Choosing Between MIT MFin and LSE Finance Program - Need Guidance

Investment banking Exit opportunities
1

Hi all,

I’m from Italy, currently at Bocconi with good grades, and I’m torn between two master’s programs: MIT MFin and LSE’s Finance & Private Equity track. My career target has always been investment banking followed by private equity, but recently I’ve been learning programming and helped start a fintech company that works on M&A transactions.

MIT’s program runs 18 months and has great quantitative finance and machine learning content. It also lets you do internships during summer and other times. But breaking into US investment banking is really tough, and since I don’t have much prior experience, MIT might not be the best choice for that career path. At LSE, the curriculum focuses more on corporate finance, which seems better aligned with investment banking goals in London.

I also have an interview coming up for a financial due diligence role at a consulting firm that works with PE and corporate finance. Plus I’m working on a search fund research project with a business school and a smaller fund.

I know banking and PE are competitive fields, but that’s where I want to be long term. Hedge funds and quant roles look interesting too, but I don’t have direct experience and I’m not amazing at probability or coding challenges. I’m also concerned about job security in those areas.

Anyone faced a similar decision? Should I take the risk with MIT and aim for quant roles, try for banking recruitment at MIT, or play it safer with LSE?

Would also appreciate connecting with professionals in these fields in both London and US markets.

Thanks for any advice!

2

The Problem:

You’re a Bocconi student facing a difficult choice between the MIT MFin and LSE Finance & Private Equity master’s programs. Your career goals are investment banking and private equity, but your recent fintech experience and programming skills introduce new possibilities, creating uncertainty about which program best aligns with your aspirations and maximizes your career trajectory. You’re also considering the current market conditions and the challenges of securing a US visa.

:thinking: Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

Your indecision stems from several factors: the contrasting program focuses (MIT’s quantitative finance and machine learning versus LSE’s corporate finance), the difficulty of breaking into US investment banking, the current challenging PE fundraising environment, the differing program lengths and geographical implications, and the value of your existing skills and experiences (fintech startup, due diligence interview, search fund research). Choosing the right program requires carefully weighing these factors against your long-term goals and risk tolerance. The optimal choice depends on your preferred geographic location (US vs. Europe), your specific career path preferences (pure PE, quant roles, etc.) and the current market dynamics.

:gear: Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Assess Your Geographic Preferences and Long-Term Goals. Do you want to work primarily in the US or Europe? Your answer heavily influences the choice between MIT and LSE. If you’re set on the US, MIT becomes more appealing despite the visa challenges. If you are flexible, Europe opens up more options.

Step 2: Analyze Program Alignment with Career Goals. Examine each program’s curriculum. Does MIT’s quantitative finance and machine learning focus align with your interest in quant roles or growth equity, or is LSE’s corporate finance track more directly relevant to your investment banking and traditional PE aspirations?

Step 3: Evaluate Market Conditions and Timing. Consider the current state of the PE fundraising market. A longer program like MIT’s might be advantageous if you anticipate a market recovery by the time you graduate, whereas LSE’s shorter timeline would get you into the job market sooner.

Step 4: Leverage Your Existing Strengths. Your fintech experience and programming skills are valuable assets. Consider how well each program complements these skills and opens doors in your chosen field. Highlight these skills in your applications and interviews. Your search fund research is a significant advantage.

Step 5: Consider Visa Implications (if applicable). The US visa process can be complex and time-consuming. Factor this into your decision-making if aiming for a career in the US.

Step 6: Network Strategically. Reach out to alumni from both programs working in your desired fields. Informational interviews can provide invaluable insights into career paths and program strengths/weaknesses.

:mag: Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

  • Pitfall: Focusing solely on prestige. Solution: Prioritize program content, skill development, and career prospects.
  • Pitfall: Ignoring market conditions. Solution: Research the current state of the PE and investment banking industries in both the US and Europe.
  • Pitfall: Underestimating the importance of networking. Solution: Actively cultivate connections in your desired fields.

:speech_balloon: Still running into issues? Share your resume, details about your networking efforts, and any feedback you’ve received from informational interviews. The community is here to help!

3

you’re overthinking this. both schools will get you interviews - after that, it’s whether you can do the job. you’ve got solid fintech experience and that potential DD role, so either program just adds a brand name to your resume. mit costs more, takes longer, and you’ll deal with visa headaches if you want to stay in the us. with lse, you start earning sooner and london’s pe scene has plenty of deals. if you want to pay extra for mit bragging rights though, go ahead.

4

Both programs are solid picks! Your fintech background puts you in a great spot for either one. You’re already interviewing for financial due diligence, so you know what you’re doing. Go with whatever gets you more excited!

5

the visa stuff at mit isn’t as bad as people make it out to be - tons of italians figure it out. but here’s what everyone’s missing: bocconi already gives you solid credibility in european markets. mit might be overkill unless you’re targeting ny pe shops specifically. that financial dd interview could turn into something good no matter where you go. i’d focus on which program actually teaches useful day-to-day skills. lse’s way more practical from what i’ve seen.

6

I’d go with MIT despite those challenges. US banking’s tough, but you’ve got programming skills AND fintech experience - that’s exactly what PE firms want right now. I made the switch from traditional finance to tech-focused PE last year, and everyone’s hunting for people who actually understand the deals they’re making. Your 18-month timeline gives you room to pivot if banking doesn’t pan out - maybe try growth equity or venture debt instead? Those quant skills from MIT aren’t just for hedge funds anymore. PE shops use them for deal modeling, portfolio optimization, everything. That extra internship could be huge for building US connections. Don’t underestimate the coding background either - it’s more about logical thinking than being a programming genius.

7

With your Italian background and Bocconi degree, I’d go with LSE. London’s finance scene gives you better shots at European investment banking, and your language skills plus cultural knowledge are real advantages there. Post-Brexit actually opened up opportunities for Italian speakers in cross-border deals. Your fintech experience + LSE’s corporate finance focus makes you interesting to recruiters. London PE firms want people who get both traditional finance and how tech’s disrupting financial services. Plus LSE’s 12-month program gets you to market faster during good recruiting cycles. MIT’s quant program is solid, but don’t underestimate the visa headaches and cultural barriers in US finance. LSE’s alumni network in European PE is incredibly strong, especially at mid-market funds where your M&A fintech background really sets you apart. That financial due diligence interview you mentioned? Perfect stepping stone for European PE firms - they love that experience.

8

mit’s brand crushes lse globally, esp in pe. breaking into us ib sucks, but mit connections open doors everywhere - london included. lse’s solid but flooded with finance grads now. with your fintech background, mit’s quant training could be huge for pe deal sourcing and analysis. that combo’s pretty powerful.