[pankaj019]

Hi,
I am looking to apply for MS finance in LBS, LSE or OXBRIDGE , But i'm not sure if my profile is good enough to apply there.

Profile:
1) B-tech Computers (65%), How can i convert it into GPA, Any idea? (someone told me my academics are very average, is it so?)

2)I'm having 2 years of work experience in Fidelity Info Services (IT Software engineer), working on projects for, yorkshire, clydesdale bank, bank of america (Typical outsourced software dev/maintenance work). Is this work ex good enuf for the colleges i mentioned??? (I mean usually on websites, it is mentioned work ex shud be in hardcore finance)

3)Will be giving GMAT, 700/800 is looking favourable to me (getting consistenthere), obviously 90percentile+ in quant
(this i think is good enuf)

4)the main point is that i will be applying in feb-march, now is that time good enuf to apply,


Is my profile good enough to apply to a good b-school for the MS programmes i want to??


Kindly help me out, really i'm getting into a dilemma.:-x

Tell me if not these which other schools look good to apply, i really wanted from 1 of these... :

Tell me few other GOOD colleges also, for MS/MFin/MFE/MMF finance in US, CANADA, France,etc...



Really need help urgent
Thanks a ton for replying!!!

Regards,
pankaj

[pankaj019]

Guys,

Can anyone kindly answer this query?

Would be extremely helpful to me, as i dont have much time left for me to apply.

Any kind of suggestions/replies are welcome and higly appreciated!

Please suggest something to me. I'm really into some kinda dilemma!!!

Hoping for some fast and favourable response.


Pankaj

[ankitgarg20]

Originally Posted by pankaj019

Hi,
I am looking to apply for MS finance in LBS, LSE or OXBRIDGE , But i'm not sure if my profile is good enough to apply there.

Profile:
1) B-tech Computers (65%), How can i convert it into GPA, Any idea? (someone told me my academics are very average, is it so?)

2)I'm having 2 years of work experience in Fidelity Info Services (IT Software engineer), working on projects for, yorkshire, clydesdale bank, bank of america (Typical outsourced software dev/maintenance work). Is this work ex good enuf for the colleges i mentioned??? (I mean usually on websites, it is mentioned work ex shud be in hardcore finance)

3)Will be giving GMAT, 700/800 is looking favourable to me (getting consistenthere), obviously 90percentile+ in quant
(this i think is good enuf)

4)the main point is that i will be applying in feb-march, now is that time good enuf to apply,


Is my profile good enough to apply to a good b-school for the MS programmes i want to??


Kindly help me out, really i'm getting into a dilemma.:-x

Tell me if not these which other schools look good to apply, i really wanted from 1 of these... :

Tell me few other GOOD colleges also, for MS/MFin/MFE/MMF finance in US, CANADA, France,etc...



Really need help urgent
Thanks a ton for replying!!!

Regards,
pankaj

I hope to answer some of ur queries:

1) No need to convert ur %age into GPA.All major US/UK scholls now accept the way we post our percentages. N yes, 65% in Btech is definately a little on the lower side. However,that doesnt mean that you cant get an admit. You can express the reasons in ur essays.

2)Work ex is reqrd in the field of Finance and not neccesarily hardcore Finance. If you read LBS's site, they have specified that IT work ex with exposure to finance can be considered and they do have enggrs in their batch. 2 years of wrk ex shud put u at front for elibility criteria.

3)700 is a decent score . However, to cover up ur average acads, you may wanna aim a lil higher

4)It doesnt matter when you apply. What matters is for which intake you applying. I guess for fall 09 intake, you will be late if you apply by feb-march or wud be at the closing line itself.

For more info on finance related courses u can visit global-derivatives. com

Also, you can google FT.com Finance rankings to get some ranks.

Some good progs are: HAAS-MFE, CMU-MSCF,Columbia,NYU,Oxford,LSE & LBS.

Regards

[pankaj019]

Originally Posted by ankitgarg20

I hope to answer some of ur queries:

1) No need to convert ur %age into GPA.All major US/UK scholls now accept the way we post our percentages. N yes, 65% in Btech is definately a little on the lower side. However,that doesnt mean that you cant get an admit. You can express the reasons in ur essays.

2)Work ex is reqrd in the field of Finance and not neccesarily hardcore Finance. If you read LBS's site, they have specified that IT work ex with exposure to finance can be considered and they do have enggrs in their batch. 2 years of wrk ex shud put u at front for elibility criteria.

3)700 is a decent score . However, to cover up ur average acads, you may wanna aim a lil higher

4)It doesnt matter when you apply. What matters is for which intake you applying. I guess for fall 09 intake, you will be late if you apply by feb-march or wud be at the closing line itself.

For more info on finance related courses u can visit global-derivatives. com

Also, you can google FT.com Finance rankings to get some ranks.

Some good progs are: HAAS-MFE, CMU-MSCF,Columbia,NYU,Oxford,LSE & LBS.

Regards

Hey Ankit,

Thanks a lot for your comprehensive reply,

So you mean to say all these schools, u mentioned are worth applying (i mean i may have a chance there), thanks, that's kinda encouragement for me.
Now, i'm on full throttle fo my GMAT, hoping if i can get better than 700.

But still i'll be applying in LBS, in third round (it has 4 in total)
LSE(Rolling), Oxford also in third (4 in total), HAAS in2nd round, Plus 2 colleges in Canada, that don't look so tough to get in like these, Any other suggestions??
Hope this sounds good or i shall apply nxt r then??

