We recently interviewed Anthony DeAngelis, founder of Masters in Finance HQ, a new website that provides applicants with “everything related to the masters in finance degree.” Anthony’s site proves that there’s a lot to know about this specialized degree…and that Anthony, a 2010 Villanova MSF graduate, knows it all. Enjoy our interview below and then refer to Masters in Finance HQ or our own masters in finance application services for more information.
Accepted.com: Can you please describe to our readers the difference between a Masters in Finance (MiF), a Masters in Financial Engineering (MFE), and an MBA?
Anthony DeAngelis: An MBA is a broad-based two year management degree for people who have worked for a number of years. It is sometimes used to rebrand or change careers and prepares you for a role with more responsibility or leadership. An MFE is a specialized degree, usually lasting around one year that focuses on the mathematical aspects of finance. The course load is very quantitative and prepares students for a very analytical type of role within finance. An MSF is similar to an MFE in the sense that it has a narrow focus, lasts around a year and is very specialized, but the difference is that an MSF is more focused on corporate finance and valuation and does not get as deep into the mathematics or theoretical parts of finance. Both the MFE and MSF tend to attract students with less work experience (many straight from undergrad) and the positions that graduates enter tend to be more junior than those an MBA would get.
Accepted.com: Why would someone pursue a Masters in Finance rather than an MBA?
Anthony DeAngelis: People have a variety of different reasons. Some are fresh from undergrad and are looking to break into investment banking, but need another year to do it. Others want a specialized graduate degree and are not interested in the broad-based management education that an MBA would provide. Some people don’t want to take two years off and would rather get their degree in one year. It all really depends on the person, the school and the field of work a person wants to pursue.
Accepted.com: Do any people who obtain Masters in Finance degrees then go on to pursue an MBA?
Anthony DeAngelis: This is a very common route for students who pursue an MSF right out of undergrad. In finance the MBA is still the degree of choice and after years of hard work, it is a much desired break. For students who have worked and left to do an MSF, the degree tends to be their last, but for most people they go for both over the course of a career.
Accepted.com: Do most Masters programs fall into the “pre-experience” category? Or are some of these programs designed for more experienced students? How much work experience does the typical MiF candidate have?
Anthony DeAngelis: Most programs have students with less than two years work experience. It is very common for the MSF to be completed as a 5th year. A few programs (George Washington University and Princeton) have students with substantial work experience. They are the exception, not the rule. That being said, having some work experience is very advantageous and helps students secure full-time positions once they graduate.
Accepted.com: Are all MiF programs year-long programs? Or are some longer? I assume MiF programs are considerably cheaper than MBA programs. Is that correct?
Anthony DeAngelis: Most programs are around a year long. Some have summer internship sections which make them longer. There are a few programs in Europe which are two years, but the majority are one year in duration.
Accepted.com: How long are typical part-time MiF programs?
Anthony DeAngelis: Part-time programs can be as long as a student wants them to be (within reason). Most MSF programs are around 30 credits which amount to 10-12 classes and can be completed within a couple of years without overloading a working professional.
Accepted.com: What inspired you to create your new website, Masters in Finance HQ?
Anthony DeAngelis: When I was working towards my MSF at Villanova University I realized that both classmates as well as potential employers didn’t know a lot about the degree or other programs. There wasn’t a lot of information online about the programs and it was laborious to try and find opinions on schools, costs, placements, etc. After I graduated I went home to visit my family and decided to put something together online. Within a week the rudimentary site I had created started to get a lot of attention and I realized that there were a lot of people who wanted this information. Since then, the site has grown and continues to add content. Being able to help others and watch the knowledge and prominence of this degree grow has continued to motivate me to help others.
Accepted.com: What sorts of resources do you provide to help applicants gain acceptance to their top-choice MiF program?
Anthony DeAngelis: My site focuses on providing as much information on all the available programs as possible. There are numerous student reviews, placement stats, program costs, articles and write ups which all help in making an informed decision. I also include links to relevant sites, financial newsletters and resources as well as websites that help with admissions or GMAT prep. Additionally, I respond to all emails that are sent to me and try and help in any way I can.
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Anthony – Great feedback.
I debated the MBA vs. MSF vs. MFin routes and realized that though I had a few (3) years of experience an MSF would be more relevant to my career path. I agree that many MSF programs tend to be filled with students that have less experience, but I have noticed a trend in the industry that more professionals are choosing the MSF because of the focus and the depth which it provides for finance professionals.
I am an MSF student at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and have been very impressed with the level of focus which the program provides (the brand name doesn’t hurt either). I felt that the MBA was not the right track for me at this time and I wanted to have more exposure and depth in the finance field. The one great thing which I am learning now is how to do option pricing in Matlab and how to calculate risk in ‘R’. I am not sure if other MSF programs are teaching programming to their students, but it has turned out to be one of the most valuable things which I have learned.
As I put my resume out there to test the waters I notice that both fundamental and quantitative firms are giving me positive feedback. This might also be because of the programming skills which Johns Hopkins teaches in the MSF track.
Hope my feedback was valuable.
Thanks for the reply and I am glad you liked the post. Johns Hopkins is a great school. As more and more people get an MSF and enter the workforce the degree will gain in popularity a hiring managers will see the value. Get in contact with me when you get close to graduation. I’d love to have a review of your program.