The Ohio State SMF program is very popular among my readers and I have thought highly of it since it started a few years back. Well another great year has passed and I am privileged to have a third review of the program. I think these are a great way for interested students to get an understanding of the program and school. Hope this helps you and stay tuned for additional reviews.
1) Why an Masters in Finance in general? Why the Ohio State SMF in particular?
In my undergraduate career, not only did I earn bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and communication, but I found my passion in economic development and community empowerment, I gained an appreciation for accountability, intentionality, and efficiency, and I learned that to truly make a significant impact around the world required not only heart, but the responsible management of money. Yet I was not fully prepared to go out and change the world. So a Masters in Finance was a great place to combine my academic skillset of mathematical analysis and communicating with my desire to learn financial tools and decision making. Having experienced a community unlike any other during my undergraduate years at The Ohio State University and appreciating the sense of motivation, self-efficacy, and personal empowerment that complimented my degrees, I knew there was no place else for me to be than at the Fisher College of Business with the outstanding faculty, personable and caring staff, and strong positive relationships with so many great companies.
2) Pros/Cons (if any) of the degree and program?
The finance program at Fisher provides you with a global classroom experience taught by brilliant faculty with an incredible assortment of backgrounds but the same love for teaching and mentoring young minds. The Fisher College of Business prepares you, not only to understand the multi-dimensional and evolving world of finance, but to succeed in becoming the financial leader that you want to be upon graduating.
I am still concerned however that the degree itself has much more to prove in terms of its return on investment. As a new program at Ohio State and around the country, there may still be time required before employers fully buy into the credibility of the degree and understand how to fully utilize the students graduating with these degrees (basically where they fit between undergraduate finance majors and MBAs).
3) Who would you recommend the program to? (e.g. what kind of person would do best in the Ohio State program?)
The aspiring professional who is a quick learner interested in building relationships (with staff, faculty, students, and professionals) and gaining a wide variety of financial knowledge and experience to add to his/her personal “toolkit” would be the perfect student for the Specialized Masters in Finance at the Fisher College of Business.
4) Anything else you want to talk about. Placements, campus experience, alumni, etc.
I firmly believe there is no campus experience that rivals that of The Ohio State University. The momentum of the institution and the sense of community and pride felt by the students (not to mention the staff, faculty, city of Columbus, and the whole state of Ohio) cannot be measured.
Just after two months into starting the program, I had accepted my offer to go into risk management with JP Morgan, an incredible testament to the Ohio State and Fisher brand and an example of how a self-motivated student can thrive in this program.
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Here are a few links to previous student reviews:
