Ivy MBA vs other Ivy grad program

Is it wise to go to grad school ONLY to rebrand myself?

In other words, does the program matter if I wind up with ANY Harvard or Yale masters like Computer Science? Would that be better than an MBA from CBS or NYU?

The purpose would be for getting a job as a PM or trader at a hedge fund then starting my own hedge fund.

14 Comments
 

Why would a masters of computer science look better than an MBA from a top school?

"Look, you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
 

What's your background? Econ/Finance, CS or something third? What type of jobs will you be targeting after your degree? "Trader at Hedge Fund" is too broad. Do you want to pursue a career within statistical arbitrage, electronic market-making or value investing?

 
solntsevskaya

Is it wise to go to grad school ONLY to rebrand myself?

In other words, does the program matter if I wind up with ANY Harvard or Yale masters like Computer Science? Would that be better than an MBA from CBS or NYU?

The purpose would be for getting a job as a PM or trader at a hedge fund then starting my own hedge fund.

Computer science at Yale?

inb4 IlliniProgrammer throws a hissy fit...

 
Will Hunting

Why would a masters of computer science look better than an MBA from a top school?

That's if I could not get accepted to MBA program.

 
Best Response

PM is not a strategy. It's a role, like an Analyst or an Associate. I was asking you the question, not so that you could just mention a buzz word, but to get you to think about what type of trading/investing business you would like to work for. This could help answer your original question about CS Master vs. MBA.

So let me try again: Why do you want to work in statistical arbitrage? Do you have a background in statistics/econometrics/computer science/mathematics? What interests you about StatArb? What type of asset spaces do you think one could employ statistical arbitrage profitably in?

 

Posts like this make me want to scream from the rooftop.

What type of work do you want to do? Do you want to be a quant at a quant fund and write algos? Do you want to be a discretionary macro trader? Long-short equity research analyst? You're being so broad here that no one can give you meaningful advice.

As for the degrees, whether you want an MBA or a CS Masters is entirely contingent upon your career goals. For any type of fundamental research role, an MBA is better while for quant roles, a cs masters is better. If you have a strong math background though I suggest you look at masters programs in financial engineering at say nyu, columbia, carnegie mellon, berkeley, princeton mfin. Those guys place well in trading/quant research/risk management roles at the major BB trading desks, prop shops, and some funds.

FYI, Yale cs is mediocre. Harvard's is OK; it's getting better but still nowhere as good as mit/stanford/berkeley/carnegie mellong/illinois/princeton.

 

Going to graduate school simply to "rebrand yourself" is stupid. It doesn't matter where you go. If you're the type who thinks that grad. school is going to "rebrand you," then you're probably an undesirable who is going to struggle no matter what.

 
Vinsanity

Going to graduate school simply to "rebrand yourself" is stupid. It doesn't matter where you go. If you're the type who thinks that grad. school is going to "rebrand you," then you're probably an undesirable who is going to struggle no matter what.

jesus you're retarded

If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!
 

...and you're a sheep who's desperate to believe whatever you hear or read. My comments obviously hit a little too close to home for you, hahaha!

 
Vinsanity

Going to graduate school simply to "rebrand yourself" is stupid. It doesn't matter where you go. If you're the type who thinks that grad. school is going to "rebrand you," then you're probably an undesirable who is going to struggle no matter what.

I don't feel sorry for people very often and I truly feel sorry for you.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 
Simple As... Vinsanity:

Going to graduate school simply to "rebrand yourself" is stupid. It doesn't matter where you go. If you're the type who thinks that grad. school is going to "rebrand you," then you're probably an undesirable who is going to struggle no matter what.

I don't feel sorry for people very often and I truly feel sorry for you.

That's not true; you feel sorry all of the time. You obviously feel sorry for yourself if you're naive enough to think that grad. school will, in itself, "rebrand you." Like they say, "desperate times call for desperate measures," and desperate people will believe just about anything. Thanks for the lawlz though.

 

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