Why I Am Eager To Immerse Myself In A Quality Msc Finance Program

It is very important for me to be on a path to acquire knowledge and to broaden my understanding of Finance, both in theory and practical real ways. Now, I am at point where I am eager to immerse myself in a quality MSc Finance program.

My passion for finance stemmed from when I took part in the JSE/Liberty Investment challenge, a competition in which teams from schools and universities within South Africa compete against one another to build the biggest portfolio value until the competition deadline. Learning the numerous formulas and understanding the guidelines, I finally came to make my first ever trade, and after various and careful calculations, I was extremely proud when I saw an upward facing green arrow indicating I was earning a profit from my first trade, and ever since then I have been hooked! My desire to learn more led to many nights discovering new strategies and theories leading me to achieve a top 10 position in South Africa for the challenge.Born and raised in South Africa, I have been exposed to the consequences of poor governance and the deficient use of financial resources leading to the current recession in South Africa. Understanding this harsh reality brought about my three-month Portfolio Management and Securities Trading Internship where I was employed at PSG in South Africa.

Working with a team of five asset managers increased my exposure to advanced financial models and responsibilities, including ensuring that the research methodologies used for asset allocation and diversification of the portfolios I managed were executed precisely, and presented to clients with the highest level of professionalism. Moreover, I personally enjoyed working within a team, doing equity trading. I gained an in-depth understanding of the importance of precision in stock analysis, which greatly aided me during deal confirmations. During the course of my internship I was assigned tasks of writing various financial reports regarding the current world Macro-economic and Geo-political climate. My report regarding the current trade war between the United States and China and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, was published in the PSG monthly client report. This exposure to real experience aided me in making my decision of my ideal career path, which would be working on the trading floor of a major investment bank such as Goldman Sachs, or JP Morgan Chase, and one day found my own fund.

Throughout my academic career, I have always thrived on my pursuit for excellence, which has led me to where I am today. My intrinsic leadership skills have given me the opportunity to be elected Class Representative for my degree program - BSc (Hons) Business Administration. Furthermore, I have completed my first year and second year with honorary status being Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude respectively.

Aiming to pursue my academic career in the UK is largely a choice to invest in my future, by solidifying my academic foundation with the requisite knowledge needed to achieve my dreams. I bring a world-view that is different from other students. Born in South Africa to Croatian parents, has provided me a greater perception of world cultures, making me more compatible with people of varying backgrounds and cultures, moreover in an international environment that will better equip me to meet the needs and challenges of everyday.

I look forward to the next phase in my academic progress with great eagerness. Thank you for your time and consideration.