My Experience with the MS Finance Program

Written by: Vishal Subramaniam, MSF ‘22

My experience at the University at Buffalo thus far has been amazing. I’ve learned and experienced so much in such a little amount of time, and it’s all gone by so quickly. I’m still learning about all of the possibilities that university has to offer. UB has been very welcoming and made me feel at home from the very first day. 

My classes have been great, and I enjoy each and every one of them. The faculty at UB is a mix of professors with experience of working in finance fields, professors who have been involved in various research and teaching and some PHD candidates who teach as part of their program. I was very fortunate enough to be taught by some of the best faculty UB has to offer. Not to name anyone explicitly but everyone was brilliant in their own way of teaching. I learned something from each one of them. What else could one expect from their professors?  

I have also been taking some extra courses like Computational Investments, a course taught on Python, which I as finance major, find intriguing. Learning a new programming language can be challenging but it is also very rewarding.  

The course load is intense, so the key to success is time management. The depth and detail of the courses vary but they have been far beyond my expectations. I enjoyed my classes (both online and in-person), and the comfortable environment puts me at ease. I am hoping that before graduation, I am able to create some good practical experiences as well as create some long-lasting relationships. 

I have been a part of various extra circular activities such as UB Equity Research Group (UBERG), UB Diversity and Inclusion, graduate student representative of the School of Management (SOM) and also a part of project which the SOM recently took over during the summer called Job Quality Index (JQI). There are various other groups you can participate in like Terese Kelly Investment Group (TKIG) and CFA Research Group, but the positions are limited, interview based and at the discretion of the faculty advisor. There are various committees you can be a part of, the details of which can be found in the below link: https://management.buffalo.edu/about/contact-visit/student-clubs.html 

I also took part in the Experience the 50- West Coast Tech Trek in San Francisco, California, global program where we presented a case study and spoke with some UB alumni.  Due to the current circumstances of Covid we were unable to travel to California, but it was still an unbelievable three-day event. The diverse backgrounds of the alumni provided us with great insights into their thinking, their lives there, the hustle they do, and how their careers have progressed over the past few years. It was great to see how approachable the guest speakers were. The platform provided by the Global Programs team was commendable, and to give us a tremendous virtual experience was much appreciated by everyone involved.  The in-person experience would have been something else.  

Knowing the stress and pressure a university student is under in normal circumstances and considering a lot of our family back home was suffering from Covid or recovering, we also have support services available to us. For example, UB provides mental health professionals, nutritionists, and doctors if we are faced with health issues at any time. Every now and then the college will give us a free coffee, a muffin or at least a cookie to relieve a bit of our stress. 

What I imagined to be an extremely stressful experience was made easy by the university faculty and the group of friends I met along the way. As an international student the people you meet and befriend at the university become your go-to people as you end up spending most of your time with them either studying, blabbering, sharing life experiences and stories or partying. Each one of them has their own different experiences and different perspectives on life. In addition, the SOM has provided me with several opportunities to connect with industry professionals by hosting career fairs, workshops, and networking events on campus.  

My overall experience at UB has been very positive. Time has passed quickly, and I will be entering into my last semester at UB. Life at UB is a great experience and I plan to make the most of it. 

Bio – Vishal was born in Chennai, India but has spent most of the time he can remember in Mumbai, India. He earned his bachelor’s in commerce from KJ Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce and is currently in his last semester at UB. He comes to UB with the experience of working at a startup, a mid-size company and a corporate. Vishal is currently a TA for the applied economics subject and is currently a Graduate Student Representative on the Policy Committee of the School of Management. He also runs marathons, and the year before Covid hit he had finished seven of them. He loves to hang out with his friends, explore new places, binge watch tv series and go out for a run. His plan is to work at a consulting firm and grow there.