US grad school app tips from Jon Frank -P7--TEST SCORES VS. ESSAY–WHICH IS MORE

JonFrank

It’s hard to crack the application code and figure out why some people get accepted to Master’s programs in Finance and why others get rejected. Graduate school admissions is not an exact science, and every case is different. But, there ARE some things every applicant can do to make their application as strong as possible and be the candidate the adcoms are looking for.

And here we’re breaking it all down by program. Jot down some notes, friends – this should help as you get started shaping your application.

THE MOST ATTRACTIVE THING ABOUT YOU

Master of Finance: LOTS of work experience, good communication skills, and top-notch language skills.

Master of Financial Economics: High GPA, and previous quantitative skills coursework.

Master of Quantitative Finance: High GMAT scores and demonstrated enthusiasm for the subject matter in your essays/interview.

Master of Economics: Outstanding recommendations. If you’ve taken extra finance electives, that will make your transcript stand out, too.

WHO THESE SCHOOLS LOOK FOR

Master of Finance: Someone who doesn’t necessarily have a bachelor’s in accounting/finance, but has lots of internships and work experience in the field.

Master of Financial Economics: Someone who has a bachelor’s in finance, a high GPA and who has great math skills. This degree is also for someone who is interested in doing financial research work after graduation.

Master of Quantitative Finance: Someone who may not have experience or a bachelor’s in the field, but is ready to take on an intensive, competitive math-based program and who has interest in becoming a quant guy. This degree is also best for people who have high GMAT scores and who are comfortable writing a thesis.

Master of Economics: Someone who is planning on getting their PhD, but wants a long, part-time program to balance with work. This person is also someone who excels at every part of the application and who doesn’t mind taking extra math prerequisites to get more acquainted with the program.

MAGIC NUMBERS

Master of Finance: GMAT score should be around 625-675

Master of Financial Economics: GMAT score should be around 660-680

Master of Quantitative Finance: Shoot for a GMAT score around 700

Master of Economics: GMAT score around 650

RECOMMENDATIONS MEAN THE MOST COMING FROM…

Master of Finance: a direct supervisor or employer.

Master of Financial Economics: an academic advisor or professor.

Master of Quantitative Finance: people who can comment meaningfully on the applicant’s readiness for graduate programs. (Letters should focus on academic skills – NOT character traits.)

Master of Economics: math and science professors who hold a higher degree than you.


Jon Frank

JonFrank

Can’t choose between science and math? Enjoy problem-solving? Electrical Engineering might just be right for you. An exciting, far-reaching field, Electrical Engineering impacts nearly every aspect of daily life, from medical devices such as the pacemaker and CAT scan, to video games and consumer electronics. Step into this exciting, diverse field, especially at one of the top five programs listed below, and see your career unfold.

1. MIT

MIT offers an Electrical Engineer (EE) degree and a PhD program. The graduate degree requires 162 credit units and a thesis. There are four primary research labs for graduate students, and five main research areas:

Systems, Communication, Control, and Signal Processing
Computer Science: AI, Systems, Theory
Electronics, Computers, and Systems
Engineering Physics
Biomedical Sciences and Engineering
If your research interests fall into one of these areas, MIT may be the right place for you.

2. Stanford

The Electrical Engineering department at Stanford offers full time Master’s, Engineer’s, and PhD degrees, with research being done at more than ten labs in areas ranging from Photonics/EM/Quantum to Energy/Environment and more. The graduate degrees require 45 credit units. Stanford supports their students through Research and Teaching Assistantships. If you want to attend the program part-time, that’s also an option – you just need to complete your credits within five years.

3: University of California – Berkeley

The Masters of Engineering at Berkeley is a relatively new program, first offered in the 2011-2012 academic year. This is an accelerated degree program that will prepare you to enter the engineering field immediately after graduation. In this program, expect to concentrate in one technical area, take courses in leadership skills, and participate in an intensive capstone project – all in one academic year. Rigorous to say the least, but highly efficient.

4. University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign

This is a 32-credit hour M.S. program with a thesis requirement. Once you decide on your specialization, the classes you take are clearly laid out for you. Areas of specialization include Electromagnetic and Remote Sensing, Microelectronics and Quantum Electronics, Power and Energy Systems, and more. If you’re having trouble deciding, the department allows you to choose from broad courses in Math, Physics, and Electrical and Computer Engineering to help you decide.

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Here you get a whole menu of options to choose from: the M.S./M.S.E.C.E. non-thesis option, the M.S./M.S.E.C.E. thesis option, and the Ph.D. You even have an option of studying at the main campus, or at one of the school’s other campus locations in Savannah, Europe, or Shanghai. Regardless of the location, you’ll gain experience in interdisciplinary research, interacting with eleven technical interest groups, and the opportunity to work during the program in a graduate assistantship or through the Cooperative Education Program and the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

There you have the basics. Check out the individual school websites and talk to alumni from these programs to find out more.

Jon Frank

quasimodov

Is it possible for someone who doesn't have a bachelor degree in engineering to be accepted in programs in engineering?

JonFrank

Is it possible for someone who doesn't have a bachelor degree in engineering to be accepted in programs in engineering?

-- by 会员 quasimodov (2012/10/12 19:21:15)

Aha! A very good question!!. I suppose you mean “Masters Programs” in engineering. Yes, you can, but you will have to show that you have the prior knowledge. So, graduating from a related field (say mathematics) can help you make a convincing argument. Of course anything else you have in the field, such as work experience, hobbies, publications, entrepereneurial experience, etc. can help a great deal. So for example, let’s say you were some sort of computer “Whiz Kid”, but in college you studied literature, if you could PROVE to the school that you have the requisite prior knowledge, you should be eligible for a Masters program in Engineering.

Hope this helps!!


Jon Frank

笨马

Hello, Jon

I have a question about the recommend letter. I have two options now. One is a professor graduated from an undistinguished university, the other is graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, but he is an assitant professor.  Both of them are easy going men and know me well . Can you tell me which one is better? Thank you.

I will register my courses for next semester soon so I am really anxious about that.

JonFrank

Hello, Jon

I have a question about the recommend letter. I have two options now. One is a professor graduated from an undistinguished university, the other is graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, but he is an assitant professor.  Both of them are easy going men and know me well . Can you tell me which one is better? Thank you.

I will register my courses for next semester soon so I am really anxious about that.

-- by 会员 笨马 (2012/10/18 12:36:13)

Hi, buddy! Thanks for reaching out, let's dig into your question. My first question to you would be simple... why not get a letter from each of them? You can look at the letters and see which one works out better for you. If, however, you're only going to ask one of them, then I'd suggest getting the letter from the professor who knows you best. If you've worked more with the assistant professor, go with that one, but don't let the "undistinguished university" background of the regular profoessor deter you. The content of the letter is what matters, not just the reputation of the professor who writes it. I hope this helps, and let me know if you have any other questions!


Jon Frank

笨马

Hello, Jon

I have a question about the recommend letter. I have two options now. One is a professor graduated from an undistinguished university, the other is graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, but he is an assitant professor.  Both of them are easy going men and know me well . Can you tell me which one is better? Thank you.

I will register my courses for next semester soon so I am really anxious about that.

-- by 会员 笨马 (2012/10/18 12:36:13)

Hi, buddy! Thanks for reaching out, let's dig into your question. My first question to you would be simple... why not get a letter from each of them? You can look at the letters and see which one works out better for you. If, however, you're only going to ask one of them, then I'd suggest getting the letter from the professor who knows you best. If you've worked more with the assistant professor, go with that one, but don't let the "undistinguished university" background of the regular profoessor deter you. The content of the letter is what matters, not just the reputation of the professor who writes it. I hope this helps, and let me know if you have any other questions!


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2012/10/22 12:21:26)

Thank you, I appreciate.

JonFrank

Are you interested in designing roads, buildings, and bridges? Does the idea of formulating and managing the construction of highways, tunnels, airports, and skyscrapers get you excited? If you ever wanted to study traffic patterns, geotechnical engineering, or even teach, a graduate program in Civil Engineering is a great track for you. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the top five Civil Engineering programs in the U.S. to get you started achieving your dream – to create a perfect rail system, a beautiful thing if you ask me.

1. UC – Berkeley

The Masters of Science at Berkeley is offered under two programs: Civil Systems, and Transportation Engineering. The MS degree at Berkeley normally takes a year to complete. To be accepted to this program, you must have a Bachelors degree in engineering or equivalent experience. You can choose between two plans of study, depending on whether you prefer to submit a written manuscript or complete an oral exam at the end of the program.

2. UIUC

At UIUC, you can pursue a Master of Science or a PhD in one of three programs depending on your career goals: Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering in Civil Engineering, and Environmental Science in Civil Engineering. Further cross-disciplinary studies specific to UIUC include: Construction Management, Construction Materials, Environmental Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems. You can complete the M.S. degree with or without a thesis, and without a thesis you can even finish the program within a year.

3. Georgia Institute of Tech

With 26 laboratories, Georgia Institute of Tech is the second largest civil and environmental engineering program in the country. The school boasts 60 tenure-track faculty members (wow, that’s a lot…) who are leading experts in their fields. The faculty here is particularly interested in research areas such as disaster-resilient infrastructure systems, water and air quality, energy production and carbon management, safety of structures, bridges and transportation systems, and sustainable materials. The Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) is open to students with a Bachelors in this field. This program consists of 30 semester hours of coursework.

