Graduate School: HEC Paris(Finance), U Texas Austin(Finance), or Columbia(Economics)?

Hey guys, I would like to ask for some advice here. I have my undergraduate study in Economics in China and I have determined to get a master's degree oversea. I do not intend to stay in the US or Europe for a very long time after my graduation, but I prefer to have a few years of international working experiences before I go back home. Now I have three choices: Finance program at HEC Paris and U Texas Austin, and Economics program at Columbia. These are all one-year programs.

The thing is, the ECON program at Columbia was just initiated this year, therefore I do not have a clear image of the placements, course arrangements and class profile, etc. Plus it is not a finance program, so it might not be very helpful regarding my intention to strengthen my financial background.

Is there anyone who knows about something about this new Columbia program? Is it worth trying? I have to make a decision very soon...

Thank you guys.

10 Comments
 

especially if you want to go back home to china, columbia is the way to go. You will find a job after the program and the prestige in china is very good.

 

if you'd be bleeding a lot of cash with these options anyways, did you not apply to Financial Economics at Columbia Business School?

yes Columbia is the way to go..... brand matters too much. but don't count on getting international work experiences. Columbia will also be expensive though, because it's New York.

 

Which school is the new program under in Columbia? Business School or Graduate Arts and Science?

I haven't heard of any new econ masters, so it would be good to know.

Is the degree STEM?

 

Columbia for the brand, HEC for the placements. You'll have to do work to get placements from the Columbia program, but the brand will go further in china. HEC is a great program and has a well respected brand in Europe with placements that go along with it. Not sure your mileage in China though.

 

What's with all the love for Columbia on these forums?!

Granted the discussion is Columbia vs HEC.

But it seems that any grad degree from Columbia, irrespective of its difficulty, duration of being around, selectivity etc. will get you a good chance for a decent Finance role in NYC, provided that it has a name at least loosely associated with 'finance'.

I'm obviously not referring to Columbia's School of Professional Studies, which is where they legit teach things like plumbing and do not require GRE etc.

It seems that a grad Ms degree from Columbia is considered to be equivalent to a T20 MBA - which is news to me.

 

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