It is time to make a choice: Current Situation: fixed income analyst at a tier 2 bank located in Charlotte NCDetails: *This is my first full time job (internship experience totals about 1 year) *almost finished my first year; *performed very well on the job (front office); *prospect to get a trading position; *terrible manager; *dislike this city and strongly wish to go to NYC;Opportunity: got accepted by CMU MSCF (nyc campus) Details: *I do have strong desire to improve my quant skills and understanding of derivatives *this will be my second master's degree (first one economics). *really hope to open up a window of opportunity and give my self a 2nd chance to get into a tier 1 bank. *hope to stay in front office and get an associate position after graduation Many of my friends suggested I should stay on the job. Maybe because all of them are working, they think accumulation of experince (or learning how to kiss ass and bullshit) is more important, especilly as I have not worked that long. they feel 1.5 years of schooling will make me less competitive for a FO position. I am also looking for job opportunities in NYC, but feel that job hunting is not quite effective being far away down here in the South. What do you think?

In your situation, I would personally accept the CMU offer. (I also received the CMU offer but I chose to attend Uchicago) Life is too short, you don't have to waste your time working for a stupid manager. With your MS degree, you won't ever need to brownnose or bullshit to get the position you want.While so many students needs several years of experience to get into these programs, you got in with just one year experience. You are lucky, don't miss that chance. Friends may be jealous.My 2 cents.

Yeah.. agree.. This is the old days talk... but one's career is like building a house... You gotta have good fundamentals in order to build it high.. otherwise it will fall down some day.. Besides, you used 1 year to get yourself into this position. If you believe in yourself, I'm sure you can go to another bank, use another year and get to here. Terrible manager really blows anyways and I dont know how old are you.. but if you are in your early 20's, why not try more places? I mean... if you good, regardless you will be successful anyways and you might regard later if you didn't try other banks. Also, if you look at it like nassim taleb, life is just a realized MC path. You might keep thinking that you can move up to VP level in 3 years, the way things are going now. But what's really the chance of that happening? Well, everything's gotta go like you wish in order for that to happen.... and there will be up's and down's.. But I can tell you that with a quant degree, the expectation to move to a better life is definitely higher... Another 2 cents =p

Go for the Masters degree. Don't listen to your friends when it comes to career - it's your career and your talents and your ambition. You only live once. Go for it!

getting a graduate degree is a great investment and CMU is a very good school. you should do it and tell the idiot manager to get lost.

QuoteOriginally posted by: FreelancerWith your MS degree, you won't ever need to brownnose or bullshit to get the position you want.I wouldn't be so sure about that