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| | |-+  MFE PROGRAM COMPARISON		 « previous next »
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Topic: MFE PROGRAM COMPARISON  (Read 79826 times)
gilchurch
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« on: February 02, 2007, 02:16:24 AM »
DEAR ALL,

THIS IS A TIME WHEN A LOT OF OFFERS FROM THE TOP MFE PROGRAMS WILL BE GIVEN OUT. HENCE I AM PUTTING UP THIS POST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO GET OFFERS OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHICH PROGRAM TO JOIN.

Please let me know if you want more information to be added and i will try and do the research to put it in. I sincerely hope new members will use this and not use the forum as a "live FAQ" (as Karim mentioned).

Acknowledgments: A lot of the information i have gleaned from the informative past posts of Anshum, Mindcraft and Correctomundo.
Text in purple is appended by me. Thanks to Gilchurch for summarizing it. I have provided hyperlinks to the program webpages. Additionally, I have added new headings: "Best suited for" and "Relevant threads". Some of the forumers may have different opinions, but lets spare this thread from contentions. The objective is to provide summarized information to new-comers, which would help reducing the queries posted on this forum without proper research. Any creative suggestions are most welcome.
-quantstud



Disclaimer: The information contained herein is true to the best of my knowledge. It summarizes views presented on the forum over the past year or so.but CAVEAT EMPTOR. Kindly do not wring my neck if you find something out of line.

MFE - University of California, Berkeley

Positives

•   Housed in the Haas Business school which promotes the MFE program
•   More business oriented perspective
•   Balanced program instead of being math or computation focused
•   Tailored FE program is helpful to students with non-finance background
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Strong alumni network and the UCB brand name
•   1 year program, march-march session
•   program fee ~ $47,000 (partial internship offset + lower living costs)

Other Features

•   Location – west coast (Away from the financial hub of NYC)
•   Bigger class size (60) – Director plays an important role in placements to offset locational disadvantage
•   Sponsoring this course is made easier by Haas: loans are available to even international students without any credit requirements.

Best suited for:
•   Mid-career professionals with some prior work exprerience (relevant preferred)/PhDs/Fresh graduates with steller academic records and some exposure to the industry. The average entrant age is 29 years.

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1898.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1975.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1793.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2928.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1736.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2641.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1391.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2876.0

MSCF – Carnegie Mellon University, New York/Pittsburgh

Positives

•   Excellent placement services, Housed in the Tepper Business school
•   Business perspective
•   Computational finance focused
•   Tailored FE program is helpful to students with non-finance background
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Manageable class size split (35+35)
•   Strong alumni network
•   Special Networking opportunities for NYC campus
•   Financial aid/waiver available for some

Other Features

•   Program fee ~ $63,000 (partial internship offset + aid/schol for some)
•   1.5 year program, September to January session
•   Limited access to professors (NYC Campus)

Best suited for:
•   Mid-career professionals with some prior work exprerience (relevant preferred)/Fresh graduates with steller academic records

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1751.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1808.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3438.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2181.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=519.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1967.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1835.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3468.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=4870.0

MSMF – New York University

Positives

•   NYC placement (100% record)
•   Excellent reputation of the Mathematics dept (Great names)
•   Structured curriculum as opposed to wide range of electives
•   Mathematics focused yet practical
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Small class size (30)

Other Features

•   Program fee ~ $45,000 (internship offset but Higher NYC living costs)
•   Lesser university brand name worldwide than some of the ivy’s
•   1.5 year program, September to January session

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1866.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1925.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1713.0

MSFE – Columbia University, New York

Positives

•   NYC placement
•   Good for those in the field prior to the program and want to get back quickly
•   Wide range of electives
•   Practical program
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Strong alumni network
•   Brand name in the US
•   1 yr program, June–June session

Other Features

•   Program fee ~ $43,000 (no internship + Higher NYC living costs)
•   Placement scene competitive (MBA, MAFN, MSFE)
•   Biggest class size (80)

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent academic background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1510.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1766.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3458.0

MSFM – Stanford University

Positives

•   Reputation of Stanford and GSB world over
•   Exclusivity (hard to get into)
•   Great range of electives/flexibility
•   Program fee ~ $35,000 (Internship + Lowest total expenses + Lower living costs)
•   Small class size (25)
•   Flexible duration, 9 months – 1.5 years

Other Features

•   Location – west coast
•   Very Mathematically rigorous
•   Program not evolved fully, sailing on Stanford brand

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3412.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1569.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1682.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3487.0