4. Stanford

Stanford’s Civil Engineering program is specific and tightly focused, and requires you to declare a specialization for your M.S. degree in one of the following fields: Atmosphere/Energy, Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental Engineering and Science, Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Geomechanics, and Structural Engineering and Design/ Construction Integration. If you possess a Bachelors degree in Engineering, you must take 45 credit units at Stanford to be awarded the M.S. degree. No thesis is required. However, if you wish to pursue the additional Engineer degree beyond the standard M.S., you must complete 90 credits and a thesis.

5. UT Austin – Cockrell

In the UT Austin Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, you can pursue the Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) degree in Civil, Architectural, or Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. The school also offers the Dual Degree Program in Engineering & Public Affairs. Research is a top priority at UT Austin, especially in these six specific areas: Building Energy and Environments, Construction Engineering and Project Management, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials Transportation Engineering.

The top five Civil Engineering programs are clearly not cookie cutters – each one is unique and caters to specific areas of interest. Which ones are more your speed? Check out the program websites to find out more.

Jon Frank

JonFrank

These days it’s not enough to say, “I want to work in finance.” There are soooooooooo many different career paths and options when it comes to concentrations, personal interests, and career goals under the finance “umbrella.” This is GOOD news – even if it may seem daunting in terms of deciding what road to take, there is a clear path out there for everyone. You just gotta figure out what you wanna do down the road, and work backwards from there.

First things first, the four Finance Master’s Degrees you can choose from:

?Master of Finance
?Master of Financial Economics
?Master of Quantitative Finance
?Master of Economics
And now let’s break ‘em all down and see which degree fits YOU best.

Master of Finance
This degree is designed to prepare students for careers in financial analysis, investment management, and corporate finance. In the program, students take classes such as Finance Theory, Corporate Financial Accounting, and Analytics of Finance. Electives can include Corporate Risk Management, Entrepreneurial Finance, Investments, Options and Future Markets, Fixed Income, and Valuation.

Master of Financial Economics
This degree provides an understanding of theoretical finance and underlying economic framework. Students take classes in Macroeconomic Theory, Mathematical Economics, Econometrics, Computational Methods, Investments, Derivatives, and Fixed Income Securities.

Master of Quantitative Finance
This degree is designed to prepare students for jobs in the field of quantitative analysis. In this program, students take Microeconomics, Econ. Statistics & Econometrics, Investments, Derivatives, Theory of Finance, and Futures and Options.

Master of Economics
This is an ‘en route’ degree designed to give students an understanding of financial economics while on the way to earning their Ph.D. Students take classes like Business Economics, Principles of Economics, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, Applied Mathematical Econometrics, and Microeconomic Theory.

Take a close look at those lists of courses, and what knowledge and skills you think you’ll need to excel in your chosen field…. and then you’ll know which program you should be pursuing. Remember, you’ve gotta be happy with your field, so figure out your direction and go at it, full speed ahead!

Not so hard after all, is it?

Jon Frank
HBS 2005

JonFrank

You’ve probably taken enough tests to last you three lifetimes, but here’s one you don’t need to study for. The only thing you need to know before taking it is WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY!

Use this test to help you decide which Finance Masters Program best fits your interests: Master of Finance, Master of Financial Economics, Master of Quantitative Finance, or Master of Economics.

Question 1: What kind of work do you find interesting?

A: Working in financial analysis, investment management, or corporate finance

B: Working in research positions, going on to get a doctoral degree, or jobs in applied economics

C: Working as a “quant” – an expert of analysis, trading, structuring, and investing

D: Working as an economist, in many different types of fields

Question 2: What is your dream job?

A: Financial Analyst OR Management Consultant

B: Asset Manager OR Investment Banker

C: Quant Trader Strategist OR Developer

D: Economic Consultant OR Non-profit Economist

Question 3: What do you think would be the best work environment for you?

A: Banks, credit card companies, financial consulting firms, big businesses

B: Investment firms, risk management companies, acquisition companies

C: Trading companies, financial development firms, risk management services

D: Universities, private banks, consulting firms, government finances, monetary funds

Question 4: What companies would you like to work for?

A: Barclays, Boston Consulting Group, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, UBS Financial, General Motors, Credit Suisse

B: AIG, Capital Group, Catalyst Investors, Deutsche Bank, Dow Jones, Merril Lynch

C: Ernst & Young, Federal Reserve Bank of NY, Hewlett Packard, Citibank, Deloitte, John Hancock Financial, Met Life, State Farm Insurance

D: McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Accenture, Charles River Associates, NERA Economic Consulting

Now, tally up your answers, and see where you ought to apply!

Mostly A’s = Master of Finance

Mostly B’s = Master of Financial Economics

Mostly C’s = Master of Quantitative Finance

Mostly D’s = Master of Economics

[Get a nice mix of letters? Still not sure? Now might be the perfect time to reach out to some people in your field. What did they study? What do they recommend? There's no better way to figure out your future than to pick the brain of someone who's already done it!]

Jon Frank
HBS 2005