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Meeta Chhabaria has always been intrigued by finance. Once she gained her bachelor’s degree in business in India, she sought a master’s degree as her next step—one that would prepare her for the finance industry’s move towards fintech and the utilization of emerging technologies.
When she saw that the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University offered rigorous finance programs paired with experience-powered learning opportunities that could help her build the expertise she needed to lead in a tech-driven financial world, she was sold.
The MS in Quantitative Finance and MS x in Fintech are F-1 visa-compliant and STEM-designated. This means international students can apply for a STEM extension to their Optional Practical Training (OPT), allowing them to work in the U.S. after graduation for up to 36 months instead of just 12. Both programs help you prepare for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) exam with materials integrated into the curriculum.
Explore the programs
The MS in Quantitative Finance on the Boston campus offers a challenging curriculum that integrates finance with other disciplines, such as economics, mathematics, and computer science. Here, you’ll develop deep financial knowledge alongside computer science, mathematics, and econometrics expertise to help you excel in the rapidly changing financial services industry.
The MS x in Fintech on the Miami campus focuses specifically on financial technology. Here, you’ll master essential skills in data analytics, machine learning, and blockchain, while staying ahead of emerging trends in artificial intelligence. You will gain experience with predictive modeling and decision-making, preparing you for roles at fintech startups, tech companies, and established financial institutions.
Chhabaria chose the MS in Quantitative Finance on the Boston campus and loved how the program prepared her for success. “The opportunity to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real-world scenarios was inspiring,” she says.
The MS in Quantitative Finance offers an opportunity to apply for a graduate co-op through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is an excellent opportunity to learn by doing while building your résumé and professional connections. You’ll work on a specific project for a leading company or startup, get a feel for the company’s culture, and participate in the organization’s greater mission.
Meeta Chhabaria learned to lead with impact in the financial world at Northeastern. Source: Northeastern University
She immediately gravitated toward the 360 Huntington Fund, a student-managed mutual fund. Chhabaria began as an analyst at the Fund. The experience enabled her to connect with students who excelled at giving stock pitches and with expert faculty members who understand the ins and outs of selecting stocks to buy, sell, or hold.
She won first place in the GAME Forum international finance conference as a team with other Fund members. She was even selected from among thousands of applicants to lead Northeastern’s team in the CFA Institute Investment Research Challenge.
D’Amore-McKim students build collaborative skills and thrive in team environments and individually. Credit: Northeastern University
“I felt my background in mass communication and finance could provide the Fund with more opportunities to market itself, so I applied for a leadership position and was elected,” she says. “Holding a leadership position was also a great talking point in job interviews, as many interviewers found the role and the fund unique and impressive.”
Chhabaria credits the MS in Quantitative Finance’s curriculum with “pushing” her to be a better communicator with greater business and arithmetic skills. She became the Chief Marketing Officer for the 360 Huntington Fund and a Research Assistant at Northeastern. Today, she’s a full-time financial analyst at the investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
Northeastern’s campuses lie in the heart of two financial hubs: Boston and Miami. Source: Northeastern University
Ayush Goel from India also found the 360 Huntington Fund invaluable. “I learned so much,” he says. Upon joining as an analyst, he was paired with another member to present a stock pitch, an experience that culminated in a standing ovation. His dedication and skill soon led to his promotion to Chief Operating Officer, where he managed risk and marketing departments while overseeing real-world financial projects.
Despite being in New York for his graduate co-op at ING in the Market Risk Commodities Division, he maintained regular communication with his team, gaining practical experience that he continues to leverage as his career progresses. “I initiated projects where I practiced taking real-world financial and economic situations and forecasting potential solutions that we could turn into profit, he explains. “I gained practical experience to bring to future positions.”
Ayush Goel leveraged his newly acquired skills to become a financial analyst. Source: Northeastern University
Ayush built fluidity with coding languages like Python and VBA, which are crucial in fintech. His coursework in mergers, acquisitions, and valuations laid the groundwork for his future in consulting and private equity, leading to his current role as a Portfolio Valuation Analyst at Houlihan Lokey.
The Graduate Career Center offers custom career support. Your dedicated advisor will connect you with a proven set of career management tools to help you define your objectives, strategize opportunities, and make critical networking connections. Together, you’ll craft a career management plan to pursue progressively more exciting roles.
Northeastern’s two STEM designated programs in finance attract global learners ready to excel. Source: Northeastern University
Wherever D’Amore-McKim graduates end up, they arrive ready to add value. Graduate co-op and 360 Huntington Fund are just some of D’Amore-McKim’s unique experience-powered learning opportunities. You can also earn Bloomberg certifications in D’Amore-McKim’s exclusive Bloomberg Terminal Lab, apply for a Community Impact Initiative project, and many more.
“Join the finance clubs, participate in the career center’s networking events, leverage LinkedIn, and build your connections,” says Patel. “If you’re an international student, the Office of Global Services is also an excellent resource for understanding the different aspects of working post-graduation. All these steps taken together will help you land your dream job.”
Become a global learner like Chhabaria and Goel in D’Amore-McKim’s MS in Quantitative Finance and MS x Fintech programs.
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