MSF - Senior at a state school

Hello everyone! I am new and delighted to be here.

-I am a senior at a state school in the United States
-I have an average GPA 3.4-3.5
-I am an Accounting and Business Economics double major
-I have had 2 finance internships (local firms)
-I have one accounting internship (fortune 100 company) I am working at part-time

Currently I have no job offers. I want to know my options. I am looking at masters programs in finance as well as accounting. I am more interested in the finance/economics side and do not want to pursue a career in accounting.

I also have yet to take my GMAT.

I would like advice on the necessary steps I should take regarding the Masters in Finance programs. I am considering the Masters in Accounting program. However the Masters in Fin is my first choice. I am interested in learning about financial analysis, investments, valuations, capital markets in general, etc.

1) Is a Masters in Fin a good choice for a person with my background?
2) Which Masters in Finance programs should I be looking at?
3) What kind of gmat score should I target for those programs?
4) Can a Masters in Accounting get me to where I want to be as well?

Sorry for the long read. Any help and guidance is very appreciated! I can also provide a resume in Private Messaging if you want to see it.

Thanks.

 

Depends on what you want to do... what's the end goal? If not accounting, then.... what?

My experience is that people who go into an MSF program not knowing what they want to do, end up not doing anything. People that know what field they want to be in (e.g. investment banking, private wealth, sales and trading) do well in an MSF program and then end up in that field b/c they were focused, etc.

 

I would keep networking and looking for job while at the same time applying to the MSF. Depending on what job you secure, it would be better to have a year or two of work experience before getting the MSF.

I don't believe MSF in Accounting will get you where you want go (unless you wan Transaction services at Big 4). You won't learn alot of what a MSF covers, and the question...you want a finance job, but you got a MSA instead of a MSF?

Target MSF that are closer to NYC/East Coast and which should have decent NYC placement (if that is where you want to be). Just get the highest score possible and worry about your chances of getting into a particular program later.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Best Response

Transaction/Valuation services at a Big 4 sound very interesting to me and something I would definitely look at over Assurance/Tax services.

Jen05046-My apologies for not being very clear about my goal. I realize that is a very important thing to mention and I sound incredibly naive in my original post.

I have my eyes on Capital Market analyst positions at banks. I found the following description to be 100% accurate on what I am aiming to do. * Developing and maintaining financial models * Creating various financial analyses, including valuations and merger consequences * Performing comprehensive and in–depth company and industry research * Preparing presentation and other materials for clients * Participating in due diligence sessions and client meetings * Communicating and interacting with deal team members and clients

I am not aiming for the highest/most prestigious NYC positions. Because of my average background, I would be satisfied with Charlotte/Atlanta/Texas/D.C. located job positions.

I interviewed for 2 analyst positions at B of A and got rejected from both sadly. I want to use the M Fin or M Accounting to get a second chance at those positions, basically.

 

Anthony-Thanks for the link. I have signed up and read your blog!

Gordon Gekko-Just to follow up on my last post, I may have been wrong to think a Masters in Accounting would give me a distinct advantage at the type of finance job I am aiming for though. However, I have seen profiles of Capital Market Analysts/Senior Analysts at banks who have earned Masters in Accounting degrees. I think it may be a good idea to contact them.

Do you have any advice on how I should approach work experience at this point?

 

(1) I think Masters in Finance is a good choice for a person with your background. I think it a perfect selection of course.

(2) I think you should be try these master in finance programs- financial engineering, quantitative finance, financial mathematics, mathematical finance, computational finance etc.

(3) For these programs minimum 670 GMAT score is required. With this score you are eligible for to study these courses.

(4) Yes, a masters in accounting degree get you to there where you want to go. Because accounting can be an exciting business. Finding the latest tax, write-offs, telling your clients how much money you saved them, and teaching friends and family how to best handle their money al make your accounting degree worthwhile.

http://www.thedegreeexperts.com
 

quote=Carolyn Perry I think Masters in Finance is a good choice for a person with your background. I think it a perfect selection of course.

(2) I think you should be try these master in finance programs- financial engineering, quantitative finance, financial mathematics, mathematical finance, computational finance etc.

(3) For these programs minimum 670 GMAT score is required. With this score you are eligible for to study these courses.

(4) Yes, a masters in accounting degree get you to there where you want to go. Because accounting can be an exciting business. Finding the latest tax, write-offs, telling your clients how much money you saved them, and teaching friends and family how to best handle their money al make your accounting degree worthwhile.[/quote]

Just tracked all of this lady's posts. Obvious promotion fail is obvious.

Carolyn Perry, you have been blocked.

“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 

I prefer this little gem: "Yes, a masters in accounting degree get you to there where you want to go. Because accounting can be an exciting business."

Nice grammar and I always thought accounting was really exciting and all the CPA's were hiding it from us so they could keep all the excitement for themselves....

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

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