MFIN after MA in Statistics
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Same situation as you are but from less-known, less-prestigious Master program and school. From my point of view.
Yes, you can apply to top Master Quant/Fin program with that MA Stats can give you some advantage, BUT it is not optimal idea because you are already have the degree from top STEM school with UCB Stats is like top 5 in the US, the school also well-respected in many industries so why not utilize it.
From your past post, it seems you are admitted for this Fall. So my advice is try to find research position and contribute to many papers so that your name can be found on google scholars (this is the best because a guy I know also MA Stats contribute to 4-5 and got offer for MLE at unicorn right after graduation), gather a team to compete hackathon, datathon, risk competition, networking event and most important is connections and interview preps (study, eat, sleep with it if your goal is toward trading/quant firm/hedge fund). Try your best to fill in any gaps and have every achievement/accomplishment appear on your Linkedin/resume.
In conclusion, my advice is from my failure in my past Master program and by saying this, I want to prevent anyone to fall into this problem as I did. If my idea/advice does not make sense, just ignore it and someone will definitely help you out. Wish you the best!
Yes, you can apply to top Master Quant/Fin program with that MA Stats can give you some advantage, BUT it is not optimal idea because you are already have the degree from top STEM school with UCB Stats is like top 5 in the US, the school also well-respected in many industries so why not utilize it.
From your past post, it seems you are admitted for this Fall. So my advice is try to find research position and contribute to many papers so that your name can be found on google scholars (this is the best because a guy I know also MA Stats contribute to 4-5 and got offer for MLE at unicorn right after graduation), gather a team to compete hackathon, datathon, risk competition, networking event and most important is connections and interview preps (study, eat, sleep with it if your goal is toward trading/quant firm/hedge fund). Try your best to fill in any gaps and have every achievement/accomplishment appear on your Linkedin/resume.
In conclusion, my advice is from my failure in my past Master program and by saying this, I want to prevent anyone to fall into this problem as I did. If my idea/advice does not make sense, just ignore it and someone will definitely help you out. Wish you the best!
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In life, the best lesson is from someone's mistake and failure, not from someone's success. So thank you for sharing your story.
What would you do differently to avoid your mistake?
That’s a great question and thank you for asking. So here is what I would do different:
1. Taking 1-2 gap year if one is not sure about the Master option as many program allow to defer it. During that time, find opportunity for job-shadowing and reach out to alumni from many program to talk about their experience. Also find program that can give opportunity and great career service.
2. Evaluate the industry and company expectation and hiring bar to understand what skills is lacking to work on. And networking like hell, join as many event, competition as possible. (Still sad that I was only 30 minute late to register for JS dinner event because the list fills fast).
3. Have a decent, actionable portfolio, the one that can be used in actual work or can show the intensive quantitative/coding skills.
4. Quit a program if there is less/none to offer or not up to your expectation, it is better to lose 50% and find a better option rather than waiting to losing 100%.
5. Find any opportunity available, even if it is non paid to work to have something to put on resume and show employers the related experience, it is better to continuously do it at least 1 year (I missed this opportunity because I can do 2 year straight but I did 1 year combined non-consecutively)
I think that is pretty much all I regret and failure I have, there is probably some more but this list is adequate to not give a huge pressure to everyone.
Now I am quite in better stage, I have not only school offer but also in different interview rounds, nothing is set yet but definitely hell of a year to bridge that experience expectation.
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Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts)
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