Masters in Statistics or Quantitative Modeling???

mb1231 · Post by **mb1231** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:25 pm

Quick background. In the late 90's I was a math and computer science major. I quit at the beginning of my senior year and began working in finance as a prop trader (I was a stupid young kid). I was making OK money, but decided to go back and finish a degree in Finance. I then worked as an risk analyst and database developer for about 4 years. I want to get away from my current role and into quantitative analysis (my current company acts afraid to try trend analysis and advanced statistical concepts). From looking at job postings I do not have the educational requirements and current job role to get a quant analyst job. I am looking to go back to school, and was wondering what I should do a Masters in. I received my Finance degree from a tier 2 school, so unless I get a perfect score on the GMAT or GRE it doesn’t look like I will go to an Ivy League school. I was looking into the Masters programs at Baruch and was wondering if Statistics or Quantitative Modeling would be best for what I want to do? I am already a relatively good programmer, so unless it was for the credentials, I wouldn’t do a programming oriented degree (I can usually figure out how to program most formulas and models I learn).

Any help is much appreciated.

jungle · Post by **jungle** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 2:13 pm

Bit difficult to know what to suggest without you telling us what it is you want to do in "quantitative analysis". Stab art? Exotics pricing? Risk?

And it might be courteous to post links to the programs.

mb1231 · Post by **mb1231** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:45 pm

Thank you for your response. Stat Arb is by far the most interesting. I have used some basic stat arb methods when i was trading, but did not have enough education at the time to make the most of that strategy.

Below are the links to the two programs.

MS in Statistics:

http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/faculty/statistics/programs/ms-statistics

MS in Quantitative Methods and Modeling:

http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/programs/graduate/ms/degrees/quant-methods.html

athletico · Post by **athletico** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:03 pm

Personally I'd go for the MS in Quant Methods and Modeling, and it's not even close.

jungle · Post by **jungle** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 2:01 pm

Seems like the choice of electives for the MS in Quant Methods and Modeling is much better as you can choose stats/OR/CompSci as opposed to b-school classes.

mb1231 · Post by **mb1231** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:40 pm

That's what I was thinking, but wanted an outside opinion to be sure. Thanks guys.