One Year MBA at Notre Dame vs. Two Year MBA at Yale

Should I go to Yale MBA for two years and spend an extra year's worth of money (tuition and living expenses) or should I go with Notre Dame's One Year program (half the cost, but no internship) to break into BB trading (equities)?

I plan to get my MSF before going for my MBA so I plan to already have trading experience by the time I enroll in an MBA program.

Thanks.

Comments (35)

12y 
turtles, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Why not wait until your employer wants you to get an MBA... they might even pay for it. I don't know but it seems to me that an MBA is not entirely necessary for a career in finance

12y 
UFOinsider, what's your opinion? Comment below:

commend deleted

Get busy living
12y 
abacab, what's your opinion? Comment below:

So if you get into MSF, then if you get a trading job, then if you apply to both programs, then if you get into both, then you will have to decide if one is better than the others. I counted 5 ifs.

Array
  • 1
12y 
TraderDaily, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I know that. I'm trying to plan ahead. Yale vs. Notre Dame please.

12y 
Faustus, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I've heard it is hard to get into trading out of grad school, but, for banking, I'd go Yale all the way.

fdba Emory Blaine and BBA or otherwise trying to find the perfect pseudonym.
12y 
TraderDaily, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Shorttheworld: I said that before going to ND or Yale I will hopefully already be in trading post MSF. Please evaluate assuming I already have trading experience.

12y 
TraderDaily, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Shorttheworld: Well, I don't necessarily believe I could get into Columbia or Chicago. ND or Yale are about 40-50 GMAT points lower than the more elite Columbia, Chicago, Kellogg etc.

12y 
shorttheworld, what's your opinion? Comment below:

what value are you trying to add with the mba? what year are u in of school have u graduated or even secured first job yet?

if you leave trading for a year or two for an MBA it better be at one of those top places otherwise not going to get much back in terms of trading 'boost'. kellogg is a marketing school, not a trading/Asset Management school like the chi or cbs

12y 
UFOinsider, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Go to Yale if you can, their network is more powerful. Also, their metrics are lower, but their 'intangibles' requirements are much tougher. I would be careful about assumptions of being accepted there over Columbia.

Get busy living
12y 
TraderDaily, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Shortheworld: I have a JD and am interviewing soon with a brokerage firm for a job as a stockbroker. I hope to do that for a year, then get my MSF. After my MSF, I plan to hopefully get into trading. After trading for 1 to 2 years, I'll get my MBA.

12y 
txjustin, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I have some, all those grad degrees is a freaking waste of time/money IMO. Why would you get an MBA after you're already in trading unless you want to get out of trading? If that's the case, why get into trading at all?

12y 
TraderDaily, what's your opinion? Comment below:

TXJustin: Well, I thought for promotion opportunities in trading, prestige of having another degree matters. Or does it matter?

12y 
blue4you, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I think Yale would be the better option. ND MBA is not as well received.

12y 
shorttheworld, what's your opinion? Comment below:

damn son how old are you lol

brokerage firm like... JPM private bank or more metlife financial advisors northwestern mutual?

youre all over the place with all this i think you need to condense it a lot more. why not just go into the MSF right now? if you want to be a stock broker/fin advisor you stick with it and put time in the first few years are pretty crap and just about building your client book up otherwise ur gonna be slaving for someone else

if you get an MBA while trading -- unless its to move into a diff type of trading through columbia chicago wharton etc itll be better to do it at night through an exec program or part time to become desk head/principal

you need to streamline yo plans foreal foreal

Best Response
12y 
Dr Joe, what's your opinion? Comment below:

As someone who routinely overthinks things like this, I can tell you that you are REALLY overthinking all this. An MBA will not help you in trading. If you get into a decent trading firm right now, no reason to do an MSF. Your original question is too theoretical (and contradictory) to even answer, and the answer would be don't go to either.

Doesn't sound like you can get into a decent firm now, so go for your MSF now and hope to get into trading. That, or join one of the prop firms that "test you out" and are willing to take anyone. If you are good, then leverage that into a decent trading gig. If not, then give up on the idea of being a trader, or try the MSF. I really think those prop trading programs can be valuable to someone, especially if there is virtually no opp cost - you wouldn't give up your current salary to try it. Lots of those firms around, some require a deposit to show you are serious, usually not too much.

  • 3
12y 
Dr Joe, what's your opinion? Comment below:
shorttheworld:
^---most of the prop firms are utter crap and death traps.

I agree, but if there is no opp. cost - you are not doing anything else - then why not take a shot at it? If nothing else, might help you realize trading is not for you. OP sounds like he is unemployed - or nearly unemployed - so why not do it?

  • 1
12y 
junky_munky, what's your opinion? Comment below:

i am a prestige whore. No I am a degree whore. I will get a JD AND MSF AND an MBA and people will respect me for that. Dude, get real. If you are that much into academics, just get a PhD.

JD --> MSF people understand. You wanted to get into trading. After trading for a couple of years why the F would you want to get an MBA to get back into trading ? Instead, you should just be trying to become one of the Paulsons or Icahns of the world and try to short the right shares (sorry you may go long on some exotic products as well)

For the record, Yale is probably > ND. BUT for your purposes both the useless.

12y 
turtles, what's your opinion? Comment below:

When in doubt, Ivy League

12y 
UFOinsider, what's your opinion? Comment below:

There really doesn't seem to be enough information about OP's past goals going forward to comment. Each suggestion is countered by another piece of the puzzle.......

Get busy living
12y 
UFOinsider, what's your opinion? Comment below:
vaguefunda:
UFOinsider:
Each suggestion is countered by another piece of the puzzle.......

Ooooohhhhh . WSO's version of a classic Dan Brown novel. OP Go on go on

Hahahha, it's a conspiracy
Get busy living
12y 
happypantsmcgee, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Chicago = Notre Dame Other Places = Yale

Next Question?

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
12y 
LLcoolJ, what's your opinion? Comment below:

personally i recommend getting an MPA as well

10y 
happypantsmcgee, what's your opinion? Comment below:
Irresistible:
don't do ND MBA.
Going to need more info on why you think that. There are multiple people at my firm who went through the ND program and many many successful grads in Chicago that did the same.
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
9y 
epoch707, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Start a business or learn how to invest in stocks/real estate. Cash flow $10,000/month so that you don't have to go to school for an MBA but get real world experience.

My finance blog: AdviceAboutFinance.com Twitter @samleefinance
9y 
OBZ, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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