MSF vs. MFE

Hi I am currently going into my final year studying physics and computer science, but I really want to break into finance (especially S&T). I was just wondering if anybody had any input as to whether it would be a bad idea to enroll in a MSF program. Would my quantitative and programming skills in a sense go to waste? Or would a MFE be a better option? Thanks in advance.

15 Comments
 

If you are really into S&T and other "not-so-quant" areas, a MSF may be a wise choice imho. I wouldn't say your quant skills would be wasted.

 

that does signal MFE. MSF is for corporate finance / banking, and doesn't sound like your focus.

[quote="M7 MBA, iBanking. Top MSF grad. AntiTNA. Truth is hard to hear! But... "] [/quote] [quote="DickFuld: Yeah....most of these people give terrible advice."] [/quote]
 

Another question then is...what is the best type of graduate degree to get to pursue that? Would you say it would be math/stats/CS or an actual MFE/MQF?

 

Do a MFE or a computational finance program. The MSF is going to be too focused on finance theory, valuation, etc. Your background and interests are more towards the quantitative, mathematical background of finance. Plus, if you want to work in S&T, a MFE will give you a better shot.

 

Hi TNA,

Thanks so much for the response. Definitely seems like I should be going for MFE. Any idea whether companies prefer an actual MFE degree or something like math/stats/CS?

 
lasampdoriaMSF = Not quant MFE = Quant
This is true but he also mentioned MFin which sort of seems like an in between degree. But on the whole MFin seems more quantitative and might as well be lumped in with MFE as it is on Quantnet. I'm assuming he means Masters of Finance and not Mathematics of Finance but either way, they'll both be quant based. The two biggest Masters of Finance appear to be Princeton and MIT. You can seemingly tailor your degree to be less math rigorous and more MSF but you'll have Quants at both. On this board, the consensus seems to be that MIT is included in the MSF programs but Princeton is more quant related.
 

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