Vandy MSF vs. WUSTL MSF vs. Nova MSF vs. Duke MMS
Hey everybody, this is my first post although I've been a longtime lurker. I have acceptances from Vandy, WUSTL, and Nova. Waitlisted at Duke. I have a couple inquiries about these programs that I was hoping you guys can help me out with.
1. Best for recruiting into IB
2. Best for recruiting into Consulting
3. Best for pursuing a PhD in Finance
4. Best for pursuing MBA post MS
5. Best represented on the street
I realize I may seem all over the place but I'd like to take everything into consideration before making a final decision.
Lastly, I can't seem to find recent placement info for Vandy. Can anybody chime in on that?
Appreciate it guys! I hope TNA reads this and responds too lol
Vandy hasn't updated their placements. Not sure why as I expect them to be decent.
Best for recruiting into IB - Depend on where you want to work. I personally think they are all comparable.
Best for recruiting into Consulting - Duke MMS
Best for pursuing a PhD in Finance - All are fine. Maybe edge to Vandy/WUSTL as Nova doesn't have a PhD program.
Best for pursuing MBA post MS - I think this ties to placement and performance more than anything else.
Best represented on the street - This I don't know. Nova has a ton of alumni on the street. Duke probably wins this one. Vandy and WUSTL have plenty of alumni also.
Vandy's 2013 placements have been even stronger than previous years, with >75-80% of class accepting offers already. Roughly 20-25% of class placed into front-office IB, mostly MM & BB satellite offices.
Thanks for the responses guys! Waverider, can you give some more details on specific placements? By satellite offices, do you mean any office thats not the respective banks' hub? Do you know where they place most regionally?
I have a friend that is looking at similar schools. He received Vandy's current placement report and it did not seem that they had 20-25% of the class placed into IB. Maybe they are terrible at marketing it what waverider is saying is true. Waverider could you provide details? because as it stands my friend was left with the impression that of the kids aiming for IB only 20-25% got it. Keep in mind that most MSF programs have 60-80% of the kids wanting to do IB, and I doubt it is much different at Vandy.
Dont go to duke, you will be bored out of your mind. Duke may actually hurt you if you have MBA plans down the road.
If anyone has these placement stats and they are that good then let me know. I'll put a post on my site about it.
I'd say maybe 20-25% of most main MSF programs place into banking. This year at Nova I believe it is around 20%, maybe 25%.
It would be really helpful if waverider gave some more deets on the placement stats. ANT, how do you feel about Special's comments about Duke? I know their program doesn't focus on finance, rather it is more of a watered down MBA in the sense that they cover a little bit of everything business related. I'm really considering pursuing the PhD right after the MS if I can get into a program that offers fellowships and stipends because of the stability and job security a PhD offers. My goal is to work in industry even if i get the PhD, but the idea of being able to work in academia if/when I get burnt out is very enticing.
I wouldn't call Duke a waste. I think it is great for liberal arts people looking for a broad, business experience. Too many people do it for the name, but I can't blame them.
I do not think it would be good if you want a PhD. Most MSF programs have a lot of research imbedded in them and if you can land a fellowship all the better. Usually one or two kids every year go into PhD programs from Nova and I know Vandy has some PhD placements also.
Can confirm what waverider said is true. I was accepted to Vandy and asked for recent placements when I made my decision. The key points were:
-87% of last years class employed within 3 months of graduation -this years class is ahead of last years with 75% already receiving at least one offer -20% of students seeking employment have at least 1 investment banking offer -mostly MMs with a few BBs sprinkled in as well
New to the site but hope this helps.
Working, can you send me a copy of the report?
Guys, Vandy has good placements. Nova has good placements. WUSTL has good placements. Whatever the exact number is irrelevant. All the programs are semi-targets with banks coming on campus and with alumni in the industry. If you perform well and network you will get interviews.
Placements change year to year as students have different job goals.
I sent the director an email and will see what she says.
This is the true and these threads go up all the time. The answer always is that you cant go wrong at any of these programs.
To clarify my earlier Duke point - If you have a business back ground and your goal is not consulting then the MMS probably isnt the best fit for you. I assumed that you have a business undergrad back ground as most MSF students do and you may find the course material uninteresting. If you do have MBA plans in the future, I dont know how you will explain to the adcom how taking all the first year MBA courses again is going to be beneficial to you. But i am sure that it happens all the time.
You should figure out your goals before you accept as you seem to be all over the place.
I ended up turning down Duke's MMS program for exactly the reasons you stated. Honestly, the MMS placements are unimpressive given the fact that it's Duke and there are almost 100 students in the program.
Bep, may I ask where you decided to go and what drove you to that decision?
I got into all of those, except for Duke, but that is because I did not apply. I chose Villanova. I think Vanderbilt, Villanova, and Washington University are probably equal when it comes to recruiting. I chose Villanova over Vanderbilt and Washington University because:
Villanova starts in the summer, which gives you a graduate school GPA for recruiting.
Vanderbilt's people were great, informative, and offered me a ton of money, but I hate everything "country", which would make living in Nashville like hell for me. If you have any doubts, send Kate or Blake (Google them) an e-mail. They are amazing people.
Washington University gave me a bad vibe. My interview was extremely awkward and they refused to give me any scholarship money.
I think you can accomplish almost any of your goals from these programs. Consulting may be a stretch if you are looking at MBB. Duke places a few there, but from talking to a people at MBB, it seems like MBB places a lot of value on pedigree, even more so than IBs do. I am not sure why you or anyone would do an MBA right after an MSF.
I will add that Villanova/Philly gives you a good opportunity to intern during the school year, both because of class schedules and the philly location. If you are lacking in the relevant work experience area then this is a big plus.
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