Previously, I published an article titled "What It's Like to Study Finance at JHU", which mainly introduced my courses, life, and thoughts. This article, on the other hand, presents more objective reasons for choosing JHU.
College Introduction
Students who want to apply for a master's degree in finance in the US must be familiar with Johns Hopkins University (JHU). JHU is the first research university in the US. It has consistently ranked within the top 15 in the comprehensive rankings. It belongs to the top private universities in the US and is also the dream school for many students interested in various medical majors around the world. As one of the few US schools offering a pure finance master's program, JHU is of great significance during the busy application season for numerous students.
The Carey Business School at JHU has two campuses, one in Washington and the other in Baltimore. Approximately 70% - 80% of the students are based on the Baltimore campus.
It's worth noting that Carey is not located on JHU's main campus, Homewood Campus. Instead, it is situated in an independent commercial office building in the Inner Harbor area of the city center. The school facilities, including classrooms, study rooms, libraries, and offices, occupy four floors of the office building. Standing by the corridor's floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy the pleasant view of the harbor. Carey students can use their student cards on the Homewood Campus, and there are also scheduled shuttle buses running between Carey and Homewood campuses.
Courses
In terms of the curriculum of the MSF program, it doesn't overly emphasize quantitative analysis. However, its strength lies in its wide and comprehensive coverage. The courses I took at that time mainly included Financial Modeling, Corporate Finance, Quantitative Financial Analysis, Entrepreneurial Finance, etc. During the study, we also learned some professional knowledge related to programming and statistical languages. Currently, the MSF program has been classified as a STEM major, and the program duration has been extended to two years. The requirements for applicants' mathematical and statistical backgrounds have been clearly raised. I believe the overall teaching quality of the MSF program will improve steadily year by year.
Carey has many outstanding professors. Most of them have remarkable backgrounds. Many professors have working experience on Wall Street or in other well-known financial institutions. Due to their teaching responsibilities, professors often have to travel between multiple cities. Generally speaking, the teaching staff is quite excellent.
For students who want to improve themselves comprehensively and not be limited to the classroom, it's essential to communicate and discuss more with professors. Compared with Western students, Chinese students are less inclined to express their opinions. For example, when it comes to job hunting, internships, or other academic topics, professors will provide you with valuable suggestions based on your situation. If you are outstanding enough, there's even a possibility that they will recommend you.
At that time, the MSF program consisted of three semesters. For students like me whose undergraduate majors were not strictly in finance, the course intensity was relatively high. Many courses were compressed into one year, accompanied by frequent quizzes, a large amount of teamwork, and time-consuming case analyses. It required a great deal of effort to achieve an A grade.
For students who have extra energy or are interested in other courses at JHU, you can choose to audit courses on the Homewood Campus or directly select courses from other JHU colleges as electives. Carey only has requirements for the total number of credits, but there are no restrictions on the scope of course selection. Of course, this should be done only when you have the capacity. Otherwise, it might not be worth it. I had a classmate who chose some pure mathematics and statistics-related courses. She found the courses quite challenging.
Employment
Since Carey is a relatively new college at JHU, its career guidance and support for students may not be as comprehensive as those of well-known top business schools. The networking resources are relatively limited. However, Carey still offers multi-dimensional consulting and guidance in career services. For example, it holds career fairs, where there are also Chinese and Chinese-owned enterprises. Huawei once conducted a large-scale recruitment interview at Carey. The college has also organized some business competitions to help students improve their comprehensive capabilities.
In fact, finding a job in the US depends mainly on an individual's determination and perseverance. Don't be indecisive about whether to stay, and don't always passively wait for companies to approach you. It's best to make good use of the existing academic resources while improving your capabilities and continuously accumulate experience through attempts and summaries. Of course, many students ultimately choose to return to China for development. Carey admits relatively more Chinese students compared to traditional finance programs at other prestigious universities. The alumni network in China also has certain advantages.
Life at Carey
Carey is located in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, which is an affluent area. It is one of the important seaports in the US. Around the port, there are the National Aquarium, a bookstore converted from an old power plant, museums, and small concert halls. When walking to school, you can see many tourists visiting Baltimore.
Taking a ride on the Seadog by the port or taking a stroll along the waterfront path, enjoying the seagulls, docked ships, and interesting performances along the way is truly a pleasant experience. Baltimore has a relatively high proportion of black people, exceeding 50%, and the crime rate is also relatively high, which scared me a lot before I came to study here. However, in reality, the security situation in Baltimore is not as bad as I imagined. Especially in the Inner Harbor area, it is relatively safe.
Normally, as long as you pay attention to traveling in groups, avoid going out at night, and don't deliberately strike up conversations with strangers, it's not that terrifying. Of course, this is not absolute. Some of my friends have encountered robberies or witnessed criminal incidents. So, you should always be cautious.
The US is known as a melting pot of cultures. When coming to this free and democratic country, you should seize the opportunity to experience the local culture. The school also organizes some club or group activities to help everyone integrate quickly into life and studies. In short, be more adventurous and step out of your comfort zone.
In addition, make good use of the winter and spring breaks. Many students prepare for the CFA exam during this time. Besides the intense review, exploring the urban culture of the US during the holidays is also a great way to broaden your horizons.
Comments