[turs]

Hello everyone! My name's Lorenzo, I'm an Italian student from Rome and I just got my bachelor in "Economics and Finance".

I'd like to ask for your advise in choosing a suitable University for my MSc in Finance. I got a 710 in my GMAT and I decided to apply to Bocconi, Cass Business, Rotterdam School of Management and Warwick.

Obviously I already made some research (courses structure, FT rankings, etc.), but I wanted to hear from your point of view what would be your picking if all four made me an offer (I know it's unlikely, at best! ), given these guidelines:

1) I'm not rich! Spending 20000 £ + maintenance would be a considerable sacrifice for my family and I would like to be pretty sure that the investment was worth it (in a few words: RSM fee is 1680 €, is the Employment Rate/Courses Quality gap between RSM and Cass (or any other) really worth the 20000 € difference?);

2) I know Bocconi provides an excellent MSc in Finance, but I would really prefer to go studying abroad if I could. Masters outside Italy take only 1 year instead of 2, and being a little late on my schedule (I'm 25) that would be a great opportunity. Moreover, I think moving abroad would be a much more challenging and fulfilling experience.

Thanks in advance to those who'll be so kind to share their thoughts with me!

[dogfights]

I think that of the ones you named Bocconi is probably the best.

if i had to rank them id say:

1. Bocconi
2.Warwick
3. RSM
4. Cass

since you dont want to stay in italy, warwick would be the next best choice. i personally dont find warwick appealing due to its location. same with rotterdam. so it leaves cass. but since you got 710 on your GMAT i wouldnt go ther either.
dont aim too low!

with your GMAT i would apply at LSE. its the most expensive one, but sure the best. its an investment, which you would not regret.

Also apply to imperial business school. its also better than cass. your chances of getting accepted are quite high.

well thats just my opinion.

what about other european countries?

esade in barcelona? st. gallen? ESCP? maybe even oxford and cambridge. its worth a try....

[exu]

RSM is the best taking into account the vibrant city and the job possibilities particularly in the netherlands.

[turs]

@dogfights: I have good academic records, but no working experience. Unfortunatley, this seems to be a crucial weakness (together with my delay), because I already got rejected from LSE and HEC Paris. However, I met with Imperial College representatives, during a World Grad School Tour, and I was really impressed. They made me understand I may have good chances, if I was motivated enough. Why would you advise against Cass, instead? It seemed to me that its finance course had a good reputation.

@exu: did you have any direct or indirect experience with RSM? I'm intrigued by Rotterdam, but my dream would be living and working in London, sooner or later...

[Mr. Roxas]

I'm not familiar with those other European universities in your list, but between Warwick and Cass, I'd rather go for Warwick as it has a better reputation, churning out more highly qualified candidates who join in the world of banking and finance every year.

[dogfights]

i just think that with a gmat of 710 cass is not good enough. you should definately aim higher.

bocconis MSc in Finance ist well respected and i was told that with a GMAT of 700+ you can get scholarships...so money shouldnt be a problem anymore.

i would also consider Stockholm School of Economics, but the deadline has passed. and i guess you dont want to wait for another year...

definately look into ESADE and St. Gallen. Both have a very good program

[Mr. Dalliard]

(Original post by dogfights)
i just think that with a gmat of 710 cass is not good enough. you should definitely aim higher.

bocconis MSc in Finance ist well respected and i was told that with a GMAT of 700+ you can get scholarships...so money shouldnt be a problem anymore.

i would also consider Stockholm School of Economics, but the deadline has passed. and i guess you dont want to wait for another year...

definitely look into ESADE and St. Gallen. Both have a very good program

sorry, did you mean to say that Bocconi MSc finance is or isn't well respected? It seems like you meant is, but that extra t threw me off..

[LongTall&Cool]

(Original post by turs)
Hello everyone! My name's Lorenzo, I'm an Italian student from Rome and I just got my bachelor in "Economics and Finance".

I'd like to ask for your advise in choosing a suitable University for my MSc in Finance. I got a 710 in my GMAT and I decided to apply to Bocconi, Cass Business, Rotterdam School of Management and Warwick.

Obviously I already made some research (courses structure, FT rankings, etc.), but I wanted to hear from your point of view what would be your picking if all four made me an offer (I know it's unlikely, at best! ), given these guidelines:

1) I'm not rich! Spending 20000 £ + maintenance would be a considerable sacrifice for my family and I would like to be pretty sure that the investment was worth it (in a few words: RSM fee is 1680 €, is the Employment Rate/Courses Quality gap between RSM and Cass (or any other) really worth the 20000 € difference?);

2) I know Bocconi provides an excellent MSc in Finance, but I would really prefer to go studying abroad if I could. Masters outside Italy take only 1 year instead of 2, and being a little late on my schedule (I'm 25) that would be a great opportunity. Moreover, I think moving abroad would be a much more challenging and fulfilling experience.