Anyways, Thanks again.

Regards,
pankaj

[ankitgarg20]

Originally Posted by pankaj019

Hey Ankit,

Thanks a lot for your comprehensive reply,

So you mean to say all these schools, u mentioned are worth applying (i mean i may have a chance there), thanks, that's kinda encouragement for me.
Now, i'm on full throttle fo my GMAT, hoping if i can get better than 700.

But still i'll be applying in LBS, in third round (it has 4 in total)
LSE(Rolling), Oxford also in third (4 in total), HAAS in2nd round, Plus 2 colleges in Canada, that don't look so tough to get in like these, Any other suggestions??
Hope this sounds good or i shall apply nxt r then??

Anyways, Thanks again.

Regards,
pankaj

I dont know where would you stand a chance. usually guys like you take up GRE as well. So you as well might want to research online before deciding on your chances.
Here is some trivia for you:
Avg work ex at LBS MiF: 6 years,
HAAS:4 years,
Oxford:3 years.
i dont know much about colleges in Canada, so cant comment on them. And yeah, applying in late rounds certainly dampen your chances a little. You can always apply this year to hope for the best and in case you cant make it, you can reapply next year. Sometimes sschools also offer deffered admissions.

regards,
Ankit

[DerivativesGuy]

Hi ankit

to answer your queries... you need to determine if you want a masters in (core) finance or a financial engineering(quant) program. If its the latter(i.e you want to move to areas of cap mkts i.e as a trader/quant/risk manager) then US offers the best choices... princeton, berkeley, stanford, columbia etc
If its core finance(i.e you want to get into investment banking/corp finance/asset management/VC/PE) then UK would offer the best courses..as you already mentioned LBS, followed by LSE, Oxbridge.

Now, I have applied to LBS MiF and LSE MSc Finance and Oxford MSc in Financial Economics. I got iv calls from LBS and Oxford. LSE is rolling and is still evaluating my application.

Your background should be good for most of the US programs,since you have done coding..and those courses want that.

My background: comp engineer(mumbai univ... distinction), worked for 2 years at an ibank in technology, then took the FRM exam and passed..got an internal shift to the finance department in valuation control.( this i guess helped me get an iv call especially at LBS)... candidate for CFA Level 1 etc...

PM me if you need any further details ... Best of luck

[ankitgarg20]

Originally Posted by DerivativesGuy

Hi ankit

to answer your queries... you need to determine if you want a masters in (core) finance or a financial engineering(quant) program. If its the latter(i.e you want to move to areas of cap mkts i.e as a trader/quant/risk manager) then US offers the best choices... princeton, berkeley, stanford, columbia etc
If its core finance(i.e you want to get into investment banking/corp finance/asset management/VC/PE) then UK would offer the best courses..as you already mentioned LBS, followed by LSE, Oxbridge.

Now, I have applied to LBS MiF and LSE MSc Finance and Oxford MSc in Financial Economics. I got iv calls from LBS and Oxford. LSE is rolling and is still evaluating my application.

Your background should be good for most of the US programs,since you have done coding..and those courses want that.

My background: comp engineer(mumbai univ... distinction), worked for 2 years at an ibank in technology, then took the FRM exam and passed..got an internal shift to the finance department in valuation control.( this i guess helped me get an iv call especially at LBS)... candidate for CFA Level 1 etc...

PM me if you need any further details ... Best of luck

While the question by asked by some other guy, its helpful of you to reply. I appld at LBS too, but got dinged...Guess my Low work ex was da reason...
What all progs have u applied apart from these 3? Do you have any kind of info on LSE's placement stats?I heard that these guys prefer students with commerce backgrnd and dats why I dint apply..I have a enngg backgrnd..

And yea,it would be great if you can tell me ur email address(gmail if possible). I am sending u a Pm with mine.
Thnks

[DerivativesGuy]

I applied only to these 3 programs, coz didnt want to go in for a Financial engg prog in the US. In the UK, I guess, these 3 are the top 3.
LSE takes in people depending on the requirement of the specific prog. for e.g MSc in Finance and Accounting requires a background in accounting, which you may not have. Try for the new MSc in Finance course... that doesnt require any pre-knowledge.
The drawback abt LSE is that its an academic course... you would be probably one of the few "experienced" ppl. So, you could possibly land with a lower Analyst kind of role. Plus, I dont think you would gain a lot by just undergoing a very theoretical course. But at the end of the day.. its LSE and a big brand. But the course doesnt match up to the fees you gotta pay!!!
Oxford also has a avg work-ex of 2.5 yrs...u shud try for that.

[ashish khanna]

Hope Pankaj you end up with a good gmat score. as far as exp is considered you have a very good exp and a gmat score of 700 or above will open the door of LBS, LSE or Oxbridge for you. I know some of the guys with same profile like you are pursuing MS Finance from above institute. So hope for best, you will achieve your goals. Hope this will bring some confidence in you.

[ankitgarg20]

Originally Posted by ashish khanna

Hope Pankaj you end up with a good gmat score. as far as exp is considered you have a very good exp and a gmat score of 700 or above will open the door of LBS, LSE or Oxbridge for you. I know some of the guys with same profile like you are pursuing MS Finance from above institute. So hope for best, you will achieve your goals. Hope this will bring some confidence in you.

A total of 2 years of NON Finance work ex and a GMAT=700...Sorry buddy....dont expect too much from LBS in such a case...OXFRD,LSE might be da places for you with much brighter chances...