Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Student Stories
Master's in Finance graduates share their experience in the Gies MSF program. If you are interested in speaking with a current MSF student ambassador, please visit the Graduate Student Ambassador page.
"I believe Gies has some of the best professors who will leave no stone unturned in providing their valuable guidance and connecting you to industry experts. Additionally, the program is designed in a way that covers comprehensive topics which enables you to experiment and test your interests. Lastly, outside of academics, UIUC has a wide range of activities that help you develop interpersonal skills, expand your network beyond your peers, participate in multicultural experiences and much more! "
Deeksha Aggarwal , MSF '23
Investment Banking Associate, Financial Sponsors (North America), ANZ Bank
The MSF program provides the flexibility to choose class schedules and encourages us to explore our interest in different fields in finance. This design allowed me to take more courses that intrigue me. As a result, I built my expertise in quantitative finance and data analytics in finance. I found my passion in derivatives valuation... After much hard work, I got two job offers that relate to data analytics and complex derivatives valuation. Watch Yu-Shiuan's video to learn more.
Yu-Shiuan Chang, MSF '21
Complex Financial Instruments Associate, Grant Thornton LLP (US)
"The MSF program at Illinois helped me strengthen the skills I learned in undergrad and pushed me to learn new concepts, allowing me to succeed as a research analyst on the JP Morgan Autos team. Thanks to the staff and curriculum of the program I have performed at a high level in my role, including helping my team place No. 3 in the Institutional Investor US Equity Research Survey in both 2022 and 2023."
Jesus Gonzalez, MSF '21
Equity Research Analyst, JP Morgan
"I joined the program with two years of experience in audit in EY. After the program, I joined Morgan Stanley as a risk management associate. The program is well designed. I am deeply impressed by the world-class professors and their support to students."
Zihao (Chris) Huang, MSF '19
"The Gies experience is more than just academics. The faculty here are from both academia and the finance industry, and they bring their experiences into the classroom. One of my favorite courses was the MSF Academy, which helped me discover and track my career path. Extracurricular activities such as Illinois Business Consulting helped fine-tune my skills and prepared me for my current position as a wealth management associate at Goldman Sachs."
Rohan Jacob, MSF '22
Wealth Management Associate, Goldman Sachs.
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"The MSF program is not designed to just “get you by.” It will armor you with state-of-the-art knowledge stemming from its top-notch, world-renowned faculty. With excellent career opportunities and outstanding career outcomes, the MSF is one of the most competitive and well-respected programs in the nation. Before I graduated, I had already secured my dream job at BMO Financial Group as an investment banking analyst."
George Manalis, MSF '22
Investment Banking Analyst, BMO Capital Markets
"My journey through the MSF program at Gies has been transformative. Specializing in Corporate Finance with a concentration in Data Analytics, I gained a robust and practical understanding of the financial complexities. This program significantly enhanced my analytical abilities and interpersonal skills, laying a strong foundation for my current role as a Financial Analyst at Amazon. I am immensely grateful for the exceptional faculty and the cutting-edge curriculum at Gies, which have been a key to my professional growth."
Rutuja Rajadhyaksha, MSF '23
Financial Analyst, Amazon