COMPARE Carnegie Mellon University MSCF vs Stanford University MCF

[BillLi]

I don't understand any difficulty you have here. You seem to get hung up on the famous Stanford name.
You want a job, then you need to have some kind of clear idea and evidence that the program you join will provide reasonable career services.
Stanford is an academic program with no track record of placement data. Maybe most of their grads go on to PhD program or join other sectors in the Silicon Valley.
Maybe they admit only a few students each year who will be perfect PhD candidates. We just don't know.

I would urge you to ask Amy at Stanford about the numbers. Going there without knowing how you will end up post graduation is a really bad idea in this market.

Thanks Andy. I don't know which Amy you are talking about, but I am going to send the email to one of the admission staff, although I don't think I'm going to get any reply that is useful.

It is so strange that people cannot find much information about this program, even in quantnet. I guess it is because the class is small and mainly open to students in Stanford.

I really need to dig out more information before I can make the decision.

 

[BillLi]

Have you already gotten into both? Just checking, some people like to ponder choices when choices don't exist :x

I was under the impression that it was existing PhD students who do a MFE to enhance their profile at Stanford, rather than people getting the MFE to segway into a PhD.

Agree with Andy about finding out more facts. But I don't think you can go wrong with either program. I happen to think there might be an advantage to job placement at Stanford because the program is relatively smaller, but I could be wrong. I know at least Capula recruits from the Stanford MFE program because supposedly one of their senior partners is from Stanford.

And don't easily dismiss CMU's name. It might not be as prestigious as Stanford from a general view but in terms of engineering and technology, it's first class.

Thanks Neoz. You are right, both programs should be very good. It's a matter of which one best fits me. As I said, I am going to dig out more and hopefuly I can contribute some information here.
BTW, nobody would want to go through such tough choice before he is even admitted. : )

 

[neoz]

Will cost some money but if it's really that difficult, fly to both campuses and check out the vibe there. Try to sit in classes and have lunch with students etc..

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Thanks Andy. I don't know which Amy you are talking about, but I am going to send the email to one of the admission staff, although I don't think I'm going to get any reply that is useful.

Amy Duncan but it appears she no longer works for the program anymore.
Through doubtful, I would be delight to learn more if you receive anything from them. Their admission stats page have not been updated since 2011.

 

[BillLi]

Will cost some money but if it's really that difficult, fly to both campuses and check out the vibe there. Try to sit in classes and have lunch with students etc..

Too late to do so. I'm located in HK.

 

[BillLi]

Amy Duncan but it appears she no longer works for the program anymore.
Through doubtful, I would be delight to learn more if you receive anything from them. Their admission stats page have not been updated since 2011.

That's why I'm a little bit worried. That program is not trying very hard to promote itself. I guess it's because it's Stanford and the statistics department ranked no. 1. It's like "we are good so we don't care" attitude...

 

[Andy Nguyen]

The only Stanford Math Fin grad that I came across is a member here who returned and working currently in India.
You may want to track whereabouts of their graduates using the students profile pages and LinkedIn.

 

[unhappy_mscf]

Easy choice, Stanford.

 

[wzglljp]

Easy choice, Stanford.

great comment!

 

[smallberrys]

That's why I'm a little bit worried. That program is not trying very hard to promote itself. I guess it's because it's Stanford and the statistics department ranked no. 1. It's like "we are good so we don't care" attitude...

Stanford is closing down their FinMath program this year, and expecting to have an MFE-ish thing run by their MS&E department (the current FinMath program is/was run by Statistics, which may explain its more academic/theoretic reputation).

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Stanford is closing down their FinMath program this year, and expecting to have an MFE-ish thing run by their MS&E department (the current FinMath program is/was run by Statistics, which may explain its more academic/theoretic reputation).

It's breaking news if confirmed. Can you elaborate on sources, links a bit? thanks

 

[smallberrys]

Saw it in a rejection email from the program!
I have seen no other confirmation about the news,
but the email I saw was reliable.

