Columbia MAFN Columbia MAFN Admission Discussion

[Shadowfox]

FYI! MAFN Candidates do not graduate around August/September they graduate in May

 

[cdirnfeld]

Hi everyone,

I was accepted (a while ago) into the MAFN program.

 

[Shadowfox]

If any one has created the facebook group for incoming student please let me know..Else I am happy to create one.

 

[cdirnfeld]

I don't think anyone has created a group so please feel free to start one.

 

[Shadowfox]

group done.. P.S. I have never moderated a facebook group before. In case someone is interested in moderating the group, Please let me know. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ColumbiaMAFN2013/

 

[FlowerShin]

Hi
I just spoke to my MD in my previous firm Credit Suisse.... He from a recruiter point of view said that short duration of MAFN course is definitely a point of consideration... He said an internship would add much more value to the resume and also help international students get an idea about different jobs in the field plus build contacts too.. In addition he pointed out that most firms avoid recruiting MAFN candidates as they graduate around August / September when the quota for H1B VISAs is exhausted.... Have you found out how the 3 semester thing pans out? Can you give us more details on it ?...

Thank you so much for your information.
I have asked Laurent Breach, the coordinator of MAFN.
He said that more details should be explained during the orientation. In the mail, he explained that for the third semester, you should take at least one selective. Once you've finished the 6 mandatory and 4 selective in 2 semesters, you have to graduate at once.
Besides, written on my I-20 form, the length of program is up to 18 months.
And I have also heard that for MAFN students, it is possible to have an OPT visa for up to 12+17 months.

 

[ranav]

Got admitted into MAFN at columbia. MAFN can be completed in either 1 year or 1.5 years. I would prefer the later as that ways I can do an internship. Can anyone throw some light on the 3 terms option. Does Columbia allow me to take the courses and pay per credit instead of the full term fee which is nearly 30k?
Also, what research assistantship options are available. I am interested in it both from a financing option of view as well as from learning perspective.

Any insights will be of great help!

 

[ADT]

Hello! Trying to kickstart a discussion for folks who are starting the program this Fall. What classes are you guys planning on taking? Any part-timers here? I'm likely starting out with the mandatory Stochastic Processes & Intro to Math Fin, and will be on a part-time schedule.

 

[CasanovaJ]

I am beginning MAFN in the Fall as well... I've been working for the last four years (in Chicago, though, not NYC), so I'll be doing this full-time, then hopefully some kind of full-time job after.

Looks like the program is 6 mandatory courses (three per semester) + 4 electives... I've heard the mandatory MAFN courses are pretty solid but the electives aren't too special, so I figure I'll try to do as many in CBS and IEOR as possible... I don't know what the policy is, though, in terms of "maximum # of electives allowed in each school"... I've heard pretty conflicting info on that. I'll probably email Nielsen at some point, but it doesn't seem like there's much of a rush at the moment... still have 3+ months to go here.

From what I've heard, Implied Vol Smiles with Derman in IEOR in the Spring is a "must," though, and aside from that, some kind of programming course probably wouldn't be a bad idea (I'm already pretty good with programming, but only with VBA, SQL, and Matlab, not C++, which I figure is likely a problem, but not a particularly difficult one to fix). There also seems to be a question on a different thread about optimization, which would seem like a pretty good idea for an elective too (if the course even exists, and is available for us to take).

At this point, though, my concerns are mainly:

1) How to prepare for the program (I'm 4 years out of undergrad and can't say that I completely remember all of my undergraduate math material)
2) What kind of job to pursue after the program (and what's even available right now).

If you're doing part-time, are you currently working in NY? What kind of job?

 

[ADT]

I've heard similar comments about the Implied Volatility class. I believe we're able to take classes across the engineering/computer science/business schools/departments, subject to availability. Could be wrong. Regarding course preparation - there are some course outlines available on the website if you dig around. Might be a good starting point to check out the textbooks they'd use and the topics they'll cover.

Anyway yes I do work in the city, have been in a variety of roles but currently in credit. What about you? What are you up to in Chicago?

