Vanderbilt MSF Program
Hello All,
I was looking for some advice on my current situation. I am currently a Senior Finance major at a non-target school, trying to get into Vanderbilt MSF. I am wondering if I should apply now in Round 2, or if I should take the GMAT again and wait until Round 3 to apply?
Here's info on me:
I took the GMAT once and got a 660 (36 Verbal/45 Quant/ 90+% in Integrated Reasoning and Writing).
I have a 3.59 GPA.
I will graduate in 3 years total with 2 minors (Accounting and Business Analytics), as well as take extra math classes (Linear Algebra/Multivariable Calculus).
I lead a Financial Club at my school where we invest a tiny portion (500k) of the endowment by pitching stocks to our schools CIO and a few other investment guys.
I had one internship the summer between my first and second year of undergrad, but while I got some good experience, no one here has heard of the company.
I have an internship this summer with a top 10 Fortune 500 company as a finance intern.
I am an ORM if that matters.
The average student this year in Vandy's MSF got a 686 on the GMAT and a 3.588 GPA.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
I think you'd be a decent candidate. GMAT is slightly low, but you have internship and good EC's. GPA is good. Graduating in 3 years is a big plus. IMO, I'd apply now. Shoot me a PM if you want. I think you are fine, but they usually give some indication if a bump in GMAT will get you over the hump.
Thank you for the advice. I sent you a PM on some details I would like to understand.
Vanderbilt MSF is a REALLY terrible program. I looked at the brochures for the program a few months back when I was applying. The avg salary of a Vandy MSF grad is 60k. No joke!! They charge you all that money and thats what you get?? Wouldn't be shocked if most of the jobs are back office. I always though Vandy was so-so prestigious was kinda shocked thats what they made. Vanderbilt's Owen buisness school isnt even top 20, its a weak program. I would try to look at some better MSF programs @ CMU and NYU. Much Much stronger!
what the $$$$ is wrong with you. Vanderbilt is a solid program in MSF tier. NYU don't have MSF, maybe you can't tell between Financial Engineering program or FinMath from Courant Institute.
I think your MSF goal should tie up more to your job offers. If you have a decent potential for F500 or a nice startup, I'd recommend not going to MSF ft. it's always nice to have as a backup option in case your job offers are not so attractive.
You are an idiot. You obviously don't know what you're talking about, it's the best in the US after MIT right now. MSF is not MBA. It's like 5th year program. Most of the students have no experience and are young. 60k for an inexperienced and young graduate is more than enough.
Secondly, why does money matter at this stage? You should be worried more about kick starting your career. Salary stats at undergraduate and MSF level, to me, are irrelevant.
"'its[Vanderbilt's MsF] the best in the US after MIT right now" "Secondly, why does money matter at this stage?" -Ok troll. Money doesnt matter (for an MA degree not a BA) and Vanderbilt is right behind MIT. Ok ;)
Wow. Vanderbilt places into front office IB consistently. Average BASE salary is $60 because 1) not everyone goes into IB, and 2) a lot of placements will be in the south. Considering they finance jobs are back end loaded, base salary will mean nothing.
Horrible advice and opinion overall.
I think he should be more concerned about starting his career than money. It's not like MSF grads are seasoned bankers. The world owes you nothing. Instead, you should really focus on your career right now. And when you have enough experience and a track record, that's where you really deserve it, and the money will follow.
As for Vanderbilt, they consistently place into IB and AM. And that's what matters. There are tons of programs with higher average salaries but they can't place. Bentley for instance.
You guys are insane and your hurting the OP.
Vanderbilt is a good school but I mean your not blowing me away with your vanderbilt degree guys. Definitely not in the HYPS, MIT, Standofrd, Columbia, Duke.. etc category. Vanderbilt belongs in the (UVA/UNC/Emory/Rice) bucket. Definitely not in the HYPS, MIT, Standofrd, Columbia, Duke. bucket. Good school but "meh". And you can definitely do better with your money!!
I have no clue what they charge for the program but I am guessing 30-40k? Am I right? Well Duke/CMU/NYU/Princeton offer MSF or very similar degree quant finance degree at the same price and are WAAAAY better. WAAAAY better. I got into Duke; They offer TONS of financial aid for students who don't have the money. TONS of it because they have a giant endowment. Pricenton has a phenomenal MSF program, I know a former colleague is doing one there. They offer tons of aid as well. And I can promise you a much much higher salary than 60k. I think they might also accept GRE's. So if you have better scores you can definitly submit those instead of GMAT's.
But to all the other posters, all of you are giving HORRIBLE advice. All that for a 60k job from Vanderbilt?? Get out of here you losers. Most 1st year jobs straight out of undergrad pay 70k.
You are really silly! And probably stupid too! Vanderbilt is a great school, overall. OP is not talking about MBA, for Christ's sake. Those rankings you brought up are for MBA programs only. Vandy has one of the best MSF programs in the United States. It's arguably almost as good as LSE's MSF in London, except one disadvantage, location.
Okay, I know you're a troll.
