<p>So I plan to be an ibanker when I graduate. I am a math aficionado and currently an undergrad at Pton. I like to look pretty far into the future; I can see myself making bank $$$ at an ibank after undergrad and go as far as I can, maybe take the exit opportunity at a PE or hedge fund.</p>
<p>But my question is, how much education is enough to garner enough respect? Do you think it's respectable enough just to have a Pton undergrad degree while making $$$ when I'm about ~30 yrs. old as an ibanker at a top bank? Or do you think it'd be better if I should pursue a master's degree at another top university for the respect? Whether the masters helps me in finance is not a concern here--it is simply for a matter of respect to have a higher degree, or do you think an undergrad degree at Pton suffices? Like at a dinner table with top people, is it enough just to have an undegrad degree at Pton, or do you think another Master's in say applied math at another top university should help? I hope I got my point across.</p>
<p>I just want people's opinions here. Only opinions that answer my question directly will be greatly appreciated. Please keep other comments aside to yourself. Thanks a lot guys.</p>
<p>I would say a Princeton degree is good up until you want to become VP or managing director. Actually, even before then as an associate you might want to get an MBA. A degree from Pton is just enough to break into the industry, from then on it is how well you do in the ibank that matters.</p>
<p>For example, my cousin was an investment banker out of NYU CAS, which is still a very good university, although it is not HYP. Even though he barely broke into the industry, he did very well once he got in and at one time he was a VP before he got his JD/MBA from Fordham. As long as your school is prestigious in some regard, or has graduates in high places, then employers who have graduated from the same schools will show a certain degree of “loyalty.”</p>
<p>I actually think that a financial engineering master’s from a top school is a really good option if you want to get a graduate degree. Especially, hedge funds like people with engineering and math backgrounds. Princeton has one of the best programs by the way.</p>
<p>If you want to work at a quant fund, a master’s/phd in engineering/comp sci/math/physics etc. is a must. For most people who are doing ibanking or PE, an MBA is enough</p>
<p>Enough education to command respect? Its the $ you swing that will command respect on the street. If you’re thinking socially, then yes, a grad degree will be a plus.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses. Yeah, I figured if I’m not going to get my MD/PHD/JD, if an additional MA in say physics or something would add to my social value in addition to my BA. Obviously, this is a highly superficial way of looking at things as most of you may believe, but it is my question nonetheless. What grad schools would you suggest in addition to my undergrad degree at PTON would add social value? Haha.</p>
<p>In terms of respect on Wall Street, I would say that people really don’t care that much about your educational background. The analyst from Harvard and the analyst from X school are still analysts in the same class. An associate without an MBA just means that he/she was able to get promoted after two years. Respect comes from how you perform (as well as your title and what firm you work for).</p>
<p>As mentioned above, if you want to break into a quant fund, an advanced degree might be a good idea. The only social value grad school would add is the friends you make and time you have to relax while you’re in school.</p>
<p>Arrid- when you mean “grad school” as a place to relax and make friends you must mean an MBA right? a financial engineering masters or a masters in math/CS/stat is very hard and only the most able students from undergrad can do well in the coursework.</p>
<p>To the OP- top notch quant finance programs include NYU, Berkeley, Columbia, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon Stanford, UChicago, Cornell, UCLA, Michigan among others (no particular order). In terms of recruiting, my guess is Berkeley, Princeton, Columbia, CMU and NYU have the strongest contacts on the street.</p>
<p>This is what I am planning. Tell me which degree looks “tight”/“baller”, haha. Feel free to rank them.</p>
<p>AB, Princeton University. MA UCLA, Applied Mathematics
AB, Princeton University. MA MIT, Applied Mathematics
AB Princeton University. MA Cal Tech, Applied Mathematics
AB Princeton University. MBA Harvard Business School
AB Princeton University. MA Stanford, Applied Mathematics
AB Princeton University. MA Harvard, Applied Mathematics</p>
<p>How much do you think the marginal social value of an additional master’s degree is, in terms of prestige and respect? I’m a mathy type so leaning toward MA in math, but I’m open to others’ opinions about what they would do. Again, I apologize for my superficiality, though when it comes to choosing schools, that’s on a lot of people’s minds anyway. The differential equations course you learn in one school really isn’t much different than one you learn in another, considering the set of top 20 schools. I appreciate your feedback.</p>
<p>Im very confused by this thread. OP – define what YOU mean by social value, since the conversation is veering toward quant, which is by definition and reality, not social</p>
<p>MBA from Harvard would get you the farthest. Then either MA fro Stanford, Harvard or MIT. Not to say Caltech and UCLA aren’t amazing schools but they dont have as much presence on Wall Street.</p>