MSc Fin Math graduated, lookin for PHD or another MS? Where can I get in?

[nickaelwen]

Hey, this is Hao. I just graduated this summer, and currently working for UBS as an offshore operational risk analyst. However, I still want to do a PHD or something else. Please feel free to give your evaluation and recommendations, because Im not quite sure what's best for me. (i.e. which PHD program).

My background:
1. Undergrade: Finance in the Univerity of Plymouth, UK ; graduated with first class honors degree.
-dissertation is on FX marke efficiency, also got first class score.

2. Master: Financial Mathematics in the University of Exeter, UK; graduated with distinction. (Distinction is the best master degree you can get in the UK, it is like first class for undergrad)
-program structure can be found here,
http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics-computer-science/postgraduate/programmes/finmathsmsc/structure/
But I want to point out that I did not do dissertation, because I could choose to do several more modules instead of dissertation. Also, programming was done mostly on matlab and R. Very little C++ exposure, but I am currently studying it.

3. GRE: I am currently studying it, assume I can do it pretty well and good in quant section and quant subject test.

OK, now. I really donno which PHD I should do or where can I get in, should I do a MFE?. Sometimes I think maybe I should do an engineering PHD or mathematics, so if economy is not getting better I could still have some hard skills. Please advise any relevant knowledge. But I want to point out that, I switch from finance to financial math, and did pretty well, which demonstrate my ability for tackling new areas.

 

[Martin]

Well, you have Msc in Financial Maths, so you could search for a quant job, but job market is tough nowadays, so doing a PhD would let you spend this time in useful way. But choose PhD you like and not necesserily quantitative finance, cuz who knows what will be left of finance after 3-4 years. And dont do another MFE its same as Msc in Fin Maths more or less.

 

[myampol]

Say you were to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Research (or, what you folks in England seem to call "Operational Research.") That's a much broader field than Financial Engineering, which many consider to be a subfield of O.R.

If the market for quants in finance remains sour, with an O.R. degree you may be able to move into a different area -- for example, with mastery of Optimization, which is a central focus of O.R., you might be able to move into a place like, say, Google, which has a much greater need for people who know this field rather than finance.

 

[nickaelwen]

Hey guys, please give some comments on the strength of my profile, Am I stand the chance to be accepted? I want to apply a top school, How is it considering my current achievement? Thanks.