COMPARE Princeton MFin versus CMU MSCF

[latency]

b

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Is this a real dilemma faced by you? Or just scenario analysis?

 

[MSFHQ]

Do you want to be a quant or do you want a quantified general masters in finance? CMU will teach you programming as well as true quant finance. Princeton will give you a broad finance exposure, but with a higher level mathematics exposure than at a more traditional MSF program. I would probably describe the Princeton MFin as a financial mathematics program vs CMU which is financial engineering/programming.

Know what you want to do and become and then decide on the school.

 

[ashwani]

Back in 2006, I applied to these two programs, got acceptance from CMU though I wanted to do MFin Princeton. I find Princeton's program more valuable.

 

[kpranjal]

How is this still an issue? I thought Princeton MFin confirmations had to be sent by some date in March!
Anyways- Princeton and CMU have two very different programs. I would suggest Princeton in case you want a broad overview of finance (including stuff like accounting and behavorial finance) and CMU for more hardcore quant related coursework.
All in all, I would choose Princeton over CMU. Its more bang for you buck! :D

 

[arden]

placements at princeton are much much better. unless you really really really want to get an in depth education on the computational aspects of quant finance princeton's a better choice

 

[rajanS]

CMU...

 

[roni]

placements at princeton are much much better. unless you really really really want to get an in depth education on the computational aspects of quant finance princeton's a better choice

what do you mean by "much much better" ?
CMU has great placements.

 

[Joy Pathak]

what do you mean by "much much better" ?
CMU has great placements.

From looking at CMU's employment report their 2010 class had around 82% placement only. 50 out of 60 students accepted offers after 3 months after graduation.

 

[mfegrad]

Joy, class graduated dec 2010 was much higher than 82 percent. You might be referring to dec 09 class, and that's heavily recession influenced.

And take everything arden says with a shaker full of salt

 

[roni]

From looking at CMU's employment report their 2010 class had around 82% placement only. 50 out of 60 students accepted offers after 3 months after graduation.

That's 82% with offers a month or so after graduation. Other schools usually report placements of 3 months after graduation.
And, yeas they are not perfect(and I won't be surprised to see better stats from Princeton) but they are pretty good (considering the big classes they have).

 

[MSFHQ]

Placements at Princeton as great because students come in with experience and top qualifications. It isn't entirely the program driving this.

 

[Joy Pathak]

Joy, class graduated dec 2010 was much higher than 82 percent. You might be referring to dec 09 class, and that's heavily recession influenced.

And take everything arden says with a shaker full of salt

It says 2010. Not 2009. It states 82%

I am not saying it was bad. It's good. But it's not the 100% or close to 100% that everyone thinks CMU places.

 

[mfegrad]

sorry, maybe i should have been more clear.

since the class graduates in december, they refer to it as the class of the following year, when graduation is held. see this:

http://tepper.cmu.edu/master-in-computational-finance/your-career/index.aspx

so the 82% number you're referring to, while not matching the 88% number displayed there, is referring to the class that graduated dec 2009, like i said. again, that number was highly influenced by the state of the economy at the time.

 

[Marj Kom]

Would love some updated input on this. Been a few years since some activity on this thread; do you all feel these previous comparisons are more or less the same as now?

My opinion: yes for the following points
- Princeton's program is more of a general finance with quantitative concentration while CMU's is purely quantitative
- Placement rates seem to be better at Princeton, but that may just be inflated due to the incoming class that they admit (usually those who have quite a bit of work experience)

I imagine the placement rates for both programs is a bit higher now than those quoted in 2011.

For an undergraduate coming straight into these programs (without work experience) and without a definitive preference as to a general finance or quant role, which program would be better?

 

[quanttrader]

Any new thoughts or opinions on this topic?