Yale SOM vs Vanderbilt MSF?

How important is program history? My goal is to land IB -> PE eventually (of course), and I know that Vandy MSF places extremely well in IB. The Yale SOM program is their Masters in Asset Management. The Yale program is in its first year, so no established alumni network within the program itself, but I'd imagine the SOM network is pretty extensive. Yale has the better school name, but what program would place better in IB? What about consulting/AM?

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This is coming from my personal opinion and nothing else, so take it as you will.

There are two things that matter when you are looking for a job. 1) School Name 2) Program. Believe it or not, they both hold equal weight.

Note that when companies recruit for analysts straight out of schools, they aim at a specific program to recruit out of. In this case, Yale will get you recognized but the program will have people raising their eyebrows.

Picking between the two, I would go with Vandy MSF hands down. It is a target school for MSF and has a proven track record of placing people into IB. Yale's program has not proven a single thing. You will have to network your A$$ off to get into IB.

As per consulting/AM, I am not really sure.

 

The benefit of Yale SOM is you‘ll get firms that also recruit for SOM”s full time MBA looking at their Masters program grads. If an investment fund is looking to hire at the MBA level they can also post to the Masters level, don’t see that happening as much for IB though. NYC is also a train ride away (albeit not a quick one).

Not sure if you’ll see that at Vandy as much, though given its a more established program you probably don’t need that as much.

 

Not sure if people agree with me here, but I’d go with Yale.

To give an example, if you are an alumni of Dartmouth UG, would you rather help out someone from Tuck or someone from a completely different school, think Rice (all else equal). Chances are you have more in common with the guy from Tuck, even if you went to Dartmouth for UG and the other guy was at the bschool.

There are countless Yale alumni across every bank and PE firm. Even if the program is new, I’m sure most Yale UG and SOM alumni would be happy to give you a boost when the time comes. I find myself pushing for those from my alma mater, regardless of their major or program. I’m sure others are the same way.

 

I'm leaning towards Yale as well, just a little uncertain about the "newness" of the program and how that might affect recruiting.

 

Vanderbilt MSF is an IB generator tbh - if you look at their employment reports, Vandy students place extremely well in IB.

 

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