So I've been looking at the MIT program very carefully and was very interested but unfortunately their deadline for applications is early Nov, while my GRE is late Nov! So, with reluctance I have to cross that off my list. From your experience (anyone on Quantnet) how would you rank the following programs?
Claremont McKenna
Washington St Louis (Olin)
Vanderbilt
Boston College
Waterloo
Illinois
Rutgers
York University
Villanova
John Hopkins
Rochester
My advisor spoke highly of Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Boston College (but issue may arise with work experience, they place a premium on there)
My ideal position would be IB or Risk Analysis in NY, Boston or Cali
I am confused. It looks like you want to do a traditional MSF as opposed to an MFE. If that is so we can move forward.
IB and Risk are typical MSF placement. A friend of mine is applying for a risk analyst position right now at RBS.
You want to work in Boston, NYC and Cali, good, you narrowed down the regions.
Claremont McKenna is your Cali choice.
Boston - BC, Bentley, Brandeis. I would probably more heavily weigh on BC for this.
NYC - This is tricky. Villanova does will in this market, but they also place a lot in Philadelphia. If you are ok with the Philly options I would recommend it.
Vanderbilt will also place in NYC, although I see a lot of their placement being down south. You have to be ok with going to school kind of removed from NYC/Philly/Boston.
WUSTL has a great program, but I have heard from friends that it doesn't really do well in NYC. This could be a case by case basis, but just saying.
You include Rutgers in this list, but that is a MFE program. Very, very different from a traditional MSF. Realize this distinction.
U of R - I have a friend in admissions and I am trying to set up a time to speak with her. I have a sinking suspicion that this doesn't place that well in banking. I am from the Rochester area and the school does really well in F500, but I wouldn't call it a capital markets HQ.
UIUC - I have heard mixed reviews on their program. Either way it won't do well with the geographic regions you are interested in.
John Hopkins - PT program, I wouldn't do it unless I lived in that area and wanted to stay. I spoke with admissions there and the program is not really structured. You have like 6 years or something to complete it.