MFin – Princeton University
Positives

•   Reputed as the best Masters in Finance program (not FE)
•   Exclusivity (very hard to get into)
•   Greatest range of electives/flexibility including FE and Asset Management tracks
•   Employment opportunities in IBD (Corp Fin) as well as Quant Finance
•   Stress on economics
•   Program fee ~ $35,000 per year (Internship + Lower living costs)
•   Smallest class size (25)

Other Features

•   Duration maybe 1 or 2 years (depends on the admissions committee)
•   Theoretical focus
•   Program not evolved fully, sailing on Princeton brand

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Mid career professionals with 1-5 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3132.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1589.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?action=search2
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1432.0
« Last Edit: January 30, 2008, 03:45:52 PM by quantstud » Logged
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sweetwild
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« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2007, 03:03:55 AM »
Great job. Thanks for the effort.
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island-boy
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« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2007, 03:11:10 AM »
this is an excellent post. Very useful for future applicants.
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zulu
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« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2007, 05:02:05 AM »
good job man.. a small correction for the stanford program. the program size is 25, ie the number of new incoming students is around 25. there are also 3-4 students from other departments who pursue this. so total size is approx 30.
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gilchurch
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« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2007, 05:08:43 AM »
Quote from: zulu on February 02, 2007, 05:02:05 AM
good job man.. a small correction for the stanford program. the program size is 25, ie the number of new incoming students is around 25. there are also 3-4 students from other departments who pursue this. so total size is approx 30.

Oh yes sorry for the oversight! Thanks Zulu.
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magicbeans
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« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2007, 10:13:14 AM »
Good job! this info is very much useful/appreciated.

I was wondering if someone could add/comment on:

Uchicago MSFM program
Cornell's program

Thanks!
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ambitious
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« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2007, 10:27:09 AM »
awesome job, will reduce half the posts on the forum Wink
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klop
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« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2007, 01:06:16 PM »
Thanks. Great review, although I am applying to only one of these (and have no hope). It would be also nice to get information on the 'little' guys too such as Columbia's MAFN, Michigan, Baruch College, Rutgers, NCSU, etc.
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quantstud
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« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2007, 01:15:01 PM »
The little guys are also coming up soon. :p

Somehow, the programs except the top 5s (UCB, CMU, NYU, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia etc) are the ones which are seldom discussed. But there are equal number of applicants, who apply to the 'little ones'. Let me summarize them over the weekend.

-quantstud
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JuanFangio
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« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2007, 03:51:55 PM »
   Sponsoring this course is made easier by Haas: loans are available to even international students without any credit requirements. [/color]



Thanks for doing this, gilchurch. Great thread. Question for you...where did you find the information above?
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lateralus

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« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2007, 04:21:13 PM »
Hi gilchurch,

Great effort. Thanks a lot.
I'm sure it will help newcomers who are planning to apply for FE.
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quantstud
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« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2007, 04:29:36 PM »
Quote from: JuanFangio on February 02, 2007, 03:51:55 PM
   Sponsoring this course is made easier by Haas: loans are available to even international students without any credit requirements. [/color]

Thanks for doing this, gilchurch. Great thread. Question for you...where did you find the information above?

Hi,

This was appended by me. I am one of those who have availed such loan.

-quantstud
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The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
magicbeans
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« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2007, 05:54:17 PM »
Are those 6 schools currently listed considered "top tier"?

Are Cornell and UChicago considered "top tier" as well?

When adding more schools, please differientiate between "top tier" "2nd tier" etc... to get a better idea of the schools' reputations.

Thanks!!!  Smiley
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gilchurch
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« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2007, 12:52:59 AM »
Quote from: magicbeans on February 02, 2007, 05:54:17 PM
Are those 6 schools currently listed considered "top tier"?

Are Cornell and UChicago considered "top tier" as well?

When adding more schools, please differientiate between "top tier" "2nd tier" etc... to get a better idea of the schools' reputations.

Thanks!!!  Smiley

OK, this is something il clarify.

I had made the above doc file some 2 months back on the schools that I was applying to, to help me with my decision. So they are the top 6 according to me. This is based on the past opinions on the forum. You can also add UChicago to the list of tier 1 schools though.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2007, 12:56:37 AM by gilchurch » Logged
nymphetmi
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« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2007, 02:00:08 AM »
i don't think princeton mf could prepare u for a corp fin career
actually there is nearly no one out of their master program could launch an ib job.
basically it is just fin engr in the name of master of fin
have a look at its tracks
correct me if i am wrong

*Truncated the long quote
-quantstud
« Last Edit: February 03, 2007, 02:34:40 AM by quantstud » Logged
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