Top BB trading vs Ivy masters

Graduating uni in July

Have got grad offer for equity deriv trading in top BB London office but also received offer for finance-related masters in in a couple of Ivys

thinking about HF exit but also interested in buyout funds (which I might have a better shot at with a masters and recruiting for IB/PE)

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

1. What do you mean by finance related master program..it can be any. Mastes in Finance/Financial economics/financial math...etc -> makes huge difference

2. always remember. (except for phd) work experience >>> education. I do understand that those who get accepted to T10 Financial engineering(let's assume this is the case), think they can go to top hfs/quant trading/or in some cases PEs. But more than half of them end up at seats worse than EQD trading at top BB. considering EV of ur career outcome Your experience at top bb eqd trading is worth much more than the other option.

just my 2 cents

 

In addition to the advice already given working in London versus studying in US is also a big decision regarding where you want to live. If you want to eventually live in the US then this may be a decent time to move and you may be able to work in the US for a few years under OPT after your degree. It depends somewhat on nationality but other than OPT and intra company transfers it's often difficult to get a US work so that is definitely something to consider if you aren't American while I believe the UK offers a much more straightforward path for getting work visas and eventually to permanent residency/citizenship after a given number of years.

 

In general, relevant work experience is more valuable and harder to get than a masters. It also pays you money vs the other way around. Some years the market sucks and there are hardly any jobs to be had. So think twice before turning down an offer to stay in school. If you really want to work in another area, the masters might be useful, particularly an MBA at a target school with recruiting. But your resume would probably be stronger anyway with a year or two of work experience before the masters. Recruiting out of MBA or similar program with no experience might be tough since your peers will have work experience.

 

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