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Mindcraft · 04-07-2005, 06:59 PM

hey guys im just looking for some input here. as some of you know, i am from boston, ma but i moved from there about 6 years ago. ive always told myself that i will return to boston for grad school. i really love boston, and miss it whole-heartedly. my dilemma is: should i go to boston or go to berkeley? if i chose boston, i would do two masters programs: first a masters at BU, then another masters at MIT (hopefully). if i chose berkelely, it would just be one masters at UCB. i do want to go to berkeley, but i really miss boston. please help!

Blitz_Whiz · 04-07-2005, 07:31 PM

I really hope I can help you as you helped me..so here it goes..
Double masters in different specialities along with the contentment you feel the need for, would be the way to go..<BU+MIT>
But you will be extending your academic life by a few years ..if you feel this is a worthy tradeoff with regards to you career aspirations then go to BU..
anywayz Berkeley or MIT will take you straight to the top so no need comparing Berkeley/MIT..I think they may even take you in later if you request them to or reapply..

scheng75 · 04-07-2005, 08:23 PM

Assuming masters at UCB takes 2 years, can't you move back to Boston to settle down after getting your masters? Why can you only move to Boston for grad school? I'm not sure if you really need 2 masters for career advancement, unless you have good reason to do so. If you got a masters from BU, why do you have to get another from MIT? Is it simply because MIT is a better school?

I'm wondering because I've seen some of my friends and family members accumulate degrees but not really moving forward in their careers, or accumulating degrees because they're not ready to face the real life yet or accumulating degrees because they ultimately want a degree from a top school. If you have the skillset (personality, drive, focus...) to advance in your career, MIT or Berkeley or even BU will still get you there.

ChoBaka · 04-07-2005, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindcraft

hey guys im just looking for some input here. as some of you know, i am from boston, ma but i moved from there about 6 years ago. ive always told myself that i will return to boston for grad school. i really love boston, and miss it whole-heartedly. my dilemma is: should i go to boston or go to berkeley? if i chose boston, i would do two masters programs: first a masters at BU, then another masters at MIT (hopefully). if i chose berkelely, it would just be one masters at UCB. i do want to go to berkeley, but i really miss boston. please help!

I'm not an Econ person, so I don't know what the convention is in that field, but in Computer Science people normally don't do two Masters degrees unless they did one in a foreign country. Plus, I think it's a waste of time, so I voted for "do one Masters at Berkeley."

scheng75 · 04-07-2005, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChoBaka

I'm not an Econ person, so I don't know what the convention is in that field, but in Computer Science people normally don't do two Masters degrees unless they did one in a foreign country. Plus, I think it's a waste of time, so I voted for "do one Masters at Berkeley."

Actually, Mindcraft applied to MS in Financial Engineering at Berkeley.

Mindcraft · 04-07-2005, 08:47 PM

Thank you so much for the reply guys...

@Blitz_Whiz
Thanks a lot buddy. The trade off will definitely add a few more years to my academic life. I'm not so sure if that's a bad thing, but it does raise an interesting point: funding. I do not anticipate any aid from the schools, so perhaps I should consider the BU+MIT option a more costly one. I think it will be about twice the cost of the Berkeley option... what do you think about this?

@scheng75
Moving back to Boston after Berkeley is definitely an option... I guess I am just really impatient about moving back there. Plus, there is that added uncertainty of finding offers in the east coast while I reside in the west coast. But moving back to Boston after UCB is definitely a good idea. It's a very good idea. The reasoning behind two masters in the Boston option is a) I want a degree from a top school (either Berkeley or MIT) and b) after completing the mathematical finance program @ bu, the computational/optimization program at mit will follow very smoothly.

@ChoBaka
Like I said to Scheng, the reasoning behind the 2 masters is because I want a degree from a top school, and the FinMath degree from BU leads very nicely into a computational/opt. degree from MIT. I'm not sure what the implications are, in terms of job prospects, when having two masters degrees. I don't necessarily think that two masters will increase my job opportunities, although they may. As far as the waste of time, I agree that it is a much more lengthy option if I study at Boston... time is money.

Guys, thank you so much for the input; it really means a lot to me. I'm glad to have a place where I can get such great advice from such great people.

Yousuf

Blitz_Whiz · 04-08-2005, 07:11 PM

I am more inclined to lead a academic life If given the option. I would do the two masters < with funding > by the univs in different specialities if only to learn more.<I thought most ppl at MIT & Berkeley were funded> As for loss of earnings i think if you go with this option you would have a wider , better & more in demand Skillset so your future earnings will surely offset this loss. In your case I thought you had no problem wt funding.You can get Loans <I remember that u r from US> to fund this and rest you can work part time. You know ur financial situation much better so even if this option means a little more hard work and a little time in penury I would go for it.This bias is only bcoz one gets to learn and know more and maybe coz one might have more varied career choices.
For ppl like me for whom funding is the most important factor, If The loan amount is too big or the effort required too strenuous I would surely goto Berkeley and then maybe in some distant time pursue the other master at MITafter gaining some financial stability.

View Poll Results: where do i go?
Massachusetts: masters @ bu, then another masters @ mit.	4	26.67%
California: one masters @ berkeley.	11	73.33%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

04-07-2005, 06:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mindcraft Within my grasp! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 272	just curious hey guys im just looking for some input here. as some of you know, i am from boston, ma but i moved from there about 6 years ago. ive always told myself that i will return to boston for grad school. i really love boston, and miss it whole-heartedly. my dilemma is: should i go to boston or go to berkeley? if i chose boston, i would do two masters programs: first a masters at BU, then another masters at MIT (hopefully). if i chose berkelely, it would just be one masters at UCB. i do want to go to berkeley, but i really miss boston. please help! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

04-07-2005, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
scheng75 TestMagic fan! Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: CA Posts: 660	Re: just curious Assuming masters at UCB takes 2 years, can't you move back to Boston to settle down after getting your masters? Why can you only move to Boston for grad school? I'm not sure if you really need 2 masters for career advancement, unless you have good reason to do so. If you got a masters from BU, why do you have to get another from MIT? Is it simply because MIT is a better school? I'm wondering because I've seen some of my friends and family members accumulate degrees but not really moving forward in their careers, or accumulating degrees because they're not ready to face the real life yet or accumulating degrees because they ultimately want a degree from a top school. If you have the skillset (personality, drive, focus...) to advance in your career, MIT or Berkeley or even BU will still get you there. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Vice President The Economics Fan Club Memberships are exclusive and subject to a deep appreciation of the finer points.

04-07-2005, 08:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mindcraft Within my grasp! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 272	Re: just curious Thank you so much for the reply guys... @Blitz_Whiz Thanks a lot buddy. The trade off will definitely add a few more years to my academic life. I'm not so sure if that's a bad thing, but it does raise an interesting point: funding. I do not anticipate any aid from the schools, so perhaps I should consider the BU+MIT option a more costly one. I think it will be about twice the cost of the Berkeley option... what do you think about this? @scheng75 Moving back to Boston after Berkeley is definitely an option... I guess I am just really impatient about moving back there. Plus, there is that added uncertainty of finding offers in the east coast while I reside in the west coast. But moving back to Boston after UCB is definitely a good idea. It's a very good idea. The reasoning behind two masters in the Boston option is a) I want a degree from a top school (either Berkeley or MIT) and b) after completing the mathematical finance program @ bu, the computational/optimization program at mit will follow very smoothly. @ChoBaka Like I said to Scheng, the reasoning behind the 2 masters is because I want a degree from a top school, and the FinMath degree from BU leads very nicely into a computational/opt. degree from MIT. I