 

[smallberrys]

I've got difficulty in choosing one between these two.
I was told that if one wants a job after graduate, CMU is the right choice. If instead, he/she wants to have the possibility of persuing a PhD, stanford is the perfect one. In other words, Stanford is regarded as more academic oriented?
My final goal is a job but not a PhD, too old to do that. Does that mean that CMU better fits me?
I don't know the placement rate of Stanford as there seems not many people talking about it. On the other hand, it's hard to give up stanford just because of its name.

Does anybody have any idea? I really need more insider's advices. Thanks a lot!

A friend who has involvement with both programs (attending, hiring from, advising) much prefers CMU graduates as versatile, practical, "parachute them into anything" sorts of people.

 

[BillLi]

It's breaking news if confirmed. Can you elaborate on sources, links a bit? thanks

Yes, it's written in the admission letter I received:
"After August 2014, please be advised that the program will transition to a new organizational structure, most likely involving the Department of Management Science and Engineering as a key partner."

I think I'm going to CMU. I cannot get any information or numbers from Stanford. I simply got no reply of my email at all.

 

[BillLi]

A friend who has involvement with both programs (attending, hiring from, advising) much prefers CMU graduates as versatile, practical, "parachute them into anything" sorts of people.

Thanks. Then that approves my decision.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Yes, it's written in the admission letter I received:
"After August 2014, please be advised that the program will transition to a new organizational structure, most likely involving the Department of Management Science and Engineering as a key partner."

I think I'm going to CMU. I cannot get any information or numbers from Stanford. I simply got no reply of my email at all.

It probably will become something similar to Columbia MSOR, no longer a Math Fin program.

 

[gaitonde]

Hi all,

BASIC INFO:
I recently got admits from Stanford MCF as well as CMU MSCF. My short-term goal is to work as a quant researcher or a data scientist, preferably in a buy-side firm. As of now, I do NOT want to pursue a PhD (this opinion might change in the future though). After spending some years in the financial industry and earning truckloads, I might be open to opportunities in the tech field as well.

I had a few queries regarding my selection dilemma:

1) I heard (unofficially) that TAs/RAs get a full tuition fee waiver along with a stipend covering living expenses at Stanford. Is this information true?

2) I have not heard of Stanford MCF alums working on Wall Street, in hedge funds etc. Will choosing Stanford MCF restrict my career options? Will I get the same job opportunities that a CMU MSCF student gets?

3) How would you compare the curriculums of both the programs in terms of job prospects, difficulty, and flexibility?

Have to get back by 5th April, hence would appreciate some immediate help on my selection dilemma. Thanks in advance.

 

[cheron_jrm]

In your position, I’d go to Stanford for the tech options. I’ve heard of MCF grads in FAANG, so it is definitely an option for students at Stanford

 

[quanttrader]

If you definitely want to work at a buy-side firm, I'd go CMU. If you aren't sure about and would be open to tech roles as well, I would go to Stanford as cheron pointed out.

 

[cardiff.branch]

Hi all,

BASIC INFO:
I recently got admits from Stanford MCF as well as CMU MSCF. My short-term goal is to work as a quant researcher or a data scientist, preferably in a buy-side firm. As of now, I do NOT want to pursue a PhD (this opinion might change in the future though). After spending some years in the financial industry and earning truckloads, I might be open to opportunities in the tech field as well.

I had a few queries regarding my selection dilemma:

1) I heard (unofficially) that TAs/RAs get a full tuition fee waiver along with a stipend covering living expenses at Stanford. Is this information true?

2) I have not heard of Stanford MCF alums working on Wall Street, in hedge funds etc. Will choosing Stanford MCF restrict my career options? Will I get the same job opportunities that a CMU MSCF student gets?

3) How would you compare the curriculums of both the programs in terms of job prospects, difficulty, and flexibility?

Have to get back by 5th April, hence would appreciate some immediate help on my selection dilemma. Thanks in advance.

hey bro, can u share about your profile? GRE? Background etc just for learning