Consulting Work Experience

[Stinsonian]

Most of the MFE program websites mention a need for a finance industry internship or work experience. If one worked for one of the big 4 accounting/consulting firms in their financial risk division would this satisfy the work experience/internship requirement?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Despite what it says, many programs admit fresh graduates who have no finance experience. Some programs even recommend them to take CFA L1 which I think is a waste of time.

Having experience in finance is a good way to filter candidates who are career savvy from those who just follow the dough. That does not mean you have to work in a financial firm to have a realistic expectation. You can read books (got a list for ya), industry magazine, websites, network with people, go to conference, workshops.

It's a lot of work but how do you plan to show that you are committed to a life-long learning career? By passing CFA L1?

Show in your personal essay how the work has prepared you for this degree. What is relevant to this program and this field and how you plan to apply that experience for short and long term goal. If you can't articulate that, it doesn't matter where you work.