Boston MSMFT Boston University Mathematical Finance PhD

[Umnik]

Odd, I guess it would be something that goes both ways given that the curriculum is similar. But on the other hand, the PhD has lots more tough courses, so I guess masters students don't really have that option.

Thanks for the response!

And if you had graduated from MSc, courses from it can't count towards the PhD degree so you have to take them again or some substitute courses from Econ Department

 

[Anand Agarwal]

Hi Umnik and Scnmaggie!!!

Can you please tell me the procedure to get into Boston PdD.....do we have to take GRE and apply through formal procedure...or just have to contact professors?? I mean..how did u got into the ship??

Anand

 

[Umnik]

Applied through formal procedure, did not contact anyone before.

Also, I Regret ever going to this PhD program (well, despite that I was getting stipend and living life) and would advise anyone against it

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Also, I Regret ever going to this PhD program (well, despite that I was getting stipend and living life) and would advise anyone against it

Care to write a review on the program? What do you like, don't like about it? How is the quality of faculty, students, etc?

 

[Umnik]

Care to write a review on the program? What do you like, don't like about it? How is the quality of faculty, students, etc?

Would probably first get the Msc - and then write review

 

[Umnik]

But:
1) GPA requirement is 3.3 not 3.0 like in most of programs
2) curriculum is bad cos people are ordered to take full phd level courses in micro and macro and graded on same curve with Econ students for whom that is the core coursework (and Econ department has lower GPA requirement)
3) of the 18 students ever enrolled 6 people (1/3) left or were forced to leave after year 1, before taking quals - option of FREE masters was not given - only "pay for more courses to get Msc or leave" (although I agreed to it - but some did not)
4) of the 8 people already having taken the qual - 3 people did not pass from second attempt. With the previous argument attrition is more than half
5) students are discouraged to do research before they finish doing coursework
6) current 2-year students are TA ing two master level courses (not one ) while taking 4 courses themselves
7) one of the professors teaching one of financial doctoral level courses (and basically the main research oringinator at the department) never answers any questions about HWs (saying -"you should do it yourself")
8) so far no one graduated and only one student (accepted in 2008) is close to that

 

[bigbadwolf]

*Sigh* -- sounds like another third-rate p.o.s. program cynically and quickly set up on a shoestring budget to make a bit of quick dosh.

 

[Umnik]

Well, in fact, there are a lot of PhD programs out there whose primary goal is to provide TAs for cash cow Masters programs

 

[bigbadwolf]

Well, in fact, there are a lot of PhD programs out there whose primary goal is to provide TAs for cash cow Masters programs

True; that's the Faustian Pact between universities and PhD students. But from the way you describe your program it seems to have been hurriedly cobbled together.

 

[IntoDarkness]

Well, in fact, there are a lot of PhD programs out there whose primary goal is to provide TAs for cash cow Masters programs

first time heard of such thing

 

[TraderJoe]

Actually, BU is quite a prestigious university. They may be eliminating the PhD students mainly to make sure that only high-quality PhD students graduate and leave a good impression in academia when they graduate. This elimination does not happen in the Finance PhD programs in the Business schools because they are only selecting 1% - 2% of the applicants, so there is no need to eliminate any PhD students once they start the PhD progam.
You should have studied Economics indepth before starting the PhD progam. Especially the textbooks like MWG could have been worked through. In the Business school they also have to take the Economics PhD course in Micro, Macro, Econometrics, and Game Theory along with the Economics PhD students. But the Business school PhD students perfom well in these course even though most of them have not had any prior exposure to Economics.

 

[IntoDarkness]

Actually, BU is quite a prestigious university.

first time heard of such thing as well

 

[Umnik]

Actually, BU is quite a prestigious university. They may be eliminating the PhD students mainly to make sure that only high-quality PhD students graduate and leave a good impression in academia when they graduate. This elimination does not happen in the Finance PhD programs in the Business schools because they are only selecting 1% - 2% of the applicants, so there is no need to eliminate any PhD students once they start the PhD progam.
You should have studied Economics indepth before starting the PhD progam. Especially the textbooks like MWG could have been worked through. In the Business school they also have to take the Economics PhD course in Micro, Macro, Econometrics, and Game Theory along with the Economics PhD students. But the Business school PhD students perfom well in these course even though most of them have not had any prior exposure to Economics.

Prestigious university does not imply that all departments and programs are prestigious

 

[Daniel Duffy]

*Sigh* -- sounds like another third-rate p.o.s. program cynically and quickly set up on a shoestring budget to make a bit of quick dosh.

Maybe I am missing something but I see 2 'population' curves in my mind's eye:

1. the mfe curve
2. the real life curve

Both are exponential, + and - respectively.

 

[Anand Agarwal]

Hi,

Thanks for the input....I was actually planning to apply but have to think now...I am actually planning to enter into MFE or a PhD program coming fall... Would prefer phD as am an MBA in Finance....

Can you suggest some better phD in finance/mathematical finance programs...

Thanks!!

 

[kwlmy]

Frankly, doing a PhD is hard in any school.

 

[shawnxiangyu]

Anyone knows anything about this program?

could you share me your background?
i would like to apply for this program as well.

 

[Lineo]

*Sigh* -- sounds like another third-rate p.o.s. program cynically and quickly set up on a shoestring budget to make a bit of quick dosh.

I am going to attend BU MSMF program in this fall and considering a phd program later. Do you know the placement info about this phd program?

 

[Lineo]

I am going to attend BU MSMF program in this fall and considering a phd program later. Do you know the placement info about this phd program?

Well, in fact, there are a lot of PhD programs out there whose primary goal is to provide TAs for cash cow Masters programs

 

[TehRaio]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diogoduartephd/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/truongthu/

try that on google and see what else you can find:

phd mathematical finance boston university site:linkedin.com