Masters in Economics Before Job?
Hi,
I am currently a junior at a prestigious U.S. university, with a 3.1 GPA, very above average extra curriculars, and an internship at a governmental organization this summer doing more-or-less financial analysis.
My primary goals are to work in either equity research or IB in the short-term, before moving into more of an economic policy field in the long-term.
Many of my European friends take a 1 or 2 year master's degree in economics or finance after they graduate from their undergraduate studies before working on Wall St. However, I know that most Americans do not go this route.
From a long-term career perspective, I would really like to pursue an MSc. in Economics, but I know that many would consider this superfluous, or even detrimental (as I would be spending a year or two pursuing it) to working on Wall St.
I have received mixed responses when speaking with Wall St. workers about this.
What are your thoughts on this? Any opinions are appreciated.
Thanks!
How sexy (or not sexy) is an MA in Econ? (Originally Posted: 04/05/2010)
I'm considering an MA in economics and wondering if it's remotely as excellent as it sounds to me. I've been accepted to a program at NYU but I also have an offer as a portfolio associate at a large hedge fund. Perhaps it's crazy to pass up a good experience/money, but I don't see any long-term potential in that hf without a graduate degree anyway.
My main questions are - What is the reputation of/IB recruiting like for this type of degree? Would I be branded as a quant? How useful would this be long-term?
There is another post on this topic, but the poster hadn't even started at a 4-year yet and most discussion was on that. Would appreciate analysis for someone in my boots.
My stats- 2009 BA Economics from good but non-target school (near purdue in us news rankings) GPA: 3.7 GRE: 790 quant, 650 verbal (~720 GMAT) Two internships -Top-tier investment management co -White House, CEA
Do the MA in Econ if you plan to be in academia - get a PhD. The MA in Econ will teach you quant skills.
But you already got a job (assuming a relevant role) in a field that you want to be in; if such, why go to school and get broke and unemployed? If such is the case, take the job.
Also you don't need a MA in Econ for a HF job (Im also assuming the HF work is not quant related).
I don't have interest in academia. I want a master's in econ and entry into finance through IB, and I'm wondering if those two mix. And I would almost undoubtedly need some kind of graduate degree to go far with this hf, they're just crazy like that.
Why don't you just take the hf offer and if you really want to pursue further education do that after a couple years? I don't think a masters will help that much in terms of getting into IB, and you will have a much easier time getting into HF's after your phd if you already have FT experience beforehand.
whats the role/scope for the hf job? it sounds good to me and i'll prob take this over studying.
you can probably save some cash and eventually do an MBA in the later years (and get ur desired IB post..)
granted the hf job would set me up for an mba and perhaps future entrance into a BB, but I want to understand this ma option as much as possible. Anybody have any insight into the recruiting for this type of degree? or what the reputation is for job candidates with graduate non-mba degree in economics/finance? And maybe this doesn't matter since it's not an mba, but I would also be taking a quarter of my classes at Stern.
Better school for MA in Economics... (Originally Posted: 02/08/2007)
I have two choices: John Hopkins or Vanderbilt. Which is the better school and the better program? I am leaning more towards Vanderbilt.
hopkins, try to do a dual degree with the SAIS
You can do a dual degree with SAIS? Perfect. Although, I was told that Vandy's econ department mingles with the Owen School. I could take some finance courses from thier MS program.
So Vandy isn't seen as great as Hopkins?
Econ Masters a substitute for MBA? (Originally Posted: 10/21/2008)
So my university has an accelerated 4 year BA/MA program and im wondering if its worth it or whether i should just take it easy and take other classes that interest me. If i can get the same consulting job with a BA or MA it seems like theres no reason to go for it unless it can replace an MBA later on.
Any thoughts?
it won't replace an MBA, but sounds like a good program that could give you an edge in recruiting if you do well.
Agreed. You don't want to replace an MBA anyway, since you get to build your network in b-school. Figure out if it's worth anything in the field that you want to go into.
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