Should I do an MSF?

Hey guys,

Recently I have been looking into pursuing an MSF but am still on the fence about whether or not I should do this. I am currently a junior Accounting major/ Finance minor at a mid-tier (non-target) school in the Northeast and hope to work in NY or Boston after I graduate. I have had an internship in PWM (UBS,MS) and a politics internship prior to that. I am going to be interning at a top-tier regional accounting firm this summer (RSM, Grant Thornton) this summer, but have recently decided I would like to pursue a career in investments after graduation. If investments doesn't work, I should be able to lock in an internship with the big 4 (know recruiter on personal basis) next summer (2018), as I am doing my 150 credits for CPA in 5 years (so if I do accounting I need to do a 5th year program of some sorts). Do I try my hand at FT recruiting in the fall when it comes around and continue to network my ass off in the meantime? And, if not get the MSF as my 5th year program for the CPA and in the meantime try my hand at recruiting for investments at the same time, essentially seeing what happens? I think this might be my best bet at this point so I can secure a plan B in case finance route doesn't work (CPA route), but would appreciate any insight you guys might have.

PS: haven't taken GMAT yet, and have a 3.3 GPA.

 
Best Response

Think about an MSF when you are a senior and nothing has panned out. You have some good internships and another one lined up. Start networking with alumni and targeting smaller firms in those areas. If all else fails, you can do a MAcc and keep networking/interning.

Accounting is a decent field to get into and you can try and get into the valuation group. This would allow you to lateral into banking once you get a year or so under your belt.

 

Agree with @TNA" that it's probably a little too early to start looking into MSF, especially when you're still undecided on whether you want to pursue accounting or finance. Considering your current internship at the regional accounting firm, it might be very difficult, albeit not impossible, to persuade recruiters of why you'd like to now switch into Finance (I'm assuming high finance here) when Fall comes.

Edit: Didn't see investments. My apologies. But I think my argument stands. PWM -> Accounting -> Investments would beg the question (I know this is a wrong use of the phrase) of why Investments?

 

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