COMPARE UCLA MFE vs Georgia Institute of Technology QCF vs NYU Tandon MFE

[souhil.sk]

Hey everyone,

I’d love to get some advice from people here who might have more experience with this whole process.

Quick background:
I’m finishing my undergrad in Economics in Switzerland (ranked among the top of my cohort). I’ve always been super driven and passionate about learning, but during my undergrad I often felt like people around me were just doing the bare minimum. I’m the kind of person who likes to dive deep into topics and really push myself.
That’s why I decided to apply to several MFE programs in the U.S. through the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, and got a $20,000 scholarship from them too. Here's where I stand:

• NYU Tandon MFE — admitted with a $12,000 scholarship
• UCLA Anderson MFE — admitted (scholarship amount TBD)
• Georgia Tech MSQCF — deferred to Spring 2026 (I had applied for Fall)
• Still waiting for Columbia MSFE

I also have two internships in the financial industry and a background as a professional Fortnite player (was in the Swiss Olympic team), which taught me a lot about competing at a high level.

What matters most to me:

• Being surrounded by smart, motivated people who are passionate about what they do.
• Learning deeply, not just surface-level studying.
• Being in an environment that pushes me to improve and where I’m happy.
• Strong job opportunities. I know it’s mostly up to the student to succeed in interviews, but I want a program that will at least help me get past resume screenings.

NYC naturally appeals to me because of the proximity to the finance industry and networking opportunities. But I also really like the idea of LA’s lifestyle and weather, which makes UCLA tempting even though I know the faculty might not have the same reputation as NYU's.

Career goal:
Ultimately, I’m working toward either landing a buy-side quantitative research (QR) role or pursuing a PhD. I know both paths are extremely competitive, and that many buy-side QR roles tend to prefer PhD profiles, but I’m aiming for it and actively working in that direction. I’m also very open to other quant positions (sell-side, etc.) as a first step.
Because of that, the choice of school matters a lot to me, in terms of brand name, placement, network, and opportunities. One thing I’m unsure about: does LA even have a strong buy-side QR market? Or should I just focus fully on being in NYC from the start?
At the end of the day, my real goal is to be happy, to find myself in a place where I can thrive academically and professionally, do good work, build a social life, and make the most out of this experience.

The dilemma:
I need to decide on NYU by May 1st.
Still waiting on Columbia.
Not sure if I should lock NYU now, wait for Columbia, or give UCLA serious consideration.
If anyone has any thoughts, insights, or personal experiences, I’d really appreciate hearing them. Especially if you’ve been through a similar decision or know more about the job markets.

Thanks so much for reading!