Is MSFE for me?

[throwawayprospect]

Current trader and systematic PM at a top US AM by AUM, not currently located in NY. Graduated from US target undergrad 2 years ago, studied finance and math where I took diverse coursework in areas of trading, stochastic calculus, portfolio management, time series modeling.

The work I do in my job is as an end user of quantitative methods such as portfolio optimization. But in my team, systematic/quant trading is not an primary objective since traditional AMs are mostly long-only with the only focus on identifying pricing dislocation at judgement or time of execution. I want to advance quantitative methods in my sector at my current firm.

I am contemplating going back to school (applying) to refine technical skills at a MSFE program, preference for Columbia (Ivy brand and NYC long term goal). Am I being completely insane to prefer grad school over my current role, or should I seek internal/external lateral movement? My job is not under threat and can resign at will if given the choice of a top MSFE (MIT, Princeton).

I view current political landscape as opportunistically beneficial - I am a US citizen without significant financial need, no visa issues.

 

[arohan]

It probably is and, in your position, it does make sense. You already have relevant experience and are looking for something that will help you get a bit of a step up. That is exactly what an MFE does IMO. So, given you don’t have any financial issues and do not need visa sponsorship, MFE isn’t a terrible idea. That being said, keep your expectations tempered.

Don’t go in expecting you’d be getting into jane street/SIG. I am not entirely sure what exactly it is you are doing but it seems like you are an execution trader? Given that, you may have a shot at some trading roles or maybe getting into QR roles within asset management. So, if that is what you are expecting to get into, an MFE may help you get there.

 

[throwawayprospect]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't want to go to the sell-side and be a HFT/MM, goal is to develop better skills and techniques to add quantitative contributions to a traditional investment approach (ex. if I think this market sell-off represents an oversold moment for us to strategically deploy capital, or how do I optimally buy/sell securities opportunistically available from MMs that accomplish the agenda set by my senior PMs across all our assets). Not necessarily quantamental as we have a QR team that does signal analysis, part of my job as a systematic PM is to implement the output of their signal (determine the quantities and portfolios in which to buy and sell securities based on signals, and execute as a trader).

It sounds like these technical skills would be available at a MSFE/MFE. I don't think I am interested in a MFin-leaning program since my background skews heavily finance and wouldn't get much from that type of experience.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Everything is getting highly technical. AI is getting better everyday so less technical roles are going redundant at some point. Just my guess.
Some MFE programs are better at updating their curriculum based on feedback from alumni.
I would look at their current curriculum and ask for the new courses they added last 3 years to see if they can prepare you for the future.