I was recently accepted to the University of Southern California's Masters program in Mathematical Finance, as well as University of California-Berkeley's Masters in Financial Engineering program. I couldn't find any stats on the USC program, but Berkeley's stats are posted on their web site and are very impressive. USC's program is part of the Mathematics department, where Berkeley's is in the Haas School of Business. I'm not quite sure which is better and I only have a week left before I have to decide. Any advice?

Berkeley's program has a very good reputation. And in large part due to people who lead the program. So, going for it is like voting for bigger name. The fact, that it is in Business School doesn't matter.If you turn on your private messaging, I'll send you some more info.R.

Choose Berkeley

I turned on my messaging.What about USC's program? Is it competitive, or similar at least?

QuoteOriginally posted by: BeavisI was recently accepted to the University of Southern California's Masters program in Mathematical Finance, as well as University of California-Berkeley's Masters in Financial Engineering program. I couldn't find any stats on the USC program, but Berkeley's stats are posted on their web site and are very impressive. USC's program is part of the Mathematics department, where Berkeley's is in the Haas School of Business. I'm not quite sure which is better and I only have a week left before I have to decide. Any advice?comparing USC to Berkeley is like comparing Budweiser to Pilsner Urquell. Ok, well, if you wanted to enroll in a water polo program it is probably a toss up...Or, if you wanted to settle down in Newport Beach, join the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and sell real estate, then I'd choose USC.I'd go with Berkeley.

Thanks. That's what I wanted to hear.

go for Berkeley- Lou

Hi Beavis, I am also planning to join MFE@Berkeley..... We can probably get in touch ..... I have made a yahoo group... mfe05 under the category University of California at Berkeley.URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mfe05My mail id: highskies26@yahoo.comRegards,Sachin

Oh its such a shame for Berkeley to be compared with USC.....Guys throw this thread out, lest someone will see it. Rush!

I decided on Berkeley the other day. I also signed up for that MFE05 yahoo thing

USC has the best professors from Columbia.. Berkeley .. is just a hype. .. your school just knows how to market your program.. that's all .. just good marketing of your program... you know that we all learn the same stuff.. haha...

How would all of you compare Columbia to Berkeley then? The MFE at Columbia that is.

Clearly, since Nonius is a product of Berkely, recommending Columbia is a chip-shot. Isn't the MA FE only one year though?

The MA at Columbia is one year. The MS at Columbia is more like Berkeley's being one calendar year or the equivalent of three semesters.