Gents, I got folllowing offers for a MSC:Warwick in StatisticsCASS (Mathematical Trading/Finance)I am aware of the difference in the syllabus and the different emphasis in the programs, but there is room for finance focus in Warwick on the statistics program.However, what are your thoughts on these two schools from a "quality perspective" in regards to teachingand as a "brand" in general?Commments are highly appreciated!Tx!

At this point, Med school is a better option ! You can always enter finance with a MD (Equity Research & M&A teams prefer MD's in Healthcare sector) once things improve.

Take volatilitysmiles seriously. I would if I were you unless the cost of attending these programs is an insignificant amount for you and you don't care about getting a job in financial industry afterwards and just want a masters (and have not been able to get into better schools).

i did apply to both these schools as well (though i eventually went elsewhere). i am not from the uk, and don't know anybody that went to either one of the schools. having said that, i would probably choose warwick because 1) reputation of this school seems higher (to me) 2) program sounds more general and less focussed (see the other threads bashing on mfe's) 3) i think statistics at warwick is more rigorous than the (as i understand very applied) Cass program). an advantage is that cass is in london (but my impression was that this matters less than people say - i also did not study in london and still got a job here).if you do well and are not stupid, you will always find a job. just have to work hard. friend of mine got a nice one three months ago when everybody else was losing theirs. my two pence. good luck. ps: i think it is not too late to apply elsewhere (think oxford, lse?, king's)

i would stick to vol smilesand retrain as a medic....Who knows what the finance industry will be like in a years time..Would not be surprised if more banks went under and a whole lot of more firings take place....

yes, agreed. but why don't you just become a super rockstar or top actor instead? seriously, telling somebody who is asking about an msc towards quant finance to switch to med school is simply worthless advice. and so dumb it is not funny. yes, times are bad, but not so bad that it is useless to get proper education. the finance industry is not dead and will not die. think acyclically guys.

Hey the more people they convice to stay away from finance the less competition they will have in the future when the market picks up. Its not good advice but its in their best interest.

I do agree that times are not really stellar in the finance industry, but things changed in the past and will be changing in the future and I am more than optimistic that we will get out of this mess, being much stranger than before. by the way, finance is not the only industry offering jobs,where math/finance knowledge/skills are needed: how about utilities or energy trading houses? consulting companies etc ... My intention is just to get objective comments and views on these two schools, thats all So thanks for your comments so far.

Well, if you are still interested in finance, go for Statistics program. Assuming the financial market remain bad, with Masters in Statistics, one can atleast get a Quant job at Mattel (Believe it or not, their Barbie division) or Bejamin paints. They hire quants to model demand, seasonality, etc.