M.S. in Finance

[Snagglepuss]

Originally Posted by FulorianC

I graduated in May, from the University of North Texas, a reasonably well regarded regarded public university, with a BBA in Entrepreneurship. I've realized lately that Entrepreneurship was kind of something my parents pushed me towards, and my real interest lies more in finance.

I kind of understand the differences betweean an M.S. in Finance, and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, in that the MBA positions you for upper management, but at the same time - for an analyst role, does it matter? I know this leaves me open for an MBA later, but is there anything I'm missing? Does anyone have an MS in Finance and can advise on the differences/lacking versus an MBA? Advantages? Potential earning power? Job market?

LOL coincidence. I graduated from UNT in 2006 with a BBA in finance, moved to NYC the same day I finished, and got lucky and got a job as a trader at a small bank. I'm applying to b-schools right now so I can get a job as a trader at a big bank.

With regards to graduate degrees, you have to decide what aspect of finance you want to be involved in. If your interests lie in investment banking, an MBA is the appropriate degree. The probability of anyone getting into a top b-school with a UNT degree and 0 work experience is very low, and without a top MBA it'll be tough (but far from impossible) for you to get an i-banking job.

If your interests lie in trading, you should forget about the MS in Finance and focus on getting a programming-oriented degree from a school that's recruited by Wall Street firms.

Also, for anything but a top MBA or MFin program, your career opportunities will be geographically oriented towards wherever the program is located i.e. if you get an MS in Finance in Dallas, you will be recruited for jobs in Dallas, Houston, etc. Do some research and see how the school is recruited.

[Snagglepuss]

Oh, and: to take the Series 7 test, you must be sponsored (iirc), so forget about it. To take the Series 63 test, you don't need sponsorship, so get it ASAP.

[Aetos]

Originally Posted by Lucane Darkseraphim

And once again you are just wrong.

As a MSF alumni from a southeastern college I know for a fact that our program is constantly placing students into IBanking, onto the trading floor at top banks / pensions (including GS), and into hedge funds.

You sound pretty wrong yourself. You don't go from academia -> PE. And if you do, you didn't come from a school I have never heard of. And kidder/piper don't count as top banks.

Also I wouldn't take the series 63 unless you know you have to. It will save you time and money. Without a sponsor you have to fill out a form called the U-10

[r3probate]

Originally Posted by Lucane Darkseraphim

And once again you are just wrong.

As a MSF alumni from a southeastern college I know for a fact that our program is constantly placing students into IBanking, onto the trading floor at top banks / pensions (including GS), and into hedge funds.

I assume you went to UF from your posts in the CFB thread, when I talked to the program director what he told me sort of implied that while Florida has great placement in IB, it's because they have recruit into the MSF program mainly Florida business undergrads, ensure that they get solid internships during undergrad so that they can land job offers as analysts after their masters year.

I'm not contesting that Florida has great IB placement coming out of that program - just saying that unless you went there for undergrad or had an internship before, you're not magically going to get an IB job by attending.

Originally Posted by Grooverider

Man, I'd love to do the MSc in Financial Economics at Oxford. Wonder how competitive it is..

Ridiculously. I had a GMAT significantly over their average admittance GMAT, stellar recommendations from professors that I TA'd for in undergrad, and graduated with a GPA over 3.75 and didn't even get an interview. Just a cold ding, no reason, form letter. I think it was mainly because of my weak math back ground in undergrad (no linear algebra, no diff eq, no cal iii, whatever) that fucked me. I applied in the third round, for what it's worth. Maybe if I had gone round 1 or 2 I would've had better luck.

[Lucane Darkseraphim]

Originally Posted by r3probate

I assume you went to UF from your posts in the CFB thread, when I talked to the program director what he told me sort of implied that while Florida has great placement in IB, it's because they have recruit into the MSF program mainly Florida business undergrads, ensure that they get solid internships during undergrad so that they can land job offers as analysts after their masters year.

I'm not contesting that Florida has great IB placement coming out of that program - just saying that unless you went there for undergrad or had an internship before, you're not magically going to get an IB job by attending.

Well you certainly will not get a direct hire without having some previous work experience. It would be absurd to get into IBanking having never worked before.

Anyways, my point was made that our MSF program every year places many students into top positions. If doubted, you can just check our past student resume pages. And on that note, our MSF program and director are extremely solid and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Finance.

[Grooverider]

Originally Posted by r3probate

Ridiculously. I had a GMAT significantly over their average admittance GMAT, stellar recommendations from professors that I TA'd for in undergrad, and graduated with a GPA over 3.75 and didn't even get an interview. Just a cold ding, no reason, form letter. I think it was mainly because of my weak math back ground in undergrad (no linear algebra, no diff eq, no cal iii, whatever) that fucked me. I applied in the third round, for what it's worth. Maybe if I had gone round 1 or 2 I would've had better luck.

I highly doubt your Maths background had anything to do with it. The requirements just state a good undergraduate degree in any discipline. It says a 2.1, but I imagine that you'd require a 1st.

Just to make a point though, it's believed in the UK that american GPAs are 'inflated'. I've studied at two red brick (read: ivy league equivilent) universities at Undergrad and Post-Grad and professors in both universities have stated something of that effect to me regarding American students.

I might give it a shot next year, depending on how busy I am. Don't know if I want to do this GMAT crap though..!

[r3probate]

I don't know how the UK degree system works exactly, but I was in the top 5% of my undergrad class by GPA, but I went to a public university, whatever. If you throw "I'm just giving it a shot this year" on your admit essay I'm sure they'll want you