Hi Guys I am thankful that I passed Level 1 on my first attempt. I do not work and I am enrolled to start my 1 year full time MBA in America next month. It is quite intense and demanding being an MBA firstly, and secondly being a 1 year MBA (it is the same as the 2 year except there is no Summer internship and you take about one extra course per semester) I am torn between doing my MBA vs. studying for Level 2 CFA June 2012. Please share your thoughts on whether you think it is possible that I can attempt both. I really dont want to wait until 2013 to take CFA L2 but at the same time I do not want to miss this opportunity of doing my MBA in USA, I also received a 20% scholarship. My concentrations are Finance and Strategy. Would I be shooting myself in the foot by pursuing my MBA and attempting (like a lunatic) to study for L2 in between, I appreciate your feedback. Janesha Govender South Africa
Doing both together will be definitely be challenging because the amount of curriculum covered in Level 2 makes Level 1 seem like a joke! However, there will probably be some overlap between your MBA program and the CFA curriculum considering the concentration in finance. Personally, I would concentrate on the MBA and attempt at scoring somewhere in between top 5% of class. If you want to work in the US, i suggest you squeeze in an internship too because that will significantly boost chances of landing a job. No US experience, a CFA Level 2 pass, and average MBA course scores (considering time spent on CFA L2 will likely impact course grades) will not put you in a better position compared to Internship experience, CFA Level 1 Pass, and top 5% grades in MBA class. Additionally, the money spent on MBA is definitely more than that on CFA so you would want a better return. Then again, MBA is mostly worth it if its done at one of the top 20 (if not top 10) schools.
Hi Janesha, I would advise you to take one year for your MBA. I think you have no time limit to take CFA later. It’s all about opportunity and deadlines. But, if you really want to work in Finance, CFA designation is more respected than MBA because of the general orientation of MBA and the cost. For a job in Strategy (McKinsey, Bain,…), MBAs are more valuable. Someone in the AF 2.0 have released an NPV analysis comparing MBA and CFA, and professional goals. I don’t know if the article is available anymore. If you aren’t sure about your professional choices, do the both. But its time and cash consuming (but the second one is my personal constraint lol). Good luck
Thank you to Kamiysed and erobak. I do not intend to work in the USA. The opportunities in my country are much much more and so is the money. I have been living in USA for the past year with my fiance who is doing his MBA. He too wants to go back to SA. We are in Pittsburgh, top 50 school. Also, I want to work in Finance definitely. I am from a banking background - Equities Trader. The internship will not work in the USA because I have Summer school and secondly, most US employers do not want foreigners who they have to sponsor for work visas. Hence we have been in India for the last 2 months- fiance is at KPMG for his internship. thanks once again. I am too tempted and think I will do both eventually. Decisions decisions. I have read many posts by the L2 candidates who passed. Many actually were doing MBAs simultaneously.
Just passed L2, but won’t be hittin the L3 exam til 2014 cuz of MBA as well (2 years instead of 1). Why kill yourself? what’s the rush? L2 is hard enough to pass without the stress of additional school and exams to worry about. You could kill yourself, and still fail! I don’t know you, and maybe you’re some super smart academic guy with no social life at all, a photographic memory, and Rainman-like abilities, but unless all that’s the case, just concentrate on your MBA.