Need help with my personal essay, applying for M.Sc Finance

Finance is all about THE money.
What to save? What to invest? Where to invest? How much to invest?

It deals with how funds are raised and invested. When dealing with our own funds we only have ourselves to think about – if well invested the profit is all ours, if not then the loss is ours too. Our decision does not have repercussions for anyone else. However, on a professional level we are required to manage the finances of our clients, whether individuals or institutions. The sheer magnitude of the responsibility and risk involved makes it a whole new ball game.

It is this challenge that I like and therefore, I want to further explore the divisions of corporate finance, investment and risk management in this vast field.

All throughout school I showed a keen interest in Mathematics – its intricacy is engaging. My interests especially lie in Derivatives, Differential Calculus and Real Analysis. It is quantitative and definite and there is always a way to reach a solution. Many fields employ mathematical techniques for these very qualities, Finance being one of them.
On the other hand, I was introduced to Economics only in the 11^th grade but was instantly drawn to it. It was one class I eagerly looked forward to the whole week, with all its discussion about money, inflation, consumption, trade, investment etc. It is riveting how the slightest change in a variable can throw everything out of balance. I once read that "Economics facilitates an exchange between specialized economists and the broader public". It is constantly evolving and adapting to the changing situations and the crisis we are faced with. It does employ a lot of mathematical analysis but it can't be reduced to just that, there is a human element too which cannot be ignored.

It is my passion and knowledge for these two disciplines, which I believe, will intertwine beautifully in the field of Finance, which is what led me to choose this as the subject for my post graduate study.

To enhance and build on my knowledge I have also interned at various firms in the past three summers.
The first internship was at SBI Mutual Fund. There I had the chance to gain and in-depth knowledge about mutual funds and investment schemes. I was required to interact with customers and explain to them why investment is a good option and suggest the policy that would be most suitable.

The following summer I interned with PepsiCo. India Pvt. Ltd. I was involved with market research prior to the launch of a new product. This was market research at its grass-root level. I had to step out and talk to people one-on-one and ask them what is it exactly that they look for in the products they consume and the factors that play a role in their choosing one particular product over another. It gave me an insight into what appeals most to people. This immensely improved my public relation and communication skills.

At my last internship at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), I was given the task of designing and conducting an industry based Economic Outlook Survey which went on to be published in FICCI's magazine issue just before the Reserve Bank of India's quarterly Monetary Policy Review. During my time there I learnt in great detail how the financial markets function, particularly inIndia.

Now that I have a basic understanding of the discipline, I would like to broaden my horizons. I believe that my background has prepared me well to meet the demands of your program. Being an Economics student, I have always closely followed national and global economic issues; however, these cannot be fully understood until they are looked at from a financial point of view as well.

Triggered by the volatile social, political and economic conditions currently facing the world, both the theory and practice of finance have experienced a great intellectual ferment. Keeping up with these developments is becoming an increasingly important part of the function of financial scholars and executives. I want to be a part of that change, that development and I believe that a Masters at your esteemed institution can help me get there, with its modules offered and the guidance of pioneering stalwarts in a vibrant and rich academic environment.

From the work experience I gathered, I came to realize that quantitative finance is the area of finance I mainly want to be involved in. After completing my Masters, I shall eagerly await the opportunity to apply all the theoretical knowledge I gain into actual practice and hope to acquire experience in areas such as risk management, financial planning, strategic finance, prices and sales strategy, and investment and equity. I look forward to one day being a quantitative or strategic assessment analyst for one of the world’s leading investment firms.

I am confident that my hard work, aptitude and competency will enable me to contribute to my field of knowledge extensively.