Oxford or Ivy League as Canadian
I am very grateful to have been accepted to the University of Oxford and Brown University to study mathematics. After graduation, I hope to pursue either quantitative finance (1st choice is quant finance) / traditional finance (2nd choice) / software engineering (3rd choice) positions.
I'm having a really hard time deciding between the two schools as my eventual goal is to get a US green card. Unfortunately, the entire process seems to be absolutely ridiculous and laborious. But, it seems like going to a school in the US might be better. Here are some different pathways I've gathered from Reddit/YouTube/ChatGPT
Brown:
(Bachelor of Science in Applied Math + CS, Double Major in Economics) [econ major helps for TN visa application I'm assuming]
- Internship: CPT visa (no problem here)
- Early Career: TN Visa
- Mid Career: Either switch to H1b or EB-3? (not sure if I can use EB visa since finance usually doesn't let you do EB)
Oxford:
(Integrated Masters Degree in Mathematics & Statistics)
- Internship: J-1 visa (hard to get from what I've heard), OR do finance internships in UK/Canada
- Early Career: TN Visa
- Mid Career: EB-2 visa?, since my degree is a graduate degree (not sure if I can use EB visa since finance usually doesn't let you do EB)
I really want to go to Oxford (it has been my dream school), but I feel like I should go to Brown. But at the same time, Oxford is an integrated masters degree.... Oxford also has MUCH MUCH better placement for quantitative finance and general finance within the UK, so I'm also thinking of a lateral transfer with a L type visa? Is that a bad idea?
One main concern I had was for traditional finance routes (e.g. investment banking, consulting, PE, etc.) you can't really apply the TN visa to finance. I've heard that you had to apply to either accountant / economist to qualify for TN visa and the company has to do some immigration law magic stuff in order to pass an investment banking job as an economist job so it seems bit risky.
What would be the best path for me? I'm worried that if I choose Oxford no one is going to hire me since the finance alumni base is small in the US.... I'm also worried I don't qualify for EB visa or TN visa as an investment banker.
you have such an amazing world of options my guy. go with oxford, the scarcity premium speaks volumes anywhere in the world. since you have the TN, you can always recruit for the US (though it will obviously be more difficult) or go back to Canada. The UK market is fine for oxford grads but the pay makes it a pretty sad place to be tbh, i'd choose a good role in Toronto over london. but that's besides the point - brown is a semi-target at best for finance recruiting
You are in such a fortunate position, you must’ve worked very hard so congratulations. I would say Brown if you are 100% sure on IB/PE but since you aren’t just pick the university you feel like you will have the best experience at. You can’t go wrong with either.
Had to make a similar decision in the past choosing between a top 10 US uni vs. Oxbridge (also from an NA background). Opted for Oxbridge and am now in London IB. For quant, I would recommend taking the Oxford offer as I've seen almost all my competent maths/physics buddies (even those without any olympiad experience) place consistently in top London market makers. The competition in the UK for quant roles is significantly less intense vs. the US. The industry is also essentially monopolised by Oxbridge alumni in London. Brown is definitely going to be more of an uphill battle in this regard.
However, if you are set on recruiting directly to the US following graduation and are not willing to work at least several years in London, this becomes a lot more problematic from Oxbridge. Have personally struggled with internship apps in North America as it's difficult to gain traction when US campus recruiting makes up most of their pipeline. Also, there is basically no Oxbridge alumni base in NY and the Brits don't share the NA culture of greek life. All of this is to say that trying to make it to NY following your degree in Oxford will be a lottery and will also require monumental effort networking across timezones. Combined with the academic pressure (Oxbridge examinations and academics are downright diabolical versus the US GPA system), it will make your uni life hell to try secure a role in the US from Oxford.
Thus, I'd recommend you take the Oxford MMath offer and try your best to interview prep and secure a quant role in London. After a few years on the job, you could try to request an internal move to NA or lateral through HHs. The visa situation may always be difficult but a few years in London should do you no harm. I always found it fruitful to get out of North America and visit the European countries.
Finally, another biased note to add: the university experience at Oxbridge is genuinely something that you will never experience elsewhere. You will be living in a film from the 1300s (my college was built during that century) and it will be a defining period of your life. I will caveat that British culture is jarring and largely what you make of it. Regardless, I truly believe it is a no-brainer choosing between Brown and Oxford.
agree with all the responses here. My situation was not exactly the same but I will try to speak from my experience: I did my undergrad in a semi target in the US and masters in Oxbridge (essentially i recruited for IB twice both in NY and in LDN). here are my thoughts: I think you should really take into the consideration of sponsorship/ visa. It is REALLY common/ easy for firms in the UK to sponsor you (as there are a lot of continental europeans working in London). I think the only firm that I have came across that stricly don't sponsor is FT partners (LOL), you also can get UK green card after working for 5 years vs I have friends who are 35 and just got their green card after 10+ years of working in the states. ON THE OTHER HAND, in the US, i would say a little bit less than half of the firms don't sponsor ( might be an exaggeration but significantly more: such as JPM IB, Gugg, etc) which i think is just unfair.
I am not trying to implying that you should stick with Oxbridge but here are just information to help you to make decisions!
I would also point out that I think the education system in europe is academically more rigorous so you will be more challenged and this is also a good thing IMO
Both oxford and brown has really pretty campuses I think you would like them either way!
Noting above comment that quant recruiting is easier in the UK. Would add that general finance (IB/PE) recruiting at Oxford in the UK vs Brown in the US is probably harder given competition for spots in London is so intense + randomness of London recruiting. Although if you're super on it (which seems like you are) this shouldn't be much of an issue.
Edit, just seen you will be on visa in US. Not sure how much that complicates recruiting perhaps others can add insights.
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