Hi,I got admission at NYU and Columbia MSFE for the next fall and it's quite difficult for me to choose among these 2 programs.How these programs are seen in WS? Which one is the best in terms of job placement? of level and quality of classes?The problem is that NYU program is longer than Columbia MSFE (16 months vs 12 months) and is not well known in the World and outside the field compare to Columbia. However, I want to work in Quant /trading/ structuring and NYU is quite strong in this field. It is a big dilemna!!! Are there any former students from one of these school?I know that anyway, there is no "bad " choice! but....I'm waiting for your views!!!!!!!!Thanks

From what I've heard, I think the math requirements are more rigorous for NYU's program than Columbia.For example, I have shown my homework assignments to a Columbia PhD student whose concentration is Probability and Stochastic Calc (he took that class with Karatzas) and he says that the NYU stochastic calc homework is far more difficult than similar homework given by Columbia. Some of the problems, he said, were really at the PhD level.I've heard similar comments made by students in the past about Columbia being less technical/rigorous than NYU, but it was nice to see it first handwith this PhD fellow as he read through the homework sets.NYU MS students can all feel proud.

Yes that's true : the NYU Courant program is more mathematical and rigorous than the MSFE in Columbia. I believe one other main difference is that with NYU's Master you'd even be more considered for quant positions (or even for exotic trader positions) whereas I ve heard it's quite rare with the Columbia Program.Another thing to take in consideration is the location of NYU (greenwich village) compared to Columbia (spanish harlem) a little bit far!In both cases as you say you'd make the right choice, but I think that if you still waivering you should visit both universities or at least call their program administrator. I know that for the NYU program some of the current students have volunteered to chat with admitted people so that they can try to convince them to come, and who if not them can give a better insight of the program.Let us know what u decideIf you have questions you could pm me (I am currently attending the NYU program)Good luck

Hi guys,I've just got admission at Stanford, NYU (Courant) and Columbia (mathematics for finance) and I'm looking for some advices and informations about these programs. I am really interested in pure and applied mathematics and it seems Stanford offers the most rigourous program. What do you think about that?Thank's for your helpSeb

Hi guys,I've just got admission at Stanford, NYU (Courant) and Columbia (mathematics for finance) and I'm looking for some advices and informations about these programs. I am really interested in pure and applied mathematics and it seems Stanford offers the most rigourous program. What do you think about that?Thank's for your helpSeb

QuoteOriginally posted by: seb456Hi guys,I've just got admission at Stanford, NYU (Courant) and Columbia (mathematics for finance) and I'm looking for some advices and informations about these programs. I am really interested in pure and applied mathematics and it seems Stanford offers the most rigourous program. What do you think about that?Thank's for your helpSeb------------------It looks like that these three programs are all good ones. Congratulations! Can you please share some of your background?

Do u want to pursue a PhD? Why pure mathematical/applied course? Ofcourse if you want highly mathematical course, then Stanford shd stand out - i read on their website that people can really take PhD level electives.If U wish to join industry then i am sure NYU stands out. From the various forums, i have perception that NYU has perhaps the best placements amongst the schools you have listed...I am not sure if NYU offers a very flexible course.I have not heard a great deal about Columbia Math-Fin program - strange, they offer decent courses and have great faculty. Also 3 electives and one course could be replaced with PhD level courses...Tough pick! Perhaps, you may want to talk to admissions committee of each of the institutes - might help!

The Columbia MSFE program has become considerably more technical in the last year and many of the FE students this year have received trading positions. (You need to be very careful interpreting comments from people that reflect the status quo of 2 or 3 years ago.)

The Columbia MSFE program has become considerably more technical in the last year and many of the FE students this year have received trading positions. (You need to be very careful interpreting comments from people that reflect the status quo of 2 or 3 years ago.) For example, check out the material and assignments athttp://www.columbia.edu/~mh2078/TS05.htmlThis is a course in the MS and FE program and columbia and is indicative of how their courses are becoming more and more quantitative.

Let's hope perception catches up with reality.

I went to Columbia as an undergrad and am now in the NYU program, and was also accepted to Stanford's program 1 year ago, so just let me give my two cent's worth. The one main drawback of Columbia's and Stanford's program, which cannot be "overcome" is the fact that it is only a year long. What does this mean? If you go to Columbia, it means you start in the summer around July and take 2 summer classes, and you squeeze it in 6 weeks, and you take Stochastic Processes and Optimization. Then, when school starts around September, you take 4 core classes. Then come October/November, what happens?! Recruiters come and you have to interview for fulltime positions!!!! If you already have a strong background (like PhD) and know your PDE, Ito, SDE, Fokker-Planck, C++ etc., then you'll have no problem. But if you're like the majority of the people who are studying this stuff for the first time, then this is a big problem because trust me, you will not be fully prepared for the interviews. If you go to Stanford, you have to deal with the quarter system. Meaning that you will have midterms non-stop and you will have to cut classes, fly to the east coast for interviews etc. That kinda sucks don't you think? But having said that, I have a good friend who went there and he got a very good job as a quant after graduation.As for NYU, I love the fact that the program is small (27 this year, as opposed to 70+ in Columbia FE) and that we have the chance to do an internship during the summer. Thus, I had the fall semester, and 1/3 of this spring semester to prepare myself for interviews etc. And this time is precious because believe, they don't ask you easy questions like "what is the prob that you get 5 when you roll a die twice." They ask you stuff like "derive the BS pde," "prove that ...... is a martingale." This is really when I appreciate what I learn in NYU. On the other hand, NYU's program is prix fixe.....no choice at all. But I find that they "force" you to take certain classes because it's absolutely essential to develop those skills.....like computing for example. So honestly, take the NYU offer. That's my opinion. But if you're already very well-qualified (Physics PhD, Math PhD), then you might want to do the Columbia program, gain some financial knowledge, finish in 1 year, and start raking in the $$$. In any case, I did my BSc from Columbia. And I love that place. So you can't go wrong!!!Good luck