COMPARE Georgia Institute of Technology QCF vs Columbia MSOR

[Jet Cheng]

Hey guys, I have received admissions from Gatech QCF, UChicago MSFE ; and I have been redirected to MSOR after interviewed for MSFE.
I have withdrawn the ad from Uchicago and now I need to choose between Gatech QCF and CU MSOR cos the deposit date is approaching.... So I really need some advice on this

Gatech QCF: I simply love the curriculum in Gatech and I think it has great local competitive. But I have little knowledge about its employment stats, especially for international students.

CU MSOR: a program in NYC brings more variability. my senior classmate said MSOR has little difference from MSFE....but MSFE have better professional connection.....

Here I am a little bit confused right now....and if a job in finance industry, preferably in buy-side institution, is what one aims to seek ( I totally understand it is extremely difficult) , which program is a better choice?

Waiting for inputs and thanks, again

 

[Jet Cheng]

U Chicago is not MSFE ,,,,financial mathematics......

 

[IntoDarkness]

ur redirected, which meana ur profile is sub par, buyside seems hard, just forget gatech, middle of nowhere location makes it even worse

 

[JesseLevermore]

ur redirected, which meana ur profile is sub par, buyside seems hard, just forget gatech, middle of nowhere location makes it even worse

You'd have to be an idiot to actually listen to this guy. People break into the buyside from the most non-target of backgrounds. The reality of this industry is that connections will take you way further than education. Not to mention G Tech isn't even non-target.

Look up what people from those programs are doing on linkedin. Looks like at least one is at AQR and I'm pretty sure some people went to Citadel. These aren't just buyside firms, they're the best of the best. This is why you should research these things for yourself.

 

[IntoDarkness]

of cos ppl can break in anywhere regardless the background, i myself come from not even a nontarget. its much of the exception rather than the rule

 

[Mihir H Shah]

Hey guys, I have received admissions from Gatech QCF, UChicago MSFE ; and I have been redirected to MSOR after interviewed for MSFE.
I have withdrawn the ad from Uchicago and now I need to choose between Gatech QCF and CU MSOR cos the deposit date is approaching.... So I really need some advice on this

Gatech QCF: I simply love the curriculum in Gatech and I think it has great local competitive. But I have little knowledge about its employment stats, especially for international students.

CU MSOR: a program in NYC brings more variability. my senior classmate said MSOR has little difference from MSFE....but MSFE have better professional connection.....

Here I am a little bit confused right now....and if a job in finance industry, preferably in buy-side institution, is what one aims to seek ( I totally understand it is extremely difficult) , which program is a better choice?

Waiting for inputs and thanks, again

Hi Cheng,

I am a current student at Gatech QCF and will be graduating this semester. If I were you, I would pick Gatech QCF. I'm not saying this coz am a Gatech student but I have some idea about Columbia as well since I have some friends at Coulmbia MSOR. As far as employment stats are concerned, around 90% of class is placed. 3-4 might be searching for a job but they have a couple interviews and will find one really soon.

NYC as a location can definitely be a plus but Atlanta isn't bad especially when you have ICE headquarters, Sun Trust and other boutique hedge funds who prefer local students. An added advantage is that you are not competing against 200 other MSOR students of columbia with more from Columbia MFE and NYU MathFin.

Btw, classmates are placed in NYC, Chicago and Boston as well including Citadel - HFT, Citi, Deutsche, etc. LinkedIn might help you connect with some of the alumni and get a better perspective.

Just my 2 cents..! Congratulations on your admit

Mihir

 

[Jet Cheng]

You'd have to be an idiot to actually listen to this guy. People break into the buyside from the most non-target of backgrounds. The reality of this industry is that connections will take you way further than education. Not to mention G Tech isn't even non-target.

Look up what people from those programs are doing on linkedin. Looks like at least one is at AQR and I'm pretty sure some people went to Citadel. These aren't just buyside firms, they're the best of the best. This is why you should research these things for yourself.

Thanks a lot for the advice.....Linkedin is quite useful....

 

[Jet Cheng]

of cos ppl can break in anywhere regardless the background, i myself come from not even a nontarget. its much of the exception rather than the rule

thanks for the advice ..... I guess what I have learnt from my undergraduate study is that brand sometimes do matter...whether in US or not...LOL

 

[Jet Cheng]

Hi Cheng,

I am a current student at Gatech QCF and will be graduating this semester. If I were you, I would pick Gatech QCF. I'm not saying this coz am a Gatech student but I have some idea about Columbia as well since I have some friends at Coulmbia MSOR. As far as employment stats are concerned, around 90% of class is placed. 3-4 might be searching for a job but they have a couple interviews and will find one really soon.

NYC as a location can definitely be a plus but Atlanta isn't bad especially when you have ICE headquarters, Sun Trust and other boutique hedge funds who prefer local students. An added advantage is that you are not competing against 200 other MSOR students of columbia with more from Columbia MFE and NYU MathFin.

Btw, classmates are placed in NYC, Chicago and Boston as well including Citadel - HFT, Citi, Deutsche, etc. LinkedIn might help you connect with some of the alumni and get a better perspective.

Just my 2 cents..! Congratulations on your admit

Mihir

thanks a lot for your info....
I am actually curious about MSOR.....if possible, can you shall some info about MSOR......I have talked with some students in Columbia OR but they have quite different ideas about this program......

