I'm going into my senior year and studying for the GMAT in preparation to apply for some MS Finance programs.
I'm an economics major at a top 50 "national liberal arts college" (usnews). I have a 3.48 GPA, which I am putting all of my efforts to increasing to a 3.5 after fall semester '15. I've been interning at a MM in public finance for almost a year.
My plans are to try and stay with the bank I'm at now in public finance. Also going to apply to some other public finance analyst jobs just in case. However, I want to have a gmat score to apply to MS Finance programs in case this plan falls through. I haven't taken a full practice test yet, but I'm thinking I might fall anywhere from 670-700 based on the questions I have done.
I have a list of the following MS Finance programs that I feel like would be a reach (?).
Vanderbilt
Boston College
Imperial (UK)
Warwick (UK)
Cass (UK)
Would these be plausible? I need suggestions for schools that would be more attainable in the US and UK.
What's the rationale for excluding the LSE?
Because unless I were to absolutely murder the GMAT I don't think I'd have a chance in hell. Even if I got a 750+ on the GMAT I don't think my GPA/internships would hold. It doesn't seem like any of the UK schools I listed have class profiles for them, so I'm also apprehensive about them.
Vanderbilt had had averages: 3.45 GPA 679 GMAT Boston: 3.6 GPA 693 GMAT
LSE has easier to get into Msc in finance programs. Brand and recruiting are the same. It's deff with a shot.
As for US programs, add some ms management programs to the list. Duke, ND, Michigan, etc. Also, don't look at the class average GMAT as gospel. If you're a domestic student you can get accepted with a lower score because of the ease in placing domestics.
Vandy is phenomenal. BC is very good and will be great in the north east. I'd probably add another msf or so.
As for Europe vs the US, realize it is going to be harder for you to get a job overseas as an American. Consider thst when making your decision.
I looked up LSE's Msc Finance & Economics (opposed to just finance) and it has their average gmat score as 670. The Msc Finance has their average GMAT score as 724. With this in mind, I think I would add LSE Msc Finance & Economics on the list. Would that program recruit better than Imperial and Cass? Thanks for that info, that's definitely helpful.
The reason I'm adding London schools on the list is because I recently returned from studying abroad in London and fell in love with the place. I don't even think New York can compete with how global it feels.
What about Duke's MMS? Their average GPA is 3.4 and GMAT middle 80% is 570-750. The college I go to is in the South (think Sewanee, Rhodes, Centre) so I think I would have better look with Southern schools like Vandy and Duke.
Side note - I'm assuming getting an MBA would strongly discouraged after getting a MS Finance and working for a few years? Will this hurt you? As in are there jobs with an MBA required?
Just a question, just curious. You say that BC program is "very good". What makes you think that? I mean is there anything to back that up? They don't have very good placements(the ones they have on their web are very old), their site is outdated(even though the online representative told me in January that they would update everything by this time of the year). The curriculum is okay, I didn't find many graduates in banking(cross checking with LinkedIn). I don't know anything else about the program. It is just a question, nothing more. How do employers view the program in NYC?
The FT program is relatively new. They've had the PT program for a while. I actually like their site haha.
My statement is based as follows.
I'll reach out and get some up to date info. It's a good program though.
Check out the McIntire MS Commerce program at UVA
Good call. I can't believe I forgot it.
This definitely seems worth looking into. Interesting things I noticed on their website...
For the MS Commerce, there's 60% "Marketing & Management track" and 40% "Finance" track. Also 40% come from UVA and 60% from other schools.
This confuses me a bit:
GPA mid-80% range 3.1-3.7 GMAT mid-80% range 610-740
mid-80% range? I would interpret that as 50%-80%. Surely their average GPA and GMAT can't be 3.1/610 though?
Mid 80% is excluding the bottom 10% and the top 10% of the data. Def not averages.
you get a PASS for >3.5 and a FAIL for below 3.5. Make that mark seriously will improve your chances significantly.
the best way to stay in that Public Finance thing is to WORK HARD, CONVERT that FT OFFER. Since all these gigs you mentioned are FULL-time MSF, can you keep a job if they give you one??!!
