotype? :( Look at the most recent class stats: http://mitsloan.mit.edu/mfin/admissions/class-profile2/ You definitely do not have to be a math whiz to get into Sloan....

Now granted, being proficient in LinAlg, Calculus, Probability/Statistics, and Stochastics will make life much easier once you are IN THE PROGRAM, but the amount of math you need to know to get through the classes is not that much. You'll learn on the way.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

The obvious answer to your GMAT question is "as high as possible". If you want to be very competitive, aim for at least 720. If your goal is SF then I wouldn't bother with any of the UK ones, and pick more local ones like USC and CMC and maybe one or two others as back up.

 

As a former CMC MF grad, I'd echo the earlier statements of forgetting the UK programs and focusing on the US MSF programs - primarily the Cali ones as MSFs tend to place regionally. I really only have stats on CMC, but I'm sure USC did fairly well too.

  1. CMC tends to have an average GMAT 710 and higher. A couple had lower, but had really high GPAs and extracurriculars. I'd aim for 720+ to make your app strong.
  2. CMC places well into SF IB. I'd say about 50% of the MA IB prospects placed into SF.
 

The MSF degree is by nature regional. It's as simple as if you want a job in the US, get a US MSF; if UK, get a UK/European MSF. Why would you go to a UK school where it will be very difficult to network with people in SF?

 
Best Response

To add to what imaseo said, you should choose your program based on the general region in which you want to apply. Now, it's a little different if you're aiming for London IB and go to WHU in Germany or HEC Paris, but I'd echo what the other posters said and go with CMC if your goal is SF.

Most importantly though, imagine for a second that you decide on Oxford. Come fall semester 2016, you will probably be interviewing for SA (or FT) positions. If you get called to superdays in SF, you will have to take a 14 hour flight, deal with an 8 hour jetlag, and possibly deal with delays/ random shit that life throws at you, all while preparing for the interviews on the plane/ missing more classes than if you had interviewed for London positions/ etc.

This past fall I had a couple assessment centres in London with students who had flown from Canada and the States (they were British exchange students) - and you could tell they were a tad bit disheveled and tired; the last 12-15 hours of their lives had taken a bit of focus out of them. Now imagine doing that multiple times (unless you can schedule your superdays very efficiently).

 

Do all of the people who want IB from CMC get into IB? Will be applying next year regardless but just wondering. I would like NYC but I'll take whatever location I can get at this point if its IB at a respectable bank

 
theebreadwinner:

Do all of the people who want IB from CMC get into IB? Will be applying next year regardless but just wondering. I would like NYC but I'll take whatever location I can get at this point if its IB at a respectable bank

most don't place in NYC. As long as your definition of "respectable" includes boutiques, you'll be fine.
 

@ChimpOnMyShoulder, I am a US citizen.

@imaseo & @Caribou_Slobber, you both made very good points. I was just wondering if having such an international brand as LSE or LBS would carry weight for SF, but I hadn't really thought about the process of networking and having to make trips for super days.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

Consequatur est aut quo quos est expedita. Est explicabo voluptatem ab aut ex. Illo quibusdam ea saepe est ut. Provident iure ut dolor.

Assumenda deserunt quia laborum rerum est aut. Odio qui quasi qui aliquam laborum sint provident quo. Quam quae incidunt ab. Eveniet est labore ea explicabo.

Incidunt voluptas ipsa et ipsam. Nam sed voluptatem minus sunt culpa. Asperiores placeat occaecati earum facilis et. Voluptatem iste perspiciatis veritatis ea neque. Est nobis tempore autem ad ipsum et dolor.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”