<p>I am a junior year economics major student at Cal. Recently I am very into finance area, and thinking of going to a MSF program to learn more about finance. However, I am not sure how is it going to be accepted by those top MSF programs. I don't have a strong GPA(only ar 3.5), and don't have an impressive work experience, haven't taken many advanced math courses. So what are my chance of getting into those programs or Is it a good idea for me to take the GMAT test and apply?</p>
<p>I think you are misinformed on an MSF degree. </p>
<p>1) Work experience makes your application stand out, but is not necessary. An internship would absolutely help you though </p>
<p>2) Average program GPA for most schools is a 3.3-3.6. Your GPA is right in the middle, which is good</p>
<p>3) Econ is a great major for an MSF. A lot of overlap and cross over. </p>
<p>Depending on the school you go to and if you have some internship experience, if you got a 650 or better on your GMAT I think you would be competitive at every school outside of MIT and Princeton.</p>
<p>Do most MSF programs due this fall if I apply for next year? And you said “Average program GPA for most schools is a 3.3-3.6", is it including NYU, U of Chicago, UCB, and other IVY schools? Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I saw somewhere the other day where the average GPA for undergrads at UPENN-Wharton is in that range, but that is largely because of their curving system which obviously does not fall prey to grade inflation as easily.</p>
<p>I don’t care what anybody tells you, 3.3s are not generally going to get you into top 5 programs. My school is a descent public and 3.3s won’t get you in…3.6 would be a bottom I’d imagine. Maybe lower if you are coming from an Ivy already. Stern, Booth and HAAS aren’t most business schools.</p>
<p>It’s basically an applied math program, so strong math is absolutely necessary. Seriously. Read any of the websites of schools that offer it and you’ll see.</p>
<p>I am looking for input and/or general guidance.</p>
<p>I’m potentially interested in this(or IEOR or ORFE). I’m basically a math/econ major with minors in stats and accounting who took a fair number of econ/business classes. </p>
<p>I’m hoping to do consulting for a few years(highly leaning towards economic/financial consulting with a place like AG, Cornerstone, CRA, LECG or similar)</p>
<p>Overall GPA is around a 3.5 but with repeats it’s down to a 3.3 or so</p>
<p>Math/Stats GPA - 2.8ish(2.0 with repeats) bad I know but there is a trend towards improvement and will likely be around a 3.0 by the time I graduate. Most likely will be a bit over 3.0 by the time I graduate.<br>
Econ GPA - 3.8 (wish A+s counted)
Accounting GPA - 3.9
Misc business - 4.0(wish A+s counted)</p>
<p>I had a number of issues in my lower division math(skipped 3 grades in it in HS without studying or effort and I couldn’t do that once calculus hit me when I was 15) which haunted me into higher level courses(worked nearly full time, helped run a business, in school full time, family etc) as I lacked the necessary tools to truly excel from both a knowledge standpoint and a study skills standpoint.</p>
<p>Presently at a top 50 research university(UC with 10k a year tuition and an almost full ride scholarship), but transferred from a community college(financial reasons)</p>
<p>I don’t need into a top program, just a “good enough” one. I have solid communication skills and am an aggressive networker so I can back door my way in. My stepbrother wants me to go to NYU as he had but I don’t know if I’d be a competitive applicant. I’m thinking of places like rice, vandy, usc, where they’re a bit more regarded at the undergrad level and might attract solid undergrad recruiters with whom I could network.</p>
<p>Would I even be in the running or should I just aim for an MBA with a finance concentration?</p>
<p>I think many of the people posting in this thread are confused. An MSF is a broad based, graduate level education in finance. You will do SOME quant stuff, but mostly financial theory and markets. From some of the schools being mentioned I think people are talking about an MFE which is financial engineering. Completely different degrees.</p>