CS PhD VS. CS Master + Finance Master - 未名空间MITBBS历史存档

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CS PhD VS. CS Master + Finance Master

CS PhD VS. CS Master + Finance Master# Business - 商学院

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

1 楼

Which one is more popular in Wall Street for a decent quantitative position? In other words, to finish the CS PhD or to apply another Master in Finance program.
Assume both CS school and Finance school are 1st-tier, and the research area in CS is statistical data analysis.

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

2 楼

There is no 1st tier finance master in this nation, unless you mean FE.
So i guess your best bet is CS PhD.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

3 楼

Thanks, dinerly.
By first-tier finance master program, I mean the Master in Finance @
Princeton.
Currently this is the only one I know, which focuses on all the finance
rather than finance engineering.

【在 d*****y 的大作中提到】

: There is no 1st tier finance master in this nation, unless you mean FE.
: So i guess your best bet is CS PhD.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

4 楼

Another question is that, FE is too narrow, which only covers quantitative
finance. MBA is too extensive, which covers economics, management, finance,
etc. It seems that the master of finance make a balance between FE and MBA,
which teaches only but all of finance. It this right?

【在 d*****y 的大作中提到】

: There is no 1st tier finance master in this nation, unless you mean FE.
: So i guess your best bet is CS PhD.

l*x2008-03-27 07:03

5 楼

。。。。princeton's program is a quant program.....

【在 e*******e 的大作中提到】

: Thanks, dinerly.
: By first-tier finance master program, I mean the Master in Finance @
: Princeton.
: Currently this is the only one I know, which focuses on all the finance
: rather than finance engineering.

d*r2008-03-27 07:03

6 楼

For a decent quantitative position, quantitative Ph.D. is the way to go...
No matter what kind of MS programs, either in FE or MSF, the quant level is
less than a Quant Ph.D. and less valuable that a Quant Ph.D.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

7 楼

Thanks. I understand that the quant positions prefer PhDs.
What I think is that there are lots of PhDs from various quantitative majors
. On the other hand, very few people has both excellent quantitative
background and solid finance knowledge. There is the logic I heard from a
very successfuly guy: "In industry, a guy with two hot masters degree is
usually more pupolar than the guy with a hot PhD", since the former is very
rare.

is

【在 d****r 的大作中提到】

: For a decent quantitative position, quantitative Ph.D. is the way to go...
: No matter what kind of MS programs, either in FE or MSF, the quant level is
: less than a Quant Ph.D. and less valuable that a Quant Ph.D.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

8 楼

Yes, a few years ago it is a one-year MFE program and now the new two-year
program is still like a quant program (due to its emphasis on quantitative
aspects).
But the curriculum seems more extensive than the traditional MFE program.
And the program webpage indicates that the program concentrates on "all of
the finance".
I'm not very familar with this program. Do you know any other finance
program with good reputation in industry?
Thanks.

【在 l********x 的大作中提到】

: 。。。。princeton's program is a quant program.....

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

9 楼

Learn on the job.
My program taught me a year worth of WACC = the most successful yet useless
bullshit mankind has ever created, so I am off to regulatory consulting.
Good game!

【在 e*******e 的大作中提到】

: Yes, a few years ago it is a one-year MFE program and now the new two-year
: program is still like a quant program (due to its emphasis on quantitative
: aspects).
: But the curriculum seems more extensive than the traditional MFE program.
: And the program webpage indicates that the program concentrates on "all of
: the finance".
: I'm not very familar with this program. Do you know any other finance
: program with good reputation in industry?
: Thanks.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

10 楼

Thanks, dinerly.
Yes, the most effective way to learn is to actually work on the Street. But
before that I still need to decide to finish my PhD in CS or to get another
Master in Finance.
Oh, a possible alternative is to neither finish the CS PhD nor pursue
another Master in Finance, i.e., just to start my job hunting in Wall Street
with only a Master in CS, which is probably not a good idea.

useless

【在 d*****y 的大作中提到】

: Learn on the job.
: My program taught me a year worth of WACC = the most successful yet useless
: bullshit mankind has ever created, so I am off to regulatory consulting.
: Good game!

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

11 楼

It is not hard to get a job on wall st if you have a master in CS, but it
can be a bit tricky to transfer from mid-office to front office.
If your true interest doesnt lie in CS research, You can jet and get a job,
then study a part-time MBA on your employers budget.
Either way, i think a MSF will be a waste of your money. If you really love
to learn about WACC, work for a couple years before getting an MSF. that way
your odds of getting a better job in hedge fund will go up.