PS: Princeton's MSF is equivalent to PhD without the research. And they have very different curriculum. Focused on quant finance, not corporate finance or capital markets. The students are much more experienced than Vandy's. So obviously they're gonna make more. I don't know how you can compare them, they're completely different.
Love how the OP can't understand how averages work lol. Average starting salary of 60k includes people taking F500 rational programs and other jobs in the south, a lower COL area. Every vandy MSF graduate going into banking is making street base and bonus.
"Average starting salary of 60k includes people taking F500 rational programs and other jobs in the south, a lower COL area" lol. Yes. I want to go to Vanderbilt and pay 70-100k tuition so I can get a job in the south working at Suntrust bank. HAHAHA. And yes I know what an average is. Assuming a Gaussian distribution where the mean and median are the same, I am going to presume that on average OP will start off with 60k. I am not going to assume OP is the next Einstein who is secretly undervaluing his skills to get into Vanderbilt so he can one day shatter Vandy's MSF avg salary stats after he graduates. FYI if the median>60k don't you think they would have marketed that?? Remember, the folks at these programs are akin to used care salemen trying to advertise their programs and will make their programs sound better and more reknown than they really are. You guys are suckers for marketing. I am sorry Vandy is just not there. Vandy is a good school don't get me wrong.
OP take look at Princeton. They have a real MSF program.. I know a former colleague there. Much better program and I swear to you for the same price. If you have a strong GPA even with your low gmat score you may still get in.
Sillymonkey,
I understand where you are coming from and I guess 60k starting is not a lot for how expensive the school is, but I think it is a good name to have on my resume (better than the school I currently attend) and could possibly give me some ins at places I would not have as good of a chance with from my undergrad.
Also, I saved a lot of money going in-state and finishing undergrad in 3 years, so I am basically looking at this program as kind of a more focused 4th year of college, before I go into full time work.
From my research, Vandy, University of Texas, and Washington in St. Louis are the three best MSF's that I could hope for. I have also looked at UVA's MS in Global Commerce and Duke's MMS.
Thank you for the idea on Princeton, but greekmyth was correct. I do not fit their admission criteria because of my low GMAT.
No you aren't getting in to Princeton with a low gmat score lmao. They require a Q50 on the GMAT and extremely quantitative courses as a pre req. Princeton is better than Vanderbilt buts its also more quant than business. He'd probably go to Princeton if he could get in.
Also the MSF is seen as a 5th year. Show me an undergrad business program that has an average way above 60k. Even Wharton in 2011 was 60-70k average. That's what you should be comparing this MSF to or other msf that are business oriented and not mostly quant.
I see your problem. Your looking for a private school name on your resume.
OP, please completely and totally disregard everything sillymonkey123 has said. Its uninformed trolling and it's not even worth discussing.
Average salary is 60k. If you want banking and go to vandy you can get it from the MSF. Base will be 70k and your bonus will be 50-100%. Also, what better MSF program?
Love how a masters in econ is the amazing suggestion. Where are the NYU and Duke ms econ placement stats? This is a joke.
@TNA" I have no clue why you are entertaining this guy.
The average salary is 70k... 10k higher..
Just to clear up some misconceptions.. Banking base salary this year ranges from 80-95k. Most recent numbers for average salary was 70k. Tuition is 50k with many students receiving scholarships. Whoever brought up Princeton as an alternative obviously hasn't bothered to look at the type of students who go for each program.
Vanderbilt's MSF program is definitely one of the best out there. If you want to get into banking I wouldn't advise a masters in economics over a masters in Finance.
I will be part of the Vanderbilt 2017 cohort (got in 1st round) so if you have any questions about the application process please let me know.
I don't even start the program for more than 200 days and I have already talked to career management services several times, heard back from several professors and staff, and received a alumni database. The experience has been great and I haven't even started the program yet. The people running the program seem to really care about the success of students and they are actually helping me in the process of getting a summer internship.
Don't listen to SillyMonkey. He really does not know what he is talking about...like most people have noted. The only programs that are possibly better or comparable to Vanderbilt's program are the ones at Princeton (quant heavy), MIT (quant heavy), WUSTL, Georgetown, and UT, in the USA at least.
You probably will want to retake your GMAT. The average was around 680 something last year but I think that number will likely rise. The program is becoming increasingly popular given the fact that the program had 100% job placement last year, even for international students. That being said, you could still have a chance with a 660. If you message me I can give my background if you want to compare.
Anyways good luck with making your decision.
phoenixfire I'm actually wrapping up my application for Vanderbilt for round 2 this week. I'd love to hear any tips you have for the essays or anything else. I come from a kindof unconventional background, but all advice helps. Would you be willing to shoot me a pm? I don't have enough points for one yet.
do you suggest it for eu student?
Vandy MBA that went to a bulge after.... The MSF program is strong a ton of kids from the MSF go to top IB firms. Most of the others simply didn't want to and went to financial consulting and normal consulting. The starting 1st year analyst for the year of data this guys is talking about was $65k. That number didn't include bonus so the person talking shit is just a retard. By the way Atlanta and Charlotte based banks pay the street average. That means while your buddy in NY is paying his rent you can buy a porsche which most of my immature analyst do anyways.
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