MSF Resume & Cover Letter Help

Hey Monkeys,

So I'm in the process of applying to various MSF programs around the country and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the attributes, qualities and experiences one should I highlight on a MSF resume and cover letter. If anyone needs me to expand on my background and such, I can do that if it helps answer the question.

Let me know!

Advice for MSF Resumes

  • MSF is very quantitatively based so highlight analytical ability either through jobs, internships, or course work (hopefully through all three)
  • Show a passion for finance, highlight your involvement in finance clubs, personal investing, etc.
  • Even if you are just preparing for the CFA Level I, show that in your resume
  • For the cover letter: Show a clear focus of a career path you want to take
  • For resume: Highlight previous internships as hard as possible, having work experience is big for many admissions departments
  • Main goal in all of this is to show that you have a good understanding of 1) Why an MSF, 2) What you want to do post graduation, and 3) how an MSF will help you will this
  • I would mention how you've been speaking with whatever school you are applying to's alumni and networking right away
  • Make sure to try and tour the school or personally speak with admissions, don't be pushy or annoying, but it goes a long way to showing that you are serious

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This is probably pretty obvious advice, but definitely highlight your analytical ability either through jobs, internships, or course work (hopefully through all three). The MSF is very quantitatively based (as I'm sure you know). Also, show a passion for finance. Highlight your involvement in finance clubs, personal investing, etc. Even if you are just preparing for the CFA Level I, show that in your resume.

 

Thanks man. Any advice or feedback is appreciated. I have had one internship (not really finance related more on the business research side because being an athlete it's tough to be able to get summer internships because I train all year round) but I have had a couple math courses (Calculus and Business Statistics courses) along with a 700 on the GMAT. I just recently got interested in finance (past 8 months or so) so I can't show an investment club but I can show my personal investments and such.

 

For the cover letter: Show a clear focus of a career path you want to take. If you have experiences that can help you achieve it then even better.

For resume: Highlight previous internships as hard as possible. Having work experience is big for many admissions departments. If you don't have internships then use extracurricular or classroom experience and put a finance spin on it

 
Best Response
NishNash14:

Hey Monkeys,

So I'm in the process of applying to various MSF programs around the country and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the attributes, qualities and experiences one should I highlight on a MSF resume and cover letter. If anyone needs me to expand on my background and such, I can do that if it helps answer the question.

Let me know!

MSF Resume - Use the M&I format. Work experience 1st, education 2nd, Misc 3rd. If you have finance experience/internships all the better. If not try and spin whatever experience you have into something quantifiable. Your goal is to try and have a finance resume. If you have questions post on here.

I wouldn't worry as much about the cover letter. You usually have to write a personal statement for admissions which can be where you talk about what you've done on your resume as well as elsewhere.

Main goal in all of this is to show that you have a good understanding of 1) Why an MSF, 2) What you want to do post graduation, and 3) how an MSF will help you will this. This all goes towards showing admissions that you are mature and have thought this out which will help you get placed.

 
NishNash14:

@TNA sounds good! I used the M&I format for my IB resume so I'll do the same thing here for the MSF template. For the cover letter, can I show how my work experiences have prepared for me or helped develop skills that would be useful for the rigor of a MSF program as well as my future career?

Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Trust me man, having a resume in the M&I format and thinking like you already are puts you a head of the competition.

 

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