 

[glyvin]

I can't comment on the faculty as a whole, but I am a student in another engineering department, and you are only allowed to take one IEOR class per semester, and only two in your academic career at Columbia. That's where the Implied Volatility class is. This is where you will want to fill out the form once the semester gets closer:

http://ieor.columbia.edu/registration-guidelines-non-ieor-students

 

[Bridget]

Hello guys! I'm gonna join MAFN this fall as well, as a full-time student. I'm planning to take five courses in the first semester, I haven't decided if I'll graduate in two terms or three though.

Now I'm considering taking probability theory 1 as elective, because I would like to apply for stat PhD program at the end of this year, but the course is open to Stat PhD students only. I really hope the rules are flexible :p I'm interested in Quantitative methods in Investment Management interests me as well.

I'm familiar with R and matlab programming, not C++ either. Hopefully I'll get more training in MAFN.

 

[glyvin]

Math G4151, Analysis and Probability 1 is the exact same class at the same time and with the same professor. I'd probably just register for that instead since you're in the math department already.

 

[Leang Vathana]

Hello guys ! I'm also beginning the MAFN programm this Fall as a full-time student.

I can't comment on the faculty as a whole, but I am a student in another engineering department, and you are only allowed to take one IEOR class per semester, and only two in your academic career at Columbia. That's where the Implied Volatility class is. This is where you will want to fill out the form once the semester gets closer:

http://ieor.columbia.edu/registration-guidelines-non-ieor-students

It seems that Implied Volatility and many other IEOR courses are reserved for IEOR students only according to this link
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/sel/IEOR_Spring2014.html
Can you confirm that ?

 

[glyvin]

Hello guys ! I'm also beginning the MAFN programm this Fall as a full-time student.



It seems that Implied Volatility and many other IEOR courses are reserved for IEOR students only according to this link
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/sel/IEOR_Spring2014.html
Can you confirm that ?

Well yes, they are, but you can apply to take them if there is any room available once the semester starts.

 

[Reyn S]

Greetings everyone,
I am currently waitlisted in Columbia MAFN, and it is said that it's a short waitlist and takes just few weeks to get the final result. However, I am currently admitted into Oxford Mathematical and Computational Finance, and they request me to accept my offer before 10th of May to get into it. So here comes the problem, should I just wait or go to the Oxford program?
here's some pros and cons:
Oxford
Advantage:
1 Nice brand reputation.
2 Relatively low living cost and tuition fee ( which I do not care so much ).
3 Perfect living and academic environment.
4 30-40 of class sizes.
Disadvantage:
1 Not easy to the City because of immigration policy, and because I have no time for internship during this program, it is hard to stay in UK for financial working, maybe I have to move to HK or Singapore after graduation.
2 The course structure is quite theoretical and extremely heavy.
3 It goes directly from October to August next year, no time for internship.
4 The career service is not so good, or I should say, almost no career service in this program.
5 It seems that this course is kinda phD oriented.

Columbia
Advantage:
1 Also nice brand reputation (IVY!).
2 New York city, USA, tons of opportunities.
3 It is said that it's more practical.
4 3-semesters structure, this allows me to get some internship during summer vacation. Also, that wouldn't put a heavy burden like Oxford to rush all courses in 10 months, and if possible, I could learn more things by this longer time.
5 Highly ranked in Quantnet!
6 According to an alumni, they do have a great chance to get internship during summer, even for asia.
Disadvantge:
1 Relatively high living cost and tuition fee.
2 Maybe few computing courses in this program?
3 Have no advantage compared to Columbia MFE and New York MathFin, so the competition is quite fierce, even though more opportunities.
4 The environment may be a little bit fickle? or maybe the public security is not so good?

So could you please give me some advice, I would really appreciate that. And if possible, anyone could tell me some tips to get higher in waitlist?

 

[Mensa]

Just email Laurent your situation, and request an early decision by May 10th.

 

[Reyn S]

Just email Laurent your situation, and request an early decision by May 10th.

But it's said that early decision would be extreme strict, that takes risk.

 

[Mensa]

But it's said that early decision would be extreme strict, that takes risk.

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

 

[Reyn S]

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

Thanks for your advice. But actually my point is more focused on the comparison of these two programs, any advice?