As you begin the journey through your graduate business education, you are no doubt in the midst of comprehensive investigation into the competitive advantages that each program presents. The decision to enroll in a particular program is one that demands a great degree of consideration, given the substantial investment required by any of the top business schools. While Vanderbilt delivers one of the highest quality business educations available in the market, we would like to point out some specific advantages you will enjoy as a Vanderbilt graduate student. If you are pursuing one of the many possible careers in finance, this program offers some compelling advantages that should be considered in your evaluation process.
Finance Club Advantages
- Mentor program
- Resume review program
- Mock interview program
- Modeling and valuation workshops conducted by industry professionals
- Panel discussions and roundtables on career options, major recruiters, recruiting processes
- Alumni networking events
- Industry speakers and case studies on deals, the economy and personal finance management
Vanderbilt Advantages
Intellectual Capital of Faculty
The foundation of the finance curriculum at any top business school is the faculty. At Vanderbilt, the finance faculty is nothing less than world-class; bringing to the classroom top academic credentials and deep expertise in the many disciplines of finance. From derivatives and quantitative portfolio management to corporate finance, fixed income, and valuation, the finance faculty at Vanderbilt is considered to be among the intellectual elite. As an example of the high quality of the faculty, Professor Hans Stoll is among the world’s top 25 most published professors of finance. Professor Robert Whaley has authored the recently-published Derivatives: Markets, Valuation, Risk Management by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Vanderbilt is continuing to build on this strength and is actively seeking top financial minds to add to the faculty.
Flexibility of Course Work
In addition to its top faculty, the Vanderbilt finance program offers a distinct advantage over other top programs by employing the module structure. In the traditional MBA program, students complete the program’s core requirements over the course of the first year, in two semesters. At Vanderbilt, you will not be constrained by the time limitations of this model. Instead, you will have significant flexibility to take advanced electives in finance during the two spring modules. This advantage cannot be overstated as Vanderbilt graduate finance students commonly compete for the most sought-after Wall Street and corporate finance summer internships.
Law & Business Program
This does not refer to the JD/MBA program. Instead, this new program allows MBA students to take advanced law courses and avoid the 4-year time commitment of the Vanderbilt JD/MBA program. Vanderbilt delivers a finance education that is extendable into any career in finance, many students that enroll in the MBA program are pursuing careers in securities and investment banking. For this career, Vanderbilt offers an advantage that is unmatched by any other elite business school. In a recently developed program with the Vanderbilt Law School, students are now able to receive critical legal training in securities and corporate law through the Law and Business program. An example of courses in the Law and Business program include Securities Regulation, Corporations, and M&A Law and Finance. Combining the intellectual prowess of the Vanderbilt MBA program and the Vanderbilt Law School results in students that are superbly prepared for the demands of the securities markets.
Vanderbilt: Competitive and Collegial
Attending any of the world’s top business schools can only serve to enhance your professional and management skills. As you begin to narrow your list of choices, be sure to critically evaluate the competitive advantages that each program offers. If you are considering a career in finance, Vanderbilt has several distinct advantages not found at many other top programs. Also, at Vanderbilt, a rare differentiator is the human element which celebrates integrity, friendship, cooperation, and support all within a competitive learning environment. This facet of the Vanderbilt finance program is what all its graduates protect and cherish.
We hope you have come to a deeper understanding of the advantages the Vanderbilt offers its graduates; if you have not had the opportunity to visit campus, we strongly encourage you to do so before you make your final decision. If you have any further questions about the program, please feel free to contact any of the officers of the Finance Club or email the club directly at finance.club@owen.vanderbilt.edu. Regardless of which program you ultimately attend, we wish you the best of luck in your future.