About QCF....I am an international student so I am wondering the detailed info about this group.....

Again I am grateful for your inputs and thank you for yr time

 

[oliveryoung]

I've been admitted to both Gatech QCF and Columnbia MSOR, which one should I go to?
I haven't decide whether go directly to the Financial industry or pursue a CS phd after graduation.
Could anyone share your advice?
Thank you in advance

 

[oliveryoung]

Guys, Need your helps.
I prefer programming to Math.
If I want to become a software developer in financial industrial which program shall I choose?

 

[Weiyi CHEN]

Georgia tech QCF absolutely. Students in QCF are also able to take courses in CS major, and Georgia Tech is one of the top universities in CS. If you really want to be a software developer, it will be your better choice.

 

[GoIllini]

If you want to work for a bank in NYC , Columbia is kind of a no-brainer here.

Georgia Tech is a great school, too, but in NYC banking and much of finance, Columbia is a very good name.

If you had told me you wanted to be a mechanical engineer or study CS, my answer would have been different. But given that you want to work for a bank, Columbia opens more doors in finance than Ga Tech does.

Now, GT may be cheaper than Columbia and that also may be worth considering. I also know GT alumns who work at hedge funds and prop shops, though most of them were undergrads.

 

[Jean Claude]

Would you say it's worth picking Georgia Tech QCF over Columbia MSOR if I am looking to work in a hedge fund? I'm not too much into software development, but I have the same school dilemma.

 

[oliveryoung]

Georgia tech QCF absolutely. Students in QCF are also able to take courses in CS major, and Georgia Tech is one of the top universities in CS. If you really want to be a software developer, it will be your better choice.

Could I choose any courses I want in Cs department or just a limited range of Cs course?
Besides, is that possible to pursue a double degree?

 

[oliveryoung]

If you want to work for a bank in NYC , Columbia is kind of a no-brainer here.

Georgia Tech is a great school, too, but in NYC banking and much of finance, Columbia is a very good name.

If you had told me you wanted to be a mechanical engineer or study CS, my answer would have been different. But given that you want to work for a bank, Columbia opens more doors in finance than Ga Tech does.

Now, GT may be cheaper than Columbia and that also may be worth considering. I also know GT alumns who work at hedge funds and prop shops, though most of them were undergrads.

I'm aware of the fact that Columbia is a big name in Finance. However, when I look for development job in Finance, the employers usually are willing to hire people with skills like C++, Unix, Algorithms and their application in Finance. I don't think that's the kind of skills I can learn in Columbia.

 

[GoIllini]

My understanding is that Columbia's MSOR program is pretty flexible and Columbia has a top ~30 CS program.

Columbia will get you more interviews than Ga Tech. Said interviews will also involve a 15 minute cab ride rather than a ~2 hour flight.

My suspicion is that you are leaning towards Ga Tech anyways. I am not going to tell you that Ga Tech is a serious mistake, but I am also not going to say that it's the better school if you want to be a financial programmer.

When I worked in analytics (financial programming) at my previous firm, I knew ~4 people from Columbia and 0 people from Georgia Tech. I'm sure there are GT folks on the street, but there are many more programmers from Columbia. This is a feature of geography and Wall Street hiring habits, not a function of the relative quality of the two programs.

 

[IntoDarkness]

just listen to goillini... srsly, one has way better chance to break into wallstreet from local college such as cooper union than gatech

 

[Weiyi CHEN]

Could I choose any courses I want in Cs department or just a limited range of Cs course?
Besides, is that possible to pursue a double degree?

Any courses in CS department for sure, I have exchanged there for a half year and been the TA for QCF students in a course.

I have to say it's a tradeoff between these two programs. It's the truth that Columbia provides a better location and more potential job opportunities, but you might not be able to train yourself to be the person you want to be, like with solid skills in programming. If you investigate more through Linkedin about MSOR graduates, or communicate a little bit with one of them, you would easily find that more going to consulting industry or others rather than financial, especially developer or quant at hedge funds. One serious problem you need to note is that, too many similar programs in Columbia, implies too many competitions with your schoolmate for limited career service.

And according to my experience, (sorry to say) top financial firms would indicate their positions only open to MSFE students. You may also find lots of candidates in MSOR are transferred from MSFE failed applicants as well.

It's right that Georgia Tech is not as big name as Columbia, but why not build yourself a solid background for the person you want to be first? And I do believe the cost (tuition) is much lower in GT.

I know the shortage of QCF is its finance branch. But it doesn't matter if you just want to be a software engineer in hedge fund. I'm sure they won't test you anything in finance, based on my former interview for this position in JaneStreet.

 

[charlesk]

Hey everyone,

I received offers for Georgia Tech QCF and Columbia MSOR (MFE waitlist/reject), and was hoping I could get some insight on what would be a better program for me.

My understanding is that Columbia has a better reputation especially if I would want a job in NYC, but that Columbia MSOR graduates have a harder time finding quant jobs than do Columbia's MFE graduates. However, coursework can be virtually the same (???) with a Finance specialization.

Would it be better to attend Georgia Tech given the specified nature of the QCF program, or would the Columbia stamp carry a bigger weight? I would appreciate any advice, and thank you in advance!!!