Choosing between FinMath Stanford and MFin Princeton

[Christopher]

Hi everyone,

I've been admitted to both masters in Princeton and Stanford and I was wondering if someone knowledgeable could give me a list of pros/cons that can help me choose between these 2 options. Thanks you very much

 

[Umnik]

Hi! Congratulations!
What would you like more - to study 1 year in California or 2 years near NY?

 

[Christopher]

Thanks, I'd be doing the program in Princeton in a year as well, so both programs will have equivalent lengths

 

[Umnik]

Also, am I interested, did you receive your Stanford offer by e-mail? (I have no response from them yet)

 

[Christopher]

Yes a few hours ago

 

[Umnik]

Hm... That means I'll see a rejection letter soon

 

[Will D]

Congratulations- those are some fantastic offers- you must be a very talented student. Can you share your profile and what kind of job you want to get down the road?

A quick $0.02: the Stanford program is probably more rigorous (since it's in the math department) but the Princeton program should have better recruiting. You should reach out to alums for their perspective- Fabulous Fab for one

 

[Christopher]

Thanks, I went through the french educational system with top ranking in France's top engineering school, doing a lot of high-level APplied Maths. For the moment I'm looking into a job in derivatives structuration. I'm starting an internship in the next few months.

The program appeals to me more in Princeton, although living in the San Francisco Bay area for a year sounds great (way better than a year in Princeton...) That's why I'm hesitating mostly! Basically I would like to know if someone has been through the Stanford program if the placement record is as good as Princeton's, how are the courses...

 

[Sherlock]

Princeton no doubt about it.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Keep in mind that Stanford program also includes coterminal undergraduates and PhD students in other departments. This results in much larger class size (40-50 students). Many of their graduates go on to PhD programs.