MS Finance

[Guest]

Alex,

I read your post earlier about Application Help, Though I dont have a similar background, I have also done Master's in Finance, Do you think this will act as a hurdle in my application process? My GMAT is 710. Are you trying to say that the correct order is MBA and then MS Finance ? I have a decent experience with community services. Should I reconsider MBA just because I have already done MS finance?

Best, Gaurav

[MBAApply]

Yes, it will be a hurdle.

There is no "correct" order. It's just that why collect a bunch of masters degrees? You should be getting either an MS or an MBA, but getting both will call into question your priorities, particularly by employers. There are diminishing returns of getting additional related degrees. It's like getting an MS in Mechanical Engineering, then going back and doing another MS in Electrical Engineering with the hopes that both MS degrees will make you that much more employable for entry-level engineering jobs compared to just one MS.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[Guest]

Thanks for the response.

MY career goal is clear , I want to set up my own Buisness consultancy and Advisory firm. If I jump straight to do MBA (Strategic Management and Enterpreurship) how will I advice people on any financial products and any other details pertaining to finance. This is the basic reason why I did my Masters in Finance. I always thought MBA will only give me a macro view on finance and given my career goal I will be expected to know about finance to smoothly carry out the MBA program. Masters in finance though very intensive does not contain even an ounce of management. I have read all ur posts and I am impressed by the way you tackle them. But am confused on why not Masters in finance before MBA for my goal. Can you plese add some more color on this ? Can I not explain the Adcoms about my goal ? If you still think what I wrote above does not make any sense, kindly let me know, I would take it positively and thank you throughout my life, I really need some guidance from experienced people like you ..

Once again thank you for removing time and answering the posts..

[MBAApply]

I'm not sure where to start because I get a sense that there's a huge disconnect with what you think finance is, and how it actually works in the real world. You need to do a lot more research into the kinds of finance careers out there by talking to people who've actually done it - bankers, sales/traders, research analysts, and so forth.

Business-related degrees (MBA, MS, etc.) are credentials to give you access to entry-level jobs. That's really about it. It doesn't have any relevance to your career medium- or long-term.

To be blunt, 99% of what you'll learn about finance will come from work experience. And your future clients and customers will value your expertise based on your experience, not your "certificates" or the book knowledge that you learned in school.

Getting an MS in Finance and an MBA is like getting two MS in engineering, or two undergrad degrees.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[Guest]

Alex,

Just to clarify the MS Finance I have done is a distance learning course, will it make a difference if I mention about this while applying for an MBA ?

[MBAApply]

Distance learning or not, you'll still have a hard time convincing the adcom that you need an MBA as well. Keep in mind that credentials aren't a substitute for experience.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com