master or master+Phd?

[Tiasilverman]

Hi guys, according to you to become a quant is a good idea taking a Phd in Finance or in Financial Engineering, after a bachelor degree in engineering, to be more competitive than taking only a master in financial engineering?

 

[ananta]

I have been researching on this topic for quite sometime now. I am slightly convinced that a PhD is better in terms of investment of time and resources. The catch is that for a quantitative finance role a PhD in subjects like math, physics, statistics, computer science or operations research matters.

Would love to know the expert opinions on this. I am in this dilemma too. Moreover have made a mistake of preparing for the GMAT instead of the GRE.

 

[mhy]

I think a lot of people are pursuing PhDs for the wrong reason. If you are going to do a PhD simply so that you can get a job afterward, you may not have the required passion & motivation for the PhD life that is 5-6 years of grueling research, TA obligations, etc. You might be better off if you just try an entry-level position and then move afterward. Only do a PhD if you want to actually do a PhD and not just as a way to increase your employability. Otherwise an MFE will do.

 

[Gavin L]

Hopefully by the end of your bachelor's degree you and your close lecturers will have a clear idea of whether you are capable of pursuing a PhD or not. If you are, and are very passionate about the field, then it is a good choice to deepen your knowledge. If you are not 110% willing to invest a few years of your life into an extended slog, then a Master's is probably a better choice. Comes with a MFE price tag, though.