COMPARE Imperial Mathfin vs Columbia MFE vs CMU MSCF

[gkngm]

Hi folks,

I'm a data scientist in Europe with 5 YOE outside of finance. I have a strong ML and NLP background and research experience and want to pivot to quant finance because as it looks more challenging intellectually. I have been trying to get interviews for months without much success so I applied to MFE programs.
I have been accepted to Imperial MathFin and now I wonder if it's worth going to the US considering that my only other comparable options would be CMU MSCF and Columbia MFE.

Pros of US:
- Larger job market
- Much better career prospects in general

Cons of US:
- More competitive job market
- Higher tuitions
- Programs take at least 6 month more than imperial mathfin
- Higher cost of living in general

I don't think I like US enough to spend more than 5-10 years after the program over there, I would certainly go back to Europe after.

All things considered here is my ranking so far:
1. CMU MSCF
2. Imperial MathFin
3. Columbia MFE

What's your point of view on that?

Thank you in advance

 

[Andy Nguyen]

@gkngm
Congrats on getting into these programs.
Can I request that you put your application timelines to the Tracker? Having the data points from a high calibre applicant like you helps our community a lot in accessing the chance to get into top programs.
Did you apply to other programs besides these 3?
Your choice really comes down to Imperial vs CMU. Columbia MFE has a 56% placement rate in the US 3 months after graduation so basically only half of their 100+ graduates get a job in the US.
Moving to Europe after working in the US for a few years is easier than doing the other way. You basically try to transfer to a UK branch of your employer. The compensation in the US is so much higher than the rest of the world so this is something to keep in mind.
I certainly see the point of living in Europe vs the US. Much more enjoyable life style vs the rat race in the US.
As for Imperial, their reviews indicate that the brand name attract enough employers that students can get jobs through the events organized by the program.
As you put your timelines to the Tracker, please let us know when you end up.