But
another
Street

【在 e*******e 的大作中提到】

: Thanks, dinerly.
: Yes, the most effective way to learn is to actually work on the Street. But
: before that I still need to decide to finish my PhD in CS or to get another
: Master in Finance.
: Oh, a possible alternative is to neither finish the CS PhD nor pursue
: another Master in Finance, i.e., just to start my job hunting in Wall Street
: with only a Master in CS, which is probably not a good idea.
:
: useless

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

12 楼

Thanks for suggestions!
My concern is that (i'm not very sure about my viewpoint), in most cases,
the position for a Master in CS is something like quantitative developer,
which is even not a real quant. And even the worse, it is hard to get into
the essential part of the business if one starts from coding positions. On
the other hand, a decent PhD in CS, or a combination of CS/Finance masters
might have a chance to play some active roles rather than just work as a developer
in IBs or HFunds.
BT

【在 d*****y 的大作中提到】

: It is not hard to get a job on wall st if you have a master in CS, but it
: can be a bit tricky to transfer from mid-office to front office.
: If your true interest doesnt lie in CS research, You can jet and get a job,
: then study a part-time MBA on your employers budget.
: Either way, i think a MSF will be a waste of your money. If you really love
: to learn about WACC, work for a couple years before getting an MSF. that way
: your odds of getting a better job in hedge fund will go up.
:
: But
: another

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

13 楼

I dont think having a Ph.D will help you getting into an active role any
better than masters. However, if you pay attention in their business, focus
on learning and interacting with other people within an organization, and
build your network + capital, you will move up the ladder, the time it takes
wont be more than what it takes to obtain a Ph.D.
But its up to you how you want to do this. :)

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

14 楼

Thanks.
This is why I'm considering not finish the PhD. It is too time-consuming if
I don't want to be a faculty.
However, if you pay attention in their business, focus
takes
So your opinion is to choose from 1) and 2), and you think either way is
better than 3)
1) Spend another three years to finish the CS PhD.
2) Go to work immediately with a Master in CS.
3) Go for a Master of Finance with the current Master in CS.

【在 d*****y 的大作中提到】

: I dont think having a Ph.D will help you getting into an active role any
: better than masters. However, if you pay attention in their business, focus
: on learning and interacting with other people within an organization, and
: build your network + capital, you will move up the ladder, the time it takes
: wont be more than what it takes to obtain a Ph.D.
: But its up to you how you want to do this. :)

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

15 楼

2 > 1 > 3

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

16 楼

Thanks. But I think a master degree from a top program should not be
considered as "knowing a little bit".
Anyway, I agree that one should not consider studying too many fields.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

17 楼

Thanks. I think for research positions or purely quantitaive positions, PhD
certainly has advantage. But if one wants to be a management position in the
future, does the rule "PhD in CS > Masters in CS+Finance" still hold?

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

18 楼

That actually depends on what you plan to do.
If one wants to do research, hardcore technical stuff, then nail the "one
thing."
If one wants to be in business, managing or general consulting, then know a
little bit of everything > know one thing.
Ph.D dont get promoted before masters, people who get ahead of the
organization do, even if they are just Bacholers. In business, international
students should focus on communication and language rather than degree
accumulating.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

19 楼

This is not a common "phd vs master" problem. I'm consider CS PhD vs.
Finance Master + CS Master on Wall Street, i.e., "phd vs. double-master" on Wall Street, and one of the master degree is in finance.

S*Y2008-03-27 07:03

20 楼

nod...
so wrong

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

21 楼

so you think a phd in a quantitative field is a better choice?

【在 S****Y 的大作中提到】

: nod...
: so wrong

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

22 楼

Thanks. Yes, PhD has lower risk: a PhD from a top CS School is very stable
in terms of obtaining a not-too-bad job. But I think a CS master (from top
CS school) + a Finance Master (from a Ivy) also has the same low risk.
So the comparison is between a good PhD degree (CS) and two good Master
degress (CS + Finance) ... confusing. I find most people suggesting me to
continue my PhD rather than to pursue another Finance Master, but the reason
they provided is not that convincing.

e*e2008-03-27 07:03

23 楼

Thanks for response. I know that Phd in cs > Master in cs. But what I really want to know is some feedback from Finance industry that "whether a degree in Finance is helpful for a quantitative student to work in wall street".
Nobody really mentioned my question. Most people emphasize the value of a phd compared to a master (in the same major), but very few really focus on the comparison of cs VS. cs + finance for working in finance industry as a quantitative expert. This is why I'm still confuse

d*y2008-03-27 07:03

24 楼

Let me know if you can find a degree that teaches me everything I will ever
need for life.
Cause I need to pre-order!

o*y2008-03-27 07:03

25 楼

PHD是最好的选择。
可惜我也处在是否努力搞phd的岔道上。
如果5年一定能拿下CS 的phd, 我根本不想这个问题。
top cs phd 基本都是6，7年的多

really want to know is some feedback from Finance industry that "whether a
degree in Finance is helpful for a quantitative student to work in wall
street".
phd compared to a master (in the same major), but very few really focus on
the comparison of cs VS. cs + finance for working in finance industry as a
quantitative expert. This is wh:
who want to be a quant find their knowledge learned from the PhD program is
no

【在 e*******e 的大作中提到】

: Thanks for response. I know that Phd in cs > Master in cs. But what I really want to know is some feedback from Finance industry that "whether a degree in Finance is helpful for a quantitative student to work in wall street".
: Nobody really mentioned my question. Most people emphasize the value of a phd compared to a master (in the same major), but very few really focus on the comparison of cs VS. cs + finance for working in finance industry as a quantitative expert. This is why I'm still confuse