Graduate / My career in the next 5 years. Oxford MSc Financial Economics Personal Statement [7]

Hi everyone,

I am applying for Oxford MSc Financial Economics program, and really wish to get in. Here is the personal statement I have written. I have edited it myself several times, but I am really unsure about it, and any critique is welcomed!

Prompt: How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will the MSc in Financial Economics assist you in the development of these ambitions? Maximum 500 words

My response:
After some exposure to Financial Economics at undergraduate level, I found myself attracted to underlying mathematical and economic models of securities and assets. I wish to learn more fundamentally and broadly on the subject, and apply what I learn in class to real-world investment evaluations and decisions. My career goals over the next five years are thus to get a better understanding of various products and positions in finance industry, and to find a job that combines quantitative and qualitative analysis, preferably requires research and for the buy side. I wish to see myself working in London, or other cities in Europe. I plan to take CFA Level I in June 2016, and hopefully receive CFA charter by 2017.

MSc Financial Economics can help me to achieve these goals in many aspects. Academically, its curricula combine theories with application. One of the most rewarding experience in my undergraduate Investment Analysis class is to use Discounted Dividend Model to estimate the value of Prudhoe Bay Royal Trust. Together with other two group members, we determined that the underlying value of the security is lower than its current price, and there exists a speculative opportunity. In MSc Financial Economics, I believe I will be able to learn more fundamentally of these finance theories and models; more importantly, I will be able to apply what I learn in class to real-life finance problems immediately through the strong application component of all courses and Oxford Saïd Finance Lab.

Professionally, MSc Financial Economics provides a good transition from academia to work. My teamwork experience in Financial Economics classes has been extremely rewarding, but I did not have many teamwork opportunities at undergraduate level as a Mathematics major and I wish to learn from and contribute to a competitive and collaborative group of peers, and prepare myself for teamwork in future workplace. Furthermore, world-class career service in Saïd and numerous career events will advance my job search tremendously. While I know clearly that I am intrigued by mathematical and economic models in finance, I am uncertain about the type of financial institutions I want to work for. Through three days of training in "financial markets and institutions", abundance of career events, and strong alumni connection, I will understand my company preference better.

In my study abroad semester in Amsterdam, I found that I prefer Europe cities as my future working place. More importantly, visiting my friend in Oxford let me realize how much I love collegiate system, and compact yet vibrant college town for education. Studying in Oxford for one year, then finding a job with finance and investment in London or other European cities then become my dream. Combining with my ambition to learn more about finance and investment, and to become CFA charter, MSc of Financial Economics in Saïd can advance me in so many ways, and lead me into a career that I have planned for myself. Therefore, I sincerely apply for a position in your esteemed institution, and aspire to make strong contribution by my background and academic achievements.

Thank you beforehand for any comments!