Are you going to say... NO, I can't take your FT job and I won't come back to y'all until I earn that MSF?
yeah the british school really want to see that 3.5 gpa. As an american you usually have a pretty good shot at getting in. I would look at the LSE webpage (they have some admission stats there) and try to get into Finance & Economics and Finance & Accounting. Maybe even one notch below those two (think accounting & governance). Imperial msc finance is pretty good, but probably a stretch for you. I would seriously consider LBS Master in Management. There placement is probably the best in Europe with 35% High Finance (ca.20% IB) and 30% Consulting. If you want to work in the us, I have no idea how easy it is to get a job though.
The LSE Finance & Accounting and the Finance & Economics sounds really appealing at this point with them apparently being easy to get into (compared to the regular finance). Like I said, I would really like to go back to London and work there (at least for a while) so masters there is definitely in consideration.
I'm going to Barnes and Nobles today to pick up a GMAT book. Are there any I should look for or avoid?
Avoid Kaplan, it is way too easy and doesn't adequately prepare you. I would recommend Princeton Review if you want similar difficulty, Barron's if you want to challenge yourself.
I'll go to Barnes and Nobles after work, but I'm on their website and it seems like there's a lot of different options for each brand... For Princeton review, would I want to get the verbal workout book and quantitative and then go from there?
Curious on something else - I was looking up Oxbridge's MBA stats. Under the impression that they're new, and that they'll likely get more competitive, but their average gmat scores were around 680-700. How do you think they would view a public finance analyst as an applicant to their MBA?
Just looked up their minimum GPA requirements. Cambridge has one of 3.6 and Oxford has one of 3.5. Considering I'll graduate with a 3.5 something that could be depressing.
Rofl BC is not the third best school in the Boston area, Tufts is better and I'm sure I'm missing some.
For Business? Do they have an MSF? US News has Tufts at 27 and BC at 31. Pretty damn close. BC has the UG business school ranked 4th.
Gotta love WSO.
Tufts is the anti-business school par excellence.
If you really wanted to do IB in London, I would add Bocconi. Easyish to get into and has excellent placement in London IBs. One of the academically toughest Msc. Finance programs out there though so keep that in mind.
I was referring to overall undergrad rep not business/MSF. Also, boiling it down to Boston is pointless anyway as the east coast is a sardine can. BC competes with many schools beyond the Boston area
Boston is a major finance market and tons of BC alumni work in Boston. Plenty of msf students work in the city they went to school in.
Really not sure why there is an argument. BC is a well respected school and a good MSF. The program has good placements and is one of the main MSF programs.
Tufts has good science programs and political science stuff. It doesn't mean BC is above or below, it's just that BC business is stronger. No need to argue unless Tufts has a degree problem in discussion, bro
Tufts is the biggest pussy school out there, haha. We throw those resumes out in the first round of culling.
Disregard the Tufts fanboy comment from BobTheBaker
You've limited your list to anglo countries - some good schools outside of there. I'll just point out IE Business School, Esade, HEC, Bocconi. All have good placements. Lifestyle may be better there for your one or two years as well.
Lol where does the idea come from that LSE MSc Econ & Finance is easy to get into? I don't know where these GMAT stats come from but the E&F programme is (1) very competitive to get into and (2) a very tough programme.
Glad someone mentioned it. LSE is the best anyways - HEC i'd avoid as it's 2 years. Bocconni is great. Purely from a recruiting perspective Imperial, LSE in London are really good.
I went to the Boston College MSF program. Nothing against UVA but if you want Finance I would not go there. The McIntire School does not hold the same value as Darden. If it was through Darden and had more coursework in Finance I'd recommend it. But this is a decision to be made solely on your goals.
At the BC MSF I was surprised how international the program was. 60-70% of my class was from abroad and far abroad at that. Some from Moracco, a bunch from China and a couple of LATAM and Europe.
please disregard md3390 and his comment, UVA is a top program, also, it is pretty irrelevant how many internationals BC has, in fact, it could be a negative as alot of programs can only place a limited number of international students in the US. A lower percentage of international students is probably better.
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