I get your point. But it is hard to get a good entry level finance position in this economy especially for an international student on OPT with just an undergraduate degree. That's why I am trying to channelize all my efforts towards getting into a top program (not just any MS in Finance program) so that I can leverage my advanced degree and the school's placement service to land a good job. I've decided to pursue MS in Finance rather than MBA with Finance concentration because top MBA programs require at least 3-4 years of quality work experience whereas work experience is not a big factor in MS in Finance admissions.

Mr. Hawas, you said that you have passed the CFA exams. Are you talking about just level 1 or all 3 levels? I've passed level 1 and I'd be disappointed if you are inferring that it's hard to find a decent finance job even after passing all 3 levels of the CFA program.