School Decision

I’m an incoming international student in te Master of Financial Engineering who both got into Columbia and UChicago with a significant scholarship. If I want to get into HF or a trading desk of a bank in America, which school should I choose? I’ve looked online and it seems that the two schools are more or less on the same level. Where can I get more info? Alumni from both courses ended up doing just fine. I can’t make up my mind between the two as being in nyc could help getting a job in finance. What do you guys think? What should I pursue? Thank you!

4 Comments
 

Based on the WSO Dataset, both Columbia and UChicago are prestigious institutions that offer strong programs in financial engineering. Here are some considerations to help you make your decision:

  1. Location and Networking Opportunities: Columbia, being in NYC, offers proximity to Wall Street and numerous financial institutions. This can be beneficial for networking and accessibility to internships and job opportunities in finance.

  2. Curriculum and Specializations: Review the specific courses and specializations offered by each program. Columbia might have a slight edge if you're looking specifically at trading and hedge funds due to its location and industry connections.

  3. Alumni Network and Career Services: Both schools have robust alumni networks. You might want to connect with alumni from each program to get insights into their experiences and how the program helped them in their careers.

  4. Scholarship and Financial Considerations: Since you mentioned significant scholarships, consider the financial impact of each option. Being in NYC might have higher living costs compared to Chicago.

  5. Personal Fit and Campus Culture: Consider which environment you think you'll thrive in more. The culture of the school and city can also play a significant role in your overall experience.

For more detailed comparisons, you might want to check out specific threads on Wall Street Oasis where current students or alumni share their experiences. This can provide you with more nuanced insights into each program's strengths and how they align with your career goals in hedge funds or trading desks.

Sources: Majoring in Wall Street?, Fordham 3+2 with Columbia or Georgetown and 300k Debt, What can I do with a master in finance?, High School....now what? AM career??, (EU) Which master program should I pursue for a career in finance?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I am just a sophomore in college so don't take my word but I think columbia places a bit better... seen more quant pms and traders come from columbia and at a better shop on average too

 

Definitely Columbia. I'd say that's mostly true for Bachelor's and MBA, but I've seen a few people with the Financial Engineering master's at HFs too. 

 

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