Columbia SIPA MPA or Cambridge MFin?
Hi guys!
I recently received offer from both program, but hope to hear some advises before I make a decision.
My goal is to get into a BB Bank F/O right after graduation.
My background:
Asian
2 yrs working experience in industry, finance position
have experiences on IPOs and Debt Offerings
No Bulge-Bracket Banks internship before
Columbia University, SIPA, MPA in international Economy and Finance Policy
Pros:
large alumni network;
may be more quantitative than Cambridge MFin Program;
Networking culture may be better than Cambridge;
2 years, which means you can first get a summer internship before launch a full-time job;
6-month OPT;
More positions openings in US than in UK;
Cons:
Large class size (over 270 people in the MPA program)
Not a Finance master;
competition may be intensive among MPA students and other large programs at Columbia University;
Even if you get an offer, u still need to apply for H1B (which does not 100% guarantee you can get the Visa);
The program does not require working experience of the candidates;
Cambridge University Master of Finance Program:
Pros:
small class size (40 ppl);
prestigious;
Master of Finance;
If you get an offer from BB F/O, you almost can get the Visa to work in UK;
The program requires working experience;
Cons:
1 year program, maybe hard to launch a full-time job in BB Bank F/O right after graduation (Not sure at this moment whether i should apply to a summer internship during the summer or I should apply to a full-time position);
UK has fewer openings than US;
young history of the program, small class size, which means the alumni network can be very small
If career advancement is my only consideration ,which program would be better for me to launch a full-time job in BB F/O locally after graduation?
I really want to break into the Sales and Trading, but it seems that either program does not fit. Considering my background, IBD seems to fit better. But isn't it also true that they prefer undergrads in IBD?
Many thanks for any advises from you! It is really hard decision to make!
Thank you!
BTW, OPT or Optional Practical Training is 12 months F1 Visa extension that you can work on without H1B or search for jobs. It's not 6 months
Thanks Kiosliop13
Thanks Kiosliop13
S&T in general doesn't do too much recruiting out of grad programs, but Cambridge MFin is still way better than SIPA for S&T. I don't quite see how SIPA will help you get S&T or IBD; the only bank jobs you might be able to pull off will be something like country risk, sovereign debt research, etc. The problem with Cambridge MFin on the other hand is that it's weaker than LSE, LBS, and Oxford, so there will be tough competition for London finance jobs.
Hi I checked the career report of SIPA MPA and they have around 30 ppl end up with a BB F/O job. I also checked Cambridge MFin's report, seems fewer ppl get into BB F/O. For IBD they don't actually care which major (from my knowledge) and for S&T i think they may prefer more quantitative program graduate? Columbia has a much larger alumni which means you can network with more ppl. Why is the Cambridge MFin Program is weaker than LSE, LBS, Ox? Thanks!
For post experience Master in Finance, please look at LBS MiF. Solid program and it's a world class business school, better than Judge. Also have a look at Oxford MFE. Though it's a pre experience program, some experienced professionals still go there and it has solid placement record.
So where do SIPA kids usually go to? I heard SIPA is good for Deloitte S&O - can you confirm?
SIPA kids do well with ratings agencies, political risk, bank examiner jobs at NY Fed, various government stuff, etc. I'm sure some have managed to break into IBD, but it's not common by any means. Banks don't look at pubic policy degrees as being on equal footing as MBA or MFin.
Nahh man - I wasn't talking about Finance. I was asking about Deloitte level consulting firms (below MBB). A quick LinkedIn search seems to reveal that SIPA and Mailman kids get into Deloitte S&O.
All around the both private and public sector- its based on pre- experience as well. I've landed my job on corporate sector in high tech working in Corp strategy. These days you really don't need an MBA.
SIPA will not open many doors for banking in general. There is a reason that Columbia has a business school which is heavily recruited by most firms. Sipa more for foreign affairs, gov jobs etc etc ..... Check out the statistics. From the Recruiter perspective why would they interview a SIPA student over a student from the business school? is difficult but hope this helps:
https://sipa.columbia.edu/careers/employment-statistics/miampa-employme…
Columbia MSFE Financial Engineering or Cambridge MPhil Finance with full funding? (Originally Posted: 07/02/2014)
Hello everyone please help me :(
I was admitted to both Columbia's MSFE and Cambridge's MPhil Finance. I had decided to go to Columbia before I heard from Cambridge a few days ago that I was awarded full funding for my MPhil studies at Cambridge. The funding requires that I go back and work in my home country for three years. Personally I quite want to work in the UK or the US for a few years. Now I got into a real dilemma.
What do you say about the MPhil Finance at Cambridge? Which program is better and by how much? Is MSFE worth the extra huge investment?
I'd be really grateful if you could tell me what you think ;)
Many thanks!
I think you answered the question yourself. If you want to stay and work in the US or the UK, take the offer that doesn't require you to work in your home country for 3 years after the program. Both are great schools, and if you are trying to get into high finance the loans won't really matter all that much assuming you are single and don't have dependents you can pay off Columbia really quick.
Welcome to the American Dream.
Columbia without a question. It's a MUCH stronger program: better reputation, more rigorous coursework, better placement. Cambridge MFin to be honest isn't that strong at all. Even for London finance jobs, they lose out big time to LSE, LBS, and Oxford. Not worth it in my opinion.
Thank you very much for your advice! Is it likely to get a job in the US with a MSFE in Columbia? it seems like the immigration policy is not welcoming international students working in the US.
Columbia MSFE does pretty well with jobs in NYC. Look at their career placement page.
Actually i'm a fresh graduate from a top UK uni. I don't have much work experience and at the moment I'm not quite sure what kind of roles in finance i really want to perform so i think the Columbia MSFE won't add much value to my profile; i pretty much will land on a sell side job in the US or in my home country if i start the MSFE as a fresh grad, and most of what i'll learn from the MSFE won't be required for a sell side job. Now what i'm thinking is: take the Cambridge offer, get a sell side job in my home country (Hong Kong, where Cambridge is as good as Columbia, if not better) get three years' work experience and then go for an MBA/MFin/PhD in the US/UK and then take that as a transition to a buy side job in the US/UK. i think this route is less risky and more typical. i think at the moment what i lack most is work experience. jumping on the bandwagon of obtaining a MSFE may not be the best option for me. does this sound a good plan to you?
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