Columbia University MS in Financial Economics Admission Discussion

[american_first]

If you are an international student trying to get a job, the answer is simple: DO NOT TAKE THIS PROGRAM

I can be quiet about all the other bullshit this program has to offer, however it would be unsympathetic if I say nothing about its 'career service'

In short, career service has nothing professional to offer to MS students. Much worse than Financial Engineering/Mathematics at Columbia. Period.

 

[pingu]

If you are an international student trying to get a job, the answer is simple: DO NOT TAKE THIS PROGRAM

I can be quiet about all the other bullshit this program has to offer, however it would be unsympathetic if I say nothing about its 'career service'

In short, career service has nothing professional to offer to MS students. Much worse than Financial Engineering/Mathematics at Columbia. Period.

the OP has a different opinion about the program, aka the "BS it has to offer". Could you elaborate on this?

 

[american_first]

the OP has a different opinion about the program, aka the "BS it has to offer". Could you elaborate on this?

Conditional on the fact that its career service is actually an obstacle to landing a job (they even block you from Columbia U careers website), I really do not think it is worthwhile to discuss anything else.

The 'PhD training' the OP emphasized, is just finance PhD training -- it's not rocket science, not even close in terms of intelligence. Who in the industry gives a flying ****?

 

[AnonCol]

Do you mind if I ask a few questions?

Do you mind sharing what texts you use for:
-Micro
-Macro
-Econometrics
-Financial econometrics, and
-Time series econometrics?

I do not see it on the website, but did you guys cover DSGE and CGE in the program?

Thank you

Standard books used in phd classes. Hamilton, hayashi, wooldridge, and of course lots of papers. Faculty is very strong in econometrics. Micro is taught with professors own notes. Macro is not required

If you are an international student trying to get a job, the answer is simple: DO NOT TAKE THIS PROGRAM

I can be quiet about all the other bullshit this program has to offer, however it would be unsympathetic if I say nothing about its 'career service'

In short, career service has nothing professional to offer to MS students. Much worse than Financial Engineering/Mathematics at Columbia. Period.

If your goal is to go to US just to find a job, I'd agree with you. Read the "TL;DR" section

Conditional on the fact that its career service is actually an obstacle to landing a job (they even block you from Columbia U careers website), I really do not think it is worthwhile to discuss anything else.

The 'PhD training' the OP emphasized, is just finance PhD training -- it's not rocket science, not even close in terms of intelligence. Who in the industry gives a flying ****?

Clearly you have no idea what a PhD training is. It is so easy to spot who knows and who doesn't know what they're talking about

"Who in the industry gives a flying ****?"

Basically every single job which its description states "minimum requirement: Masters/PhD". So, IB/PE/S&T ? No one gives a f*. Quants? Everyone

 

[nicolalove]

Having looked at the curriculum. The PhD courses certainly seem interesting. And given that I'm from a finance background, this may actually give me a better shot. Did you also apply for MFinEng along with MSFinEcon?

 

[crazypiano]

Hi Guys, I am reaching out this community for some help. I recently attended the MS in Financial Economics Info Session at Columbia and after reviewing my profile I was ask to go through a pre-program preparatory course on the following areas. Can I please ask you guys what would be the best resource for this. I know Berkeley Haas has 3 online pre-program preparatory courses that cover a lot of it but I am wondering if there are other online resources which Columbia would prefer to see? Thank you all!!

Areas for improvement:
multivariate calculus, linear algebra/matrix theory, calculus based statistics/probability

 

[american_first]

Standard books used in phd classes. Hamilton, hayashi, wooldridge, and of course lots of papers. Faculty is very strong in econometrics. Micro is taught with professors own notes. Macro is not required




If your goal is to go to US just to find a job, I'd agree with you. Read the "TL;DR" section



Clearly you have no idea what a PhD training is. It is so easy to spot who knows and who doesn't know what they're talking about

"Who in the industry gives a flying ****?"

Basically every single job which its description states "minimum requirement: Masters/PhD". So, IB/PE/S&T ? No one gives a f*. Quants? Everyone

I think you missed the point. I am just saying nobody gives a f* about phd in Finance especially when you are just taking the classes and getting a MS.

Even Phd in economics is much better than one in finance. let alone phd in math/ee/physics/stats.....

 

[Daniel Duffy]

That's the first tine I've seen the f word on QN.

 

[crazypiano]

As above. Thank you!

 

[Aussieviking]

Yeah, I interviewed there about 10 days ago. Results supposed to come out early march

 

[Michsund]

I applied but no updates for me

 

[Aussieviking]

What do you think of the program compared to something like Princeton's MFin? Curious to hear some other people's opinions, hard to find many comparisons online.

 

[Michsund]

I thought it was a very good program according to alumni I talked with but some people also very negative views on the program as well. This program is very specific and doesn’t allow you to get some other quant roles that mfe students would but rather research roles.

 

[jeffsnguyen]

This is great to know. This program was on my shortlist to apply for but after reading about career services--which is the key reason ones would take a Master program--this program just fell off the Earth for me. I kind of got the vibe of poor career services since they have 0 info sessions and minimal info on the website compared to other MFE programs at UCB, UCLA, etc.

This confirmed it for me. Thanks!

 

[Youlan Dai]

This program is overstated. Actually pretty poor one

 

[MrBigChest]

This program is overstated. Actually pretty poor one

That's just like, your opinion, man

 

[Youlan Dai]

That's just like, your opinion, man

Unfortunately, yours is even worse. Instead of talking about the program, you turned to "attack" the commentators. Undermining my standing will not change the fact that this program is overstated. Thank you, man.

 

[MrBigChest]

Unfortunately, yours is even worse. Instead of talking about the program, you turned to "attack" the commentators. Undermining my standing will not change the fact that this program is overstated. Thank you, man.

Chill, I ain't attacking nobody.

Btw, when where you talking about the program? When you were calling it poor and 'overstated' without any justification, reason, comparison to another program or whatever? If you really want to contribute to a discussion don't just come out of nowhere, talk junk about it without any sort of reasoning and frame it like it is a fact. Like you are some sort of a MFE program guru. Just my two cents

 

[billyvan]

Thanks for the sharing!
And I don't understand why so many people are stuck with career services. Doesn't knowledge itself more important than a start job? And I believe being in NYC is already an implicit career service from the very beginning. MYRIAD opportunities!

 

[IntoDarkness]

Thanks for the sharing!
And I don't understand why so many people are stuck with career services. Doesn't knowledge itself more important than a start job? And I believe being in NYC is already an implicit career service from the very beginning. MYRIAD opportunities!

do you have a good job? or you just speak out of hypocracy