TL;DR: I’m enrolled in a management master in Vienna (SIMC) but realised it doesn’t interest me. I’m considering dropping it to focus on the GMAT and apply to finance masters at top European universities, even though that would cost me a year. My goal is consulting (not 100% sure), not core finance. Would you stay or switch?
Background
- Bachelor’s degrees in Business and in Business Law (I did the law degree because I found it interesting, not because I want to be a lawyer)
- Currently interning in M&A at a Big 4 firm, about 10h/week on a flexible basis
- Currently studying for the GMAT, which is taking more time than I expected
The current master
I got into SIMC at the business university in Vienna. It’s essentially a management master. Its reputation in Austria is fine, but outside Austria few people know it.
Why I’m considering switching
I’ve realised that this master, and probably any management master, doesn’t really interest me. I enjoy studying and want to build hard skills. So I’m thinking about cancelling SIMC and applying to finance masters at top European universities.
My reasons:
- Interest: Finance interests me a lot, and I generally try to pursue what I find interesting.
- Hard skills: I’d rather learn technical skills during my studies. I’ll get plenty of management projects and group work once I’m on the job anyway.
- Reputation: The finance programs would be better known, especially internationally. But this isn’t my main driver. Mainly I want to learn interesting things, gain a lot of knowledge, and study with and learn from smart, motivated people.
To be clear: I don’t want to go into core finance. I’m aiming for consulting, VC, or something similar.
The counterargument
Most people I’ve talked to are in my current program, and almost all of them say dropping out would be a huge mistake, because I’d lose a whole year (the next application round is in September/October). They also point out that management masters are a solid route into consulting.
Why I feel I have to choose
Between the GMAT and my internship, I don’t think I can do the master properly and also get a GMAT score that gives me a real chance at the finance programs I’m targeting.
My questions to you
- Is losing a year really as bad as people around me say, or is it worth it for a program that fits better?
- For consulting/VC, does a finance master at a top school beat a lesser-known management master?
- Has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do, and would you decide the same way again?
Thanks a lot for any input. I’m really struggling with this one!
