apart from a couple of latin americans, there aren't really any in the program. Its filled with either asian or some east indian candidates. http://tepper.cmu.edu/mscfStandAloneGallery.htmlWas kinda surprised to see the list. I also noticed that many of them didn't have very impressive qualifications, quality of quant students entering the programs going down? People finally realizing that this area is a non-sustainable joke?

the only reason: it's getting more mathematical each year.

Alot of them want to do trading with their degree. Do you really need a MFE / MSCF to do this nowadays?Another surprising thing...some of these folks already have a Phd. Why are they doing this program?

QuoteOriginally posted by: ithousekeeperAlot of them want to do trading with their degree. Do you really need a MFE / MSCF to do this nowadays?Another surprising thing...some of these folks already have a Phd. Why are they doing this program?because there are no high paying jobs for international Ph.D students.

rather odd topic, rather odd genesis of a topic. is it really necessary to start and name a thread based on race? discuss.

The hard sciences have become less popular in the 'West' the last few years...

Race is a fascinating subject but taboo in the west, especially in the US and UK. Also, I think elsewhere in the world you are allowed to discuss it outside closed circles of friends and family?Ethnic Europeans were certainly a minority on my MFE, and ethnic Brits - only a handful.I would say that Maths based subjects for natives are on the slide in the US and UK but not in continental Europe. One explanation is that in Europe they still hold Engineering in high regard especially in Northern Europe which still has a healthy manufacturing sector.

QuoteI would say that Maths based subjects for natives are on the slide in the US and UK but not in continental Europe. One explanation is that in Europe they still hold Engineering in high regard especially in Northern Europe which still has a healthy manufacturing sector.Really? That's not my experience.

Well, taboo is considering this as the effect of a ongoing "finlandization" process but we are simply commenting the composition of a prestigious class in the year 2011, USAin my humble opinion:china, india & far east tigers are purposely relying upon hard sciences for at least two reasons:- to get rid of the trouble given by hungry young people, for which there is no place in the party/caste/structure yet- to colonize in a soft form the western, rich, liberal but declining landson the other hand, the western, rich, liberal and declining lands are happy to exploit these young, skilled migrants - as intensive, intellectual cheap labor - as absurd fees providers for their glorified schoolsIt makes a sharp contrast with the MIT Open Course Ware project, which is now in its 10th year and still provides great value for free to third an fourth world countries, implying that it is better (for us and them) to learn them fishing at home than give them a fish in our house

In the Finance PhD programs in USA, there are a lot of PhD students from France, Eastern European countries, and China. They are really superb at Math. I think that Math has more to do with culture and education system than with race.

QuoteIt makes a sharp contrast with the MIT Open Course Ware project, which is now in its 10th year and still provides great value for free to third an fourth world countries, implying that it is better (for us and them) to learn them fishing at home than give them a fish in our house e.g. Numerical Linear Algebra by G. Strang.

the race doesn't explain maths orientation. In the shouth america doesn't have much courses on maths orientation. However, continental europe, US and oriental world there are a orientation about maths education system. Here, in Brazil, the math system and all of engeneering undergraduates are elevated now and the results will appear some years foward.

QuoteOriginally posted by: juliocabvianathe race doesn't explain maths orientation. In the shouth america doesn't have much courses on maths orientation. However, continental europe, US and oriental world there are a orientation about maths education system. Here, in Brazil, the math system and all of engeneering undergraduates are elevated now and the results will appear some years foward.What's "maths orientation"?

QuoteOriginally posted by: traderjoe1976In the Finance PhD programs in USA, there are a lot of PhD students from France, Eastern European countries, and China. They are really superb at Math. I think that Math has more to do with culture and education system than with race.1. that was a very broad statement. in one year we had 2 Caucasians out of 2, in another one 0 out of 3.2. the notion of race is quite outdated, apparently, if you speak with biologists3. the race itself is a cultural phenomenon

QuoteOriginally posted by: quantmehQuoteOriginally posted by: traderjoe1976In the Finance PhD programs in USA, there are a lot of PhD students from France, Eastern European countries, and China. They are really superb at Math. I think that Math has more to do with culture and education system than with race.1. that was a very broad statement. in one year we had 2 Caucasians out of 2, in another one 0 out of 3.2. the notion of race is quite outdated, apparently, if you speak with biologists3. the race itself is a cultural phenomenonThere are more cocky asians than caucasians. Apparently Caucasians are wookies from Endor, so it makes sense that there are less of them amongst newly minted Financial Engineers.