The Ohio State University SMF program is starting to ramp up their admissions cycle for the upcoming class so I am going to endeavor to post with greater frequency as I think this is one of the older and more established programs that I know and cover. I’ve also been lucky enough to spend time in Columbus, OH on the campus and absolutely loved my time there. With COVID going on, I am trying to keep everyone updated on these programs as everyone has so many questions.
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2020 Application Cycle
It always seems like there is never enough time when you are researching and applying. Right now you are looking at about a month for the first application round which should be plenty of time.
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR AUTUMN 2021
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| November 13, 2020 | University Fellowship and Graduate Enrichment Fellowship deadline: Fellowship eligible applicants need to submit by this deadline to be considered for nomination in the Graduate School competition. |
| January 15, 2021 | Priority consideration for SMF merit-based aid/scholarships |
| February 12, 2021 | Guaranteed consideration for SMF merit-based aid/scholarships. |
| March 12, 2021 | International Students: Final application deadline for admissions consideration. |
| May 28, 2021 | Domestic Students: Final application deadline for admissions consideration. |
Some of the deadlines have some caveats so please check out the admissions page for all the details and up-to-date changes. If you are seeking financial or merit based aid, I would strongly encourage all of you to apply sooner rather than later.
2019 Class Profile
The class of 2019 is slightly smaller than the previous years class (48 vs 60), something I would imagine is a byproduct of the strong economy. The other elements are largely consistent with last year. I consider this a positive as it shows the program cares about maintaining quality. My opinion is that this is a pretty diverse program with good stats.
- Class Size – 48 students
- Male/Female – 58% / 42%
- International – 81
- Countries Represented – 10
- Average Undergraduate GPA – 3.6
- Average GMAT score- 648
- Average GRE Verbal – 312
SMF Career Outcomes
I posted the 2019 career outcome data in a previous post, but I thought that it would be relevant to include it here for anyone trying to decide whether to hit that first, upcoming deadline.
- Average Starting Salary – $61,650
- Placements (6 months out – domestic) – 100%
- Placements (6 months out – international) – 78%
The placements are pretty impressive percentages are pretty impressive and I like the fact that the school breaks them up. This is helpful. The starting salary isn’t bad either.
Ohio State doesn’t provide year by year specific placements by company, but they do show an aggregate over the years. You can see the entire infographic here. I decided to upload it instead of linking to the site since the outcomes page will change yearly and this will allow you to compare results easier next year.
The school compares placements by industry and you can see a drop in the number of students going into corporate finance/investment banking year over year. Real estate and investment management placements increased pretty markedly and consulting held steady. Geographically, graduates work all over the US (and internationally), but within the states it looks like a concentration east if the Mississippi.
Online Information Sessions
We live in the virtual zoom based world right now. Positive aspect of this is schools are doing everything they can to utilize this medium to connect with their students. The Ohio State University SMF program is doing a great job and has a ton of webinars where you can ask questions and meet the admissions team.
“The Fisher Graduate Programs Office will host a live online webinar for anyone interested in a Specialized Master in Finance (SMF) degree. The 30-minute “Application Workshop” webinar is a great way to get tips and ask questions before submitting your application. The 30-minute “Program & Admissions Overview” webinar will include details about the SMF program, admissions, tips for applying and Q&A with a member of the admissions team.”
- Thursday, September 24, 2020, 12:00 p.m. | Register
- Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 8:30 a.m. | Register
- Friday, November 6, 2020, 12:00 p.m. | Register
- Thursday, December 3, 2020, 8:30 a.m. | Register
- Tuesday, December 22, 2020, 12:00 p.m. | Register
I am sure more will be included throughout the year. Please check the “Connect with Fisher” page for all the updates.
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Hope this helps all of you as I work on some new student reviews and interviews with admissions. Lots going on and I know how hard it is to stay on top of everything. I’ll do my best to keep the information fresh and updated. Until next time.
Here is a link to the Ohio State University SMF Program
