Some question about MSF in US and answers

AnttiZhang

1 How much will a MSF degree cost?
First, depends on the length of the program, typically for tuition, 2 semaster(1 yr) will cost about 35000-40000 USD, 3 semaster(1.5 yr) will cost 45000-55000 USD, largly depends on school. The detail can be reached in http://forum.chasedream.com/Master/thread-353474-1-1.html
Second, depends on which university. Typically, PPD, Brandies, UR and UMD are considered expersive.
Thrid, depends on living expense. For big city, like LA, Chicago, New York, the living expense will reach 1000 USD per month (however, varies a lot on personal perspective). For small town, such as Champaign, 700 USD is  enough per month.
2 Can I find a job in US?
The answer is :yes you can
Frist, if you plan to get a job for 3-5 yrs and swith back to china on a global based salary, it is very very difficult. Why and How? Becasue only those who are sent back by the company in US can have global payroll. How? try to find those big names or big companies which you think they can send you back in the future. As a matter of UIUC, for chinese student (undergrade in China), less than 2% can find a job in this type. One guy in my university get this kind of job, however, his undergrade is not in china.
Second, what if i just want to stay in US? i don't want to get back becasue I love French Fries here. The common error is that: Only big companies can have H1B relesed. No, that's not true. For example, Illinois Tools Inc, a company only operates in IL state, also can supply H1B as many as they want. For this kind of job, MACC is far more better than MSF, but MSF student can also apply crop finance related position, much easier than those bank, investment firm related job. If you decide to 扎根 in US.My suggestion is that: never give up any opportunity, networking, job fare.....for MACC, i guess 10-20% can get this kink of opportunity, MSF, 5-10% can get a chance. Also with respect to UofI and Depaul.
3 What If i failed..what if i have to return to HK or mainland?
Unfortunately, 90% people in MSF may fall to this catelog. Frist thing you shoulf know is that: The competetion in HK is also very high. The highest-paid job in HK for fresh is IB related job. I heard that, the pay is around 60K HKD per month. But you are facing TOP 20 MBA and TOP 20 undergrade's competetion, be aware of it.
Second, those high paid, about 30K HKD, not Core Department job (Maybe: operation, global banking, transaction service, wealth managment....)is more feasiable..but i have not heard any one get a job in this catelog yet...Last year,at least two chinese guy in UIUC get this kind of offer. Yes it's hard too. Due to high price in HK, 30K HKD (if you need to rent an apartment)is almost equilent to 10K RMB in Shanghai(if you have a apartment). Due to this pressure, I guess some guy may give up this opportunity in HK.
How about mainland?
According to jingjiesheng's statstic, the average salary for foreign master, is near 7000 RMB per month(maybe too many UK or AUSmaster lowed the salary? I have no idea). But in my university, 8000 salary for fresh is not difficult.
4 How difficult is MSF, can I handle it?
The answer is very simlpe, you can handle if you havd an undergrade degree with some undersatnding of Business (like, what is AR/AP, what is cash flow?), no matter which major. It's not MFE
Do I need some coding or other computer/math skill?
Excel PPT are must. Matlab? well, every one in finance should be able to use it (my bias!). But it is not required at all.
5 Above is all garbage, share some data with us!
Sure. Peer group: 40 people in UIUC(MSF), 5 in Depaul MACC ,all chinese.
Full time offer in US: 3, one from EY advorisy, one from a local CPA frim(already has MACC degree before), one from local crop finace frim(Depaul) Average salary, about 50k USD PER YEAR
Full time offer in HK: 2-4,(but two of them are unlikey to work there due to the reason i mantioned above, housing is too expensive!) Average salary: near 30K HKD per month
Full time offer in Mainland: Only.............1! (strange, right? read the following you will know why...) Average salary: 12K  RMB per month
6 When shall I start to find a job in mainland?
You have two choices! for one year program. for example: start at June, 2010, end in June 2011
Frist: Start to find a job in US, HK (June 2010-june 2011)
After graduate, apply for mainland's job (work starts at June 2012) and try to find a job until your OPT has passed, (2 month, grace period+3 month opt, makes the last day to return at some day between Oct-Nov). Most people choose this approach(39 out of 40!)
Second, Start to find a job in US, HK, mainland at the same time (June 2010-june 2011). It;s very busy, but you save one year time, if you can not find a job in HK or US.
7 How should i select a school for me?
Frist, you have to know what you really want, 扎根 in US?, job in HK and then return to mianland after 5 yrs? or what to be 外派 with global pay? Besides, you should study very carefully, what is your 总冠军的最后一块拼图?
Here is some tips for selecting school, may be its useful, maybe, its 120% garbage.
A: I want a to be in a famous school for repuation. I think this will helps me a lot
Refer to US, try USNEWS, national university and MBA ranking. Refer to the world reputation, try TIMES(not QS, b/s 中介 every year pays a lot for them) and AWRU.
Yes, they are all biased, but taking average can reduce the bias.
Second, try to read wikipedia to get a general understanding. The way you feel how is the school in wiki(famous, elite education, good at XXX), is almost the same feeling for other people.
B: I want to learn something realy useful, knowledge is the most importnant thing for me
For ranking, refer to USNEWS, MBA, ASU finance and TIMES
Second, which is more important: Every school has its own advantage in finance, some is good at Corp Finance, some is good at asset managment, some is good at trading...........You have to carefully figure out yourself. Here is some of my Bais
WUSTL: mixed of Quant and Finance
Vandy: more focus on business
UR: corp finance, reserach
UIUC: asset managment, quant
Tulane: trading, enery market
UMD: business, borad range of finance, regulation
........
C: I want to stay in US, no matter what job! I don't want to be Crashed by Lee Gang...
Well, first, if you can go to MIT, WUSTL, Vandy. Be thete.
If you can't , try the school near LA,Chicago, New York, DC, like: PPD, Depaul, IIT, Fordham (MSGF), UMD, Brandies....
Or you can try some 2nd tier school (difficult for palcement!) like UR,OSU,UIUC.......
For other school, its very very difficult.
D: I just want to learn a lot of soft skills. I am very smart ,but I need some MBA-style traing in business
For ranking (Oh.....again), try USNEWS, MBA and USNEWS, undergrade and Business Week ranking.
Second, try to avoid a 60% chinese major. I bet you do not want to discuss in Chinese and work in Team instead of Group (Playing Team, Working Group)
8 Some details..where can i find rankings? i am lazy
http://forum.chasedream.com/Master/thread-519156-1-1.html
i am lazy too...not the updated one
9 G,T, GPA, internship, PS........how should I handle them?
First, you should handle it yourself.
Second, due to the competetion, G, T, GPA have to be very competetive...lossely speaking, its first requirement.
Think this: You, responsible for admitting 60 students... You have 1000 application (For MSF, it is very true for lots of school). It is impossibe to read every PS or resume. So you may set up an Excel, narrowing down with respect to G>700, T>100, GPA>3.2. And then you get 300-400.
Second, read resume and PS.
What are they trying to find? 1 Are you a very strong in job market, if you are a nerd, it will hurts our reputation and placement rate in job market. 2 Are you in a right place for our program? Our program are focus on Corp Finance, if you like quant, you and us will be both disappointed. 3 Have you should you passion for this program and your future after? If you have no passion, i don't believe you will creat the value for our program 4 Other issue: such as: 心智成熟,有决断力.......
Third, they may send 150-200 interviews
No tips about internview, case by case
4 Count on your luck



P.S.
If i open a 中介 it will be quite funny!
A: Hi, i would like to study MSF in US, my Gmat is ......................................
I: Please let me understand why you want to study in US for MSF?
A: I don't know (and leave)

B: Hi, i would like to study MSF in US, my Gmat is ......................................
I: Please let me understand why you want to study in US for MSF?
B: I want to be a security analyst in Shanghai..................
I: good , can i see your resume?
B: Here it is...............
I: I suggest UIUC and Tulane for you main target, becasue..........
B: What!!!, a 中介told me should focus on Brandies,UMD, PPD and Pace.....You are stupid!, UIUC and Tulane are in sucking location
I: Hi don't go!, since you want to return to shanghai, location is not that matter...Hi wait....

C: Hi, i would like to study MSF in US, my Gmat is ......................................
I: Please let me understand why you want to study in US for MSF?
C: I want to ............
I: good , can i see your resume?
C: Here it is...............
I: I sugget you should focus on OSU, UR......
C: what a fxxx wrong with you! Harvard MBA's gmat is 718, I have a gmat 720. higher. The former 中介 told me i should try WUSTL and Vandy! (went away)

D: Hi, i would like to study MSF in US, my Gmat is ......................................
I: Please let me understand why you want to study in US for MSF?
D: I want to  work for GS IBD in New York
I: good , but i think it's too difficlut, b/s........................please consider it again
I: Hi..don't go! I am trying to save you money!!!

I went bankrupt in one month...

cutewen

必须留名。大神。。!~~~~

rebbeca522

强帖留名啊。。。
大神说的在理。。。

AnttiZhang

鱼同学...你的答案在这里

adaadaadalee

what about mba....

sherrysd

真给力。。。

adnevgiell

bump!

just to put some information abt OSU's program here. OSU's SMF is also more focused on Corporate Finance, while its Risk Management is also good.

youqing1218

好经典啊！！！

jeantl

大神，opt不是说一年吗？是学校不同时长不同，还是说去us的都一个长度呢？

flowerycc

顶~~   好东西   谢谢大神！