zt：MFE PROGRAM COMPARISON (from http://www.global-derivatives.com)

xaquarius

MFE - University of California, Berkeley

Positives

•   Housed in the Haas Business school which promotes the MFE program
•   More business oriented perspective
•   Balanced program instead of being math or computation focused
•   Tailored FE program is helpful to students with non-finance background
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Strong alumni network and the UCB brand name
•   1 year program, march-march session
•   program fee ~ $47,000 (partial internship offset + lower living costs)

Other Features

•   Location – west coast (Away from the financial hub of NYC)
•   Bigger class size (60) – Director plays an important role in placements to offset locational disadvantage
•   Sponsoring this course is made easier by Haas: loans are available to even international students without any credit requirements.

Best suited for:
•   Mid-career professionals with some prior work exprerience (relevant preferred)/PhDs/Fresh graduates with steller academic records and some exposure to the industry. The average entrant age is 29 years.

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1898.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1975.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1793.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2928.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1736.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2641.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1391.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2876.0

MSCF – Carnegie Mellon University, New York/Pittsburgh

Positives

•   Excellent placement services, Housed in the Tepper Business school
•   Business perspective
•   Computational finance focused
•   Tailored FE program is helpful to students with non-finance background
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Manageable class size split (35+35)
•   Strong alumni network
•   Special Networking opportunities for NYC campus
•   Financial aid/waiver available for some

Other Features

•   Program fee ~ $63,000 (partial internship offset + aid/schol for some)
•   1.5 year program, September to January session
•   Limited access to professors (NYC Campus)

Best suited for:
•   Mid-career professionals with some prior work exprerience (relevant preferred)/Fresh graduates with steller academic records

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1751.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1808.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3438.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=2181.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=519.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1967.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1835.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3468.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=4870.0

MSMF – New York University

Positives

•   NYC placement (100% record)
•   Excellent reputation of the Mathematics dept (Great names)
•   Structured curriculum as opposed to wide range of electives
•   Mathematics focused yet practical
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Small class size (30)

Other Features

•   Program fee ~ $45,000 (internship offset but Higher NYC living costs)
•   Lesser university brand name worldwide than some of the ivy’s
•   1.5 year program, September to January session

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1866.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1925.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1713.0

MSFE – Columbia University, New York

Positives

•   NYC placement
•   Good for those in the field prior to the program and want to get back quickly
•   Wide range of electives
•   ractical program
•   Excellent reputation in NYC
•   Strong alumni network
•   Brand name in the US
•   1 yr program, June–June session

Other Features

•   Program fee ~ $43,000 (no internship + Higher NYC living costs)
•   lacement scene competitive (MBA, MAFN, MSFE)
•   Biggest class size (80)

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent academic background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1510.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1766.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3458.0

MSFM – Stanford University

Positives

•   Reputation of Stanford and GSB world over
•   Exclusivity (hard to get into)
•   Great range of electives/flexibility
•   Program fee ~ $35,000 (Internship + Lowest total expenses + Lower living costs)
•   Small class size (25)
•   Flexible duration, 9 months – 1.5 years

Other Features

•   Location – west coast
•   Very Mathematically rigorous
•   rogram not evolved fully, sailing on Stanford brand

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Professionals with 1-2 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3412.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1569.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1682.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3487.0

MFin – Princeton University
Positives

•   Reputed as the best Masters in Finance program (not FE)
•   Exclusivity (very hard to get into)
•   Greatest range of electives/flexibility including FE and Asset Management tracks
•   Employment opportunities in IBD (Corp Fin) as well as Quant Finance
•   Stress on economics
•   Program fee ~ $35,000 per year (Internship + Lower living costs)
•   Smallest class size (25)

Other Features

•   Duration maybe 1 or 2 years (depends on the admissions committee)
•   Theoretical focus
•   rogram not evolved fully, sailing on Princeton brand

Best suited for:
•   Freshers with excellent mathematical background/Mid career professionals with 1-5 years of experience

Relevant threads:
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=3132.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1589.0
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?action=search2
•   http://www.global-derivatives.com/forum/index.php?topic=1432.0