One of the programs down south I have had a lot of success getting student reviews for is the Georgia State University MSF. I’ve had 6 students previously review the program and I try and get a new one every year or so to keep the material fresh. Luckily for me, a recent graduate reached out and offered to write up about their experience for all of you to read. I cannot thank this person enough and truly appreciate their generosity. Enjoy the review and keep checking back as I have some new career information I am going to post about this program.
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1) Why a specialized masters in general? Why your specific program?
I was a science major in college and pre-med. The choice was really whether I should look into getting an MBA or a Masters in Finance. Given my limited work experience and that many students go into the MSF program directly out of college, I went with the MSF route. I narrowed the list down to a few colleges. I chose Georgia State MSF because of the cost, the quality of jobs that students in the program were able to get after graduating, the classes and curriculum taught, and I felt as though the program and professors were making strides to prepare the students for gainful employment.
2) Pros / Cons (if any) of the program.
Pros: I really enjoyed the diversity of the student body. In today’s world, this is a phrase that is thrown around a lot. We had two students from Africa, a guy from Germany, one student from Ecuador, a female from Spain, another student from Brazil, and a few others from China, one from Paraguay, and two more from India. It was pretty interesting to hear of their backgrounds and why they chose the U.S for learning and work.
I also received a graduate assistant position where I worked 20 hours a week. Georgia State not only significantly reduced my tuition cost, but I also received a stipend and learned a lot of excel skills through working for the college.
Cons: Classes are at night and start at 5:30. This was a pro for me, but could be a con for others. I enjoyed having the ability to intern and receive good work experience while taking the program. This also may be a con because it is not a typical college experience. Furthermore, I actually got a job before graduating, which allowed me to quit taking out student loans and actually pay for college.
Another con is that if you are looking for employment internationally or outside of Atlanta, this may not be the best choice. One graduate was able to secure a job with Amazon and moved to Seattle, but that is not the norm. I believe that most students that graduate end up working in Atlanta.
3) Who would you recommend this program to? What advice would you give them?
I would recommend a masters in finance to someone who may come from a non-business background with limited (good) work experience. If you are looking for a good program that allows you to work while taking classes, and plan on living in Atlanta afterward, I would recommend this program.
Students should take advantage of all the opportunities that Robinson gives. They have a mentor program that paired me up with two experienced mentors in the field that I was interested in and I still reach out to them today. They also host a few events each semester on topics in Finance with very experienced speakers. There is also a huge fintech scene in Atlanta and Robinson has strong connections with the key movers and shakers in that industry. As someone who came from a science background and struggled to find good jobs in the business field, Robinson has made a huge impact on my life.
4) Anything else. (You can write about recruiting, campus experience, extracurricular activities, etc.)
I think there is this large misconception amongst students that they will simply receive a good job after graduation. A few in my class slacked and found themselves stuck with the same job they had after undergrad. Others really killed it and upgraded employers, job titles, and salary. A masters is really what you make of it. You have to put in the work, network, and take advantage of the opportunities given to you. Simply showing up and adding a certification to your resume will not always be the answer. The students in my program that benefitted the most were the same ones who hustled.
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To the Author, thanks so much. Great review and I am sure anyone considering the program will find it helpful!
Here is a link to the Georgia State University MSF Program
