Rutgers MSMF Rutgers MSMF or UCLA MFE

[finmathworld]

Well Andy, I got a rejection from NYU last week. I am waiting on UCLA which is currently on waitlist. Otherwise I will be heading to Rutgers. Could you please advise on between UCLA and Rutgers, which one is better?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Which Rutgers program? And when will you hear back from UCLA?

 

[finmathworld]

I have got an offer for Rutgers MSMF. I am pushing for a decision from UCLA and have given them a phone interview a month back. I checked up with them and they mentioned that there has been no change to the waitlist status and have confirmed with me that they have put a note for a quick decision.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

I'm moving this discussion to its own thread.
At the moment, you have no decision to make. There is only Rutgers. You may have to answer their offer by UCLA decision's time.
It's not certain how likely you will get offer from UCLA.

This is one of the big decision you need to make yourself. There will be plenty like this in life

 

[IlyaKEightSix]

I'm usually not one to say to refuse a certainty for a possibility, but IMO, UCLA all the way. I mean put it this way, despite the fact that time series was one of my most enjoyable courses at Rutgers (same one for stats and msmf masters), the professor didn't cover cointegration which I later found out about by reading part of Vidyamurthy's book (which I couldn't finish because it was on a pdf at work and the desk went under far faster than I expected it to, but that's another story).

In this case, I recommend you take the evil I don't know, rather than the evil I do.

 

[finmathworld]

Hi IIyuakEightSix, Andy,
How much do you think location plays a part in job placements? Do you think Rutgers being near NY has an advantage compared to UCLA being in the west? I am currently working in a middle office role in Asia and want to move into a trading/structuring role. Do you think considering all this, it is worth waiting for UCLA? In my personal opinion, UCLA is a bigger brand outside US and that is what makes me wait for their decision. Please share your thoughts. Also, if one is looking for jobs inside US, do you think between Rutgers and UCLA, one will be perceived more favorably by recruitors than the other?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

If you want to work in NYC, you go to school in NYC area. If you work in Asia, you go to school that has a reputation/name/network there.
In your case, you can't have both.

 

[finmathworld]

What do you think about Rutgers if I have to work in NYC area? Also, can you advise on the markets and opportunities in NYC currently?