Choosing the Sykes College of Business for Your Master’s in Finance

Embarking on a master’s degree can be a daunting decision. For Fabrice Cotin, a recent MS in Finance graduate of The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business, this decision marks an upward turning point in his professional life.

As he was finishing his undergraduate degree, Fabrice’s home country of Haiti was facing political unrest. He wanted to ultimately work for Deloitte. To land that job, he needed to get a master’s degree, and it would be better to leave. 

Comfortable in warmer weather, Fabrice was attracted to the climate of the US state of Florida. And when it came to choosing  UT’s Sykes College of Business, Fabrice says he was looking for a program where he could “use his quantitative skills and feel at home.” (00:31)

Yet, it was the genuine care and personal touch from the University of Tampa’s admissions board that truly captivated him. 

“One thing that I really liked about UT, and really increased my interest, is that from day one, there was always someone who was willing to help me with my application, with the admissions process,” Fabrice tells us. (02:43)

The Value of a Graduate Assistantship

While his parents couldn’t financially support his entry into graduate school, UT’s admissions office worked with Fabrice to find a solution. The Director of Admissions at UT offered him a Graduate Assistantship (GA). The GA enabled him to access the program and provided a stipend to help with other expenses. 

GA positions, available to qualified full-time graduate students, involve working a set number of hours each week in exchange for a tuition waiver covering up to 36 credit hours and a $1,500 stipend per semester. But GAs are not handed out lightly. They are awarded based on academic performance. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.7 during the admission process and at least 3.25 while attending UT.

Beyond financial support, UT also offers extensive career and academic guidance.

How UT Supports Students’ Dreams

One of the advantages of studying for your MS in Finance at Sykes College of Business is that you can tailor your curriculum to dive into specific disciplines. The STEM-certified (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum offers two distinct tracks: Financial Analysis and Quantitative Analysis.

Regardless of the chosen track, students can customize their education by selecting 16 hours of elective courses. The aim is to create more agile graduates who possess cross-functional skills and can adapt to the ever-changing financial industry. 

Knowing which course to take to get the career you want can be tricky. Thankfully, the Office of Career Services assists students with career planning. They can help with course selection to target specific career goals and prepare students to secure positions in their desired industries. 

Career services helped Fabrice refine his resume and prepare to interview with recruiters at campus career fairs. Fabrice says meeting these recruiters in person was vital to his professional development.  “I believe it’s a really good thing to have the opportunity to meet those recruiters because they are dealing with a lot of applicants at the same time. So having the opportunity to actually meet them and start building a relationship with them was really important for me,” he says. (07:51)

Of course, it’s not just recruiters that are helpful to network with. Fabrice highlights the invaluable connections he made with fellow students during his MS in Finance at Sykes College of Business. As an institution with a diverse student body, he was able to interact with students from different backgrounds. Those interactions enriched his experience and broadened his perspective. (02:23)

Preparing For A Career In Finance: Insights From Fabrice

Before starting his MS in Finance, Fabrice had minimal coding experience. However, after discussing his career goals, his academic counselor suggested he take data mining courses. These courses introduced Fabrice to coding and helped him secure his current position as a Senior Audit Analyst at Deloitte.

But coding wasn’t the only skill Fabrice honed during his time at UT.

In addition to mastering coding, Fabrice faced another challenge during his time at the university. Juggling his MS in Finance course load while serving as a full-time graduate assistant taught him invaluable time management skills. This ability to efficiently manage his time became especially crucial when he began working at Deloitte, known for its demanding busy periods.

“It was really challenging for me at the time to manage school and work at the same time, and I believe those are skills I am now using every day. I am currently working with the audit department at Deloitte, and we have a busy season from, generally, January to March. It’s really important to have good time management skills during that time,” he explains. (06:57)

Unexpected Career Turns And Future Aspirations

Fabrice had always wanted to work at Deloitte, but he would have never imagined he would end up working for their analytics department. He pictured himself having a career in corporate banking or investment banking. However, the opportunity to dive into other disciplines, such as coding and data mining, allowed his career path to take an unexpected turn.  

Fabrice’s experience at UT helped him build subject-matter expertise in finance and business analytics. But it also gave him invaluable soft skills such as time management and relationship-building. 

About his future career ambitions, Fabrice says, “The most important thing for me right now is to continue to learn, continue growing within the firm, and see what the future holds.” (09:06)

What does the future hold for you? 

If you envision a future in finance, consider the  Sykes College of Business MS in Finance at the University of Tampa. Fabrice’s story is a testament to how these skills can open up new doors and be instrumental in your career progression. 

Curious to know more about the program? Feel free to contact one of Sykes’ student ambassadors and learn about their experience first-hand.