an FE degree vs an FE certificate

[coolharvard]

I personally think FE certificate is useless comparing with an FE degree...

But I was wondering how an FE certificate is perceived in the streets, especially among potential employers....

 

[kbharadwaj]

Seriously, nobody cares about a certificate or a degree. It is what you know that they care, neither a degree nor a certificate can prove that! Practical experience is what and will matter.. but, relatively degree has an upper hand.

 

[Peter Lewis]

Context matters significantly. Certificate programs are primarily effective for those that: 1) already have their foot in the door within a financial services entity, and 2) have an existing quantitative graduate qualification from semi-reputable school.
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Few potential employers will fault you from not walking away from a solid, six figure job to spend 1.5-2 years forgoing income and incurring debt when you already have sufficient academic validation for where you want to work. Not to mention the loss of practical learning by way of programming and products that two years of early-to-mid career experience represents.
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If you look at the academic core of most FE programs and strip off the topical electives, you can really give the material adequate treatment in six or so semester courses (give or take). Outside of the CQF, this appears to be what most schools aim to do with their respective certificate offerings. NYU Poly & Courant, Columbia, CMU, Stanford, etc. all fit this mold. <o:p></o:p>
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