Master Programs Comparison: Which quant program to choose?
- Thread starter aksrandhawa
- Start date
- Joined
- 3/15/23
- Messages
- 4
- Points
- 1
do you know how many people have heard back from columbia roughly
I'm about 70% toward Columbia
Any particular reason? Currently in the same boat deciding between Cornell and Columbia
I am considering Columbia primarily because of its location. I heard a lot of ppl complain about Columbia's career service (CS) but from what I heard, unless you got into those top MFE programs like Baruch and Berkeley, I believe that Cornell's CS is not significantly stronger. However, what really hinders me from making the deposit right away is the the rigorousness of Columbia's curriculum and the high cost of living in the area. I'm planing to attend the Admitted Student Day to the 30th to help me finalize my decision though
Hi,
I got accepted into the Columbia MSFE. However, the program is DEFINITELY full-time, and I am about to start a job at a hedge fund that I'm not ready to give up for school. Honestly, I was ready to just sell my soul and do work and school full-time, but then I talked to a Columbia advisor, and they suggested MSOR. Through MSOR, I can take a lot of the MSFE electives while on a part-time basis, which could be great for me. I've been approved to switch to MSOR, and they're just waiting on my confirmation. Is it worth dropping the MSFE name brand for MSOR? Any advice would be greatly appreciated
I got accepted into the Columbia MSFE. However, the program is DEFINITELY full-time, and I am about to start a job at a hedge fund that I'm not ready to give up for school. Honestly, I was ready to just sell my soul and do work and school full-time, but then I talked to a Columbia advisor, and they suggested MSOR. Through MSOR, I can take a lot of the MSFE electives while on a part-time basis, which could be great for me. I've been approved to switch to MSOR, and they're just waiting on my confirmation. Is it worth dropping the MSFE name brand for MSOR? Any advice would be greatly appreciated
- Joined
- 3/22/14
- Messages
- 191
- Points
- 303
Assuming the hedge fund job is relevant to what you want to do in the future (which I presume so), I'd definitely say yes.
Last edited:
The role isn't in quant but it'll be a great experience...
- Joined
- 3/22/14
- Messages
- 191
- Points
- 303
If you think it'll be good, then go for it. Having a MSOR over a MSFE honestly won't be a hurdle at all if you know your stuff well.
Thanks for the advice. Do you know anything about career placement in quant for the MSOR? I just want to make sure I'm not disadvantaged for choosing MSOR over MSFE.
- Joined
- 3/22/14
- Messages
- 191
- Points
- 303
To be honest, I wish I did. I know at least 2 people from my year are at Citadel (yup, the appealing stuff first I guess lol), at least 1 at Millenium. I'm currently at AB doing FI QR stuff. There's people at Goldman and JPMC. Others I'd probably have to LinkedIn search...
From my interview experience, I'd say to know the following well:
- optimization (dynamic programming--Goldman favorite, graphs--asked by Morgan Stanley and a FinTech I don't remember)
- stochastic modeling (you'll definitely be asked probability)
- data structure and algorithms (CS department has a course on this)
- stochastic calculus if you're into desk quant stuff and some for risk too
All this stuff is in the green book (w/ the exception of graphs) and MSOR covers the first two in core courses.
Last edited:
- Joined
- 5/2/06
- Messages
- 12,994
- Points
- 273
There was many discussions and applicants for the Columbia MSOR in the past. I haven't seen much mention of MSOR program last few years.
- Joined
- 3/18/19
- Messages
- 114
- Points
- 53
I'm unable to compare the two programs, but I want to say that we would welcome your presence in our program. You'll be able to provide a valuable real world perspective to your classmates based on your work experience. I would add that, in our experience, a student like you usually does very well in our program, because you have a clearer view of how what you're learning will be used in practice. So I hope you'll come!
- Joined
- 1/13/23
- Messages
- 19
- Points
- 13
My pick would be NCSU for the following reasons:
1. I'm doing an industry switch so employment opportunity is my most important criteria having limited experience. NCSU is located in one of the prime locations for Banking and Risk management. I will be trying to crack into Trading as well on the side but incase that doesn't workout I will fallback to risk management (will obviously have to take relevant courses in both so this plan works out)
2. Small cohort size- more focus on students and the career team seems to be focused on individual students
3. Growing program reputation year on year
4. One of the top universities in applied mathematics (especially statistics)
For UCLA and NYU I wasn't too confident in their career placement stats and ik this depends on the students as well but it feels less customized to better the students chances of placement
1. I'm doing an industry switch so employment opportunity is my most important criteria having limited experience. NCSU is located in one of the prime locations for Banking and Risk management. I will be trying to crack into Trading as well on the side but incase that doesn't workout I will fallback to risk management (will obviously have to take relevant courses in both so this plan works out)
2. Small cohort size- more focus on students and the career team seems to be focused on individual students
3. Growing program reputation year on year
4. One of the top universities in applied mathematics (especially statistics)
For UCLA and NYU I wasn't too confident in their career placement stats and ik this depends on the students as well but it feels less customized to better the students chances of placement
- Joined
- 1/13/23
- Messages
- 96
- Points
- 43
The choice between these two isn’t make or break for your chances to land a quant role. Just pick if you prefer to do school in NY or Boston
- Joined
- 11/28/22
- Messages
- 12
- Points
- 3
I have been admitted to both these programs and having a hard time deciding, can the forum members and past alumni weight in?
Wanted to know if the higher tuition fee at Cornell (about $22K) is worth the Ivy tag and does it matter in the long run?
Found great reviews about UChicago but very few reviews about Cornell.
Please share pros and cons about both programs.
Background : Computer Science Engineer
Career Expectations : Targeting Quant Trading roles
@Andy Nguyen
Wanted to know if the higher tuition fee at Cornell (about $22K) is worth the Ivy tag and does it matter in the long run?
Found great reviews about UChicago but very few reviews about Cornell.
Please share pros and cons about both programs.
Background : Computer Science Engineer
Career Expectations : Targeting Quant Trading roles
@Andy Nguyen
- Joined
- 2/6/23
- Messages
- 10
- Points
- 3
Curious to learn a bit more about why so many people vote for UCB vs UChicago.
The Chicago program timeline appears to be better suited for FT placement in companies (and I also assume that the Chicago location is better than Berkeley).
However, i find it weird that there aren't a lot of UChicago reviews out there (would refrain from contacting UChicago office to get a review from alumni as they are obviously biased).
Looking at LinkedIn, I see many of the students from UCB that graduated just now still looking for FT placement, this is a big concern for me...
The Chicago program timeline appears to be better suited for FT placement in companies (and I also assume that the Chicago location is better than Berkeley).
However, i find it weird that there aren't a lot of UChicago reviews out there (would refrain from contacting UChicago office to get a review from alumni as they are obviously biased).
Looking at LinkedIn, I see many of the students from UCB that graduated just now still looking for FT placement, this is a big concern for me...
Similar threads
