Getting into Cambridge MFin/Oxford MSc Financial Econ/LSE MSc Finance with upper second-class hons (I think?) - US Student
Hello chimps, I'm a senior set to graduate this December looking to break into investment management or trading roles. I'll be upfront, I fucked up a bit in college and will probably graduate with 3.6~ majoring in math and econ; additionally, I am from a public non-target. Some CV stuff: I have a job offer in a data science + analytics role from a Fortune 100 and will be taking my CFA Level I in Feb 2024; I'm still vying for an S&T role, prop trading, cold outreach to small hedge funds, etc. Although I am not keen on going to grad school in the near future, I still want to keep it open as an option - and if I do go, I want to study abroad (probably in the UK). I'd hopefully end up doing a finance program at one of the aforementioned schools. Would I honestly have a chance at getting into one of these programs with a (potential) excellent GMAT score and 2-3 years of work experience?
Went to find my old comment about Cambridge MFIN. In short - DO NOT apply there and expect the same standard as Oxford MFE/LSE MFin
Cambridge MFin:
The Cambridge MFin is really weird, and has a bad reputation. Here are some reasons:
There are MULTIPLE recent threads on student room talking about how the Judge Mfin is a huge disappointment and a waste of money (can provide links, but you can easily find online)
On their employment report, no one has placed into top tier firms IN THE U.K., and the list is really not that impressive (it’s alright, but nowhere near close to the LBS MFin one)
For some reason, I struggle to find STRONG LinkedIn profiles of people in the U.K., who are working at top firms and have graduated from this programme. Sure, there are occasional ones that went to work at PWC or EY (and that’s rare!!), but do you really wanna pay ~£70k to come out and work there? Whereas the LBS MFin opens you doors to really solid banking and consulting opportunities. Caveat - there are a couple of profiles of people working at some top companies in smaller markets (Middle East, etc).
The acceptance rate is SHOCKINGLY HIGH. Please see the below disclosure DIRECTLY FROM CAMBRIDGE:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/admission_statistics_mfin_202020
To paste from there: > 239 applications received > 123 offers made > 73 withdrawals after offer made / offers declined
What kind of top programme would have a 50%+ admissions rate?? Wtf? (Look at LSE, Oxford and other masters, they are less than 10-20%)
Again, I spent probably a total of 10 hours looking into this programme, and won’t be applying there this fall because of the reasons above.
However, I welcome any facts that would disprove the above and change my opinion.
Thank you for your comment. Right after your post, I took a look at the LBS programs, I'm especially intrigued by the MFA Financial Analysis one; seems like it it more early-career focused than MFin.
Really important to note - if your plan is to work for 2-3 years and then apply (as I gather from your post) - I have more bad news for you.
Sadly you are only eligible to apply to LBS pre experience programs (MIM,MFA, etc) if you have less than 2 years of experience AT START DATE, AND have graduated within the last 2 years.
With your plan to work after graduating, this essentially means that you can only get in if you, for example:
Graduate in June 2025
Work for one year until October 2026
Apply in October 2026
Start in August 2027
You would NOT be able to apply in October 2027 (as per the above example) to start in October 2028.
They don’t specify this rule on their website or hide it very well, but trust me it 100% exists. Any doubts - just email them directly, they’re fairly good at responding.
To this point, All the masters recruit at the analyst level (same as all the undergrads).
Working for 2yrs then getting in you will lose all of that work experience, and probably come out of it with a lower salary if you don't place well.
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