Thanks in advance to those who'll be so kind to share their thoughts with me!

lorenzo, if money is an issue, you don't want to stay in italy, and you speak english, then i'd recommend RSM. It's cheap and respected by employers.

[dogfights]

(Original post by Mr. Dalliard)
sorry, did you mean to say that Bocconi MSc finance is or isn't well respected? It seems like you meant is, but that extra t threw me off..

sorry it is supposed to be "is"

[Frog in Boots]

(Original post by exu)
RSM is the best taking into account the vibrant city and the job possibilities particularly in the netherlands.

Hi there,

Does anyone know if there is a difference (rep, job prospects...) between erasmus university and its B-school RSM as I am more interested in applying for the MSc in Financial economics rather than the MSc Finance and Investement (MSc BA?)

Thanks in advance

[crackingod]

(Original post by turs)
Hello everyone! My name's Lorenzo, I'm an Italian student from Rome and I just got my bachelor in "Economics and Finance".

I'd like to ask for your advise in choosing a suitable University for my MSc in Finance. I got a 710 in my GMAT and I decided to apply to Bocconi, Cass Business, Rotterdam School of Management and Warwick.

Obviously I already made some research (courses structure, FT rankings, etc.), but I wanted to hear from your point of view what would be your picking if all four made me an offer (I know it's unlikely, at best! ), given these guidelines:

1) I'm not rich! Spending 20000 £ + maintenance would be a considerable sacrifice for my family and I would like to be pretty sure that the investment was worth it (in a few words: RSM fee is 1680 €, is the Employment Rate/Courses Quality gap between RSM and Cass (or any other) really worth the 20000 € difference?);

2) I know Bocconi provides an excellent MSc in Finance, but I would really prefer to go studying abroad if I could. Masters outside Italy take only 1 year instead of 2, and being a little late on my schedule (I'm 25) that would be a great opportunity. Moreover, I think moving abroad would be a much more challenging and fulfilling experience.

Thanks in advance to those who'll be so kind to share their thoughts with me!

As others have said: don't aim too low, so don't go to CASS.

Bocconi is expensive but probably enjoys (with Rotterdam) the best reputation overall in Europe.

Personally I would go for Bocconi or RSM then depending on your financial situation

Warwick is good, but if you move out of the UK it is less well recognized

[exu]

Lorenzo I gaot a friend in ABN Amro Amsterdam. He advises Erasmus School of Rotterdam to me. I double-checked the School in forums and with some other collegues. I find it to be a very respectfull school. I will also apply for an Msc. Maybe it would be better if I advise you other schools

[dogfights]

(Original post by exu)
Lorenzo I gaot a friend in ABN Amro Amsterdam. He advises Erasmus School of Rotterdam to me. I double-checked the School in forums and with some other collegues. I find it to be a very respectfull school. I will also apply for an Msc. Maybe it would be better if I advise you other schools

Of course it is a well-respected school in netherlands. just like bocconi is in italy.
but if i can remeber correctly he wants to work in london later. i therefore think that bocconi offers the better prospects.

My brother is doing the MSc in Finance at Bocconi, loads of his fellow students got internships with Goldman, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank etc etc.

He himself got interviews with Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Nomura, Citi.

Its an excellent course. I have meet so many ppl working in the city who graduated from Bocconi.

A master from RSM is also well recognized and will get you into the city. but i think the chances are lower than with Bocconi.

the good thing about RSM:
-much cheaper
-1 year

BUT
the city is not very nice...(then again, its just one year)

[exu]

Dogfights,
Bacconi is really a good uni. its obvious but, as for Lorenzo a university out of Italy may be better, cos it may really teach people a lot to live outside your country for a while. that's what I think.

[turs]

First of all, thank you guys. I didn't expect to get so many replies, and I seriously want to express my gratitude to anyone who shared his opinion.

Then, it goes without saying: this decision is driving me crazy. I know I shouldn't worry so much and that there's no perfect choice. But obviously, when it comes to potentially invest dozens of thousands of Euros and one year of your life, you want to be sure to pick the best option possible.

One rule I've learned is that you can easily find two people giving opposite judgements on the same city, university or course (in particular: I've read many people referring to Rotterdam as vibrant or great place to be as a student, and others describing it as a s***hole). Anyway, I really agree with what I found in another TSR thread: "When you're finally sitting an interview it just comes down to what you know and who you are...". So I'll try to be less dramatic and summarize the info I got:

1 - CASS would mean aiming too low, to my surprise (I was advised to apply there by my own Financial Mathematics teacher);
2 - Bocconi has great reputation and connections, good chances of getting interviews in the City, too;
3 - Bocconi is in Italy, unfortunately : read this useful post;
4 - RSM and Warwick are both excellent alternatives, each with its pros (1 year instead of 2, RSM is very cheap) and cons (location? Is Warwick worth the 20.500 £?)

That said, for what concerns my personal situation, I find RSM more suitable to my needs. I had bad luck and I couldn't finish my undergrad in time due to a severe health condition (from which, fortunately, I have now completely recovered ): I'd really appreciate not to study 2 more years. I'm almost 25, I want my independency as soon as possible. Plus, it seems that studying at RSM I could still hope to find a job in London IBs .

However, I'll apply to St. Gallen, too (thank you, dogfights!). Deadline is in the end of April and it seems to be worth a try!

Now is waiting time. On Wednesday I'll have Bocconi's answer, hope to get the others by mid-April. Crossing fingers...

[LongTall&Cool]

(Original post by turs)
First of all, thank you guys. I didn't expect to get so many replies, and I seriously want to express my gratitude to anyone who shared his opinion.

Then, it goes without saying: this decision is driving me crazy. I know I shouldn't worry so much and that there's no perfect choice. But obviously, when it comes to potentially invest dozens of thousands of Euros and one year of your life, you want to be sure to pick the best option possible.

One rule I've learned is that you can easily find two people giving opposite judgements on the same city, university or course (in particular: I've read many people referring to Rotterdam as vibrant or great place to be as a student, and others describing it as a s***hole). Anyway, I really agree with what I found in another TSR thread: "When you're finally sitting an interview it just comes down to what you know and who you are...". So I'll try to be less dramatic and summarize the info I got:

1 - CASS would mean aiming too low, to my surprise (I was advised to apply there by my own Financial Mathematics teacher);
2 - Bocconi has great reputation and connections, good chances of getting interviews in the City, too;
3 - Bocconi is in Italy, unfortunately : read this useful post;
4 - RSM and Warwick are both excellent alternatives, each with its pros (1 year instead of 2, RSM is very cheap) and cons (location? Is Warwick worth the 20.500 £?)

That said, for what concerns my personal situation, I find RSM more suitable to my needs. I had bad luck and I couldn't finish my undergrad in time due to a severe health condition (from which, fortunately, I have now completely recovered ): I'd really appreciate not to study 2 more years. I'm almost 25, I want my independency as soon as possible. Plus, it seems that studying at RSM I could still hope to find a job in London IBs .

However, I'll apply to St. Gallen, too (thank you, dogfights!). Deadline is in the end of April and it seems to be worth a try!

Now is waiting time. On Wednesday I'll have Bocconi's answer, hope to get the others by mid-April. Crossing fingers...

Warwick MSc Fin is definitely not worth 20.5k pounds. I may be wrong, but I don't think many MSc fin grads from Warwick get FO IB jobs. (undergrad is a different story)

In fact, I am rather curious about this, so I will create a thread in IB/consultancy forum discussing Warwick Msc fin placement.

cheers

[himanshumehrotra]

Hi,
I am a mechanical engineer from India, currently employed since dec 09. I have unconditional offers for MSc Engineering Business Management from Warwick as well as KCL.

World rankings in league tables are drastically different from UK rankings . KCL tops world Rankings and Warwick tops the UK rankings.

I want to look at career prospects and worldwide reputation & prestige to narrow down my option.

I am really confused. Need advice!!!

[sugoi1981]

I went to the CASS open day last Friday. I was impressed by the dynamic and the positive atmosphere.

I applied for the MSc in Investment Management. In my opinion it offers a very diversified profile with the practical edge.
Its carreer centre hold a presentation as well. Again, impressed. At my current university in St Andrews they have a carreer centre as well. And believe ours is no match.

However, I am undecided as well. I got an offer from Imperial for the MSc in Risk Management and Financial Engineering.

Rankingwise both business scholl are on the same level. CASS is even better than Imperial in the financila time euopen business school ranking.

I think, CASS is more practical and Imperial more quantitative which implies for me CASS will be easier.

Still don't know which one to chose.

This is my opinion. What do you think?

[mango_prog]

Ciao lorenzo,

Sono anch'io uno studente italiano, anche se ho studiato nel UK. Ho avuto un'esperienza nella city per una grossa banca d'investimento e devo dire che non ho mai incontarto nè Cass nè RSM graduates. Invece ho visto molti studenti d'imperial, warwick e bocconi giusto per darti un'idea.. Se hai qualche altra domanda specifica scrivimi una mail su Mod edit: e-mail address removed e ti posso dare una mia opinione almeno per quanto riguarda le scuole inglesi.

Buona scelta!

[anfitrion]

Bocconi and Warwick have higher representation in the City, but given your personal situation RSM seems clearly the best option.
Avoid CASS and only consider St. Gallen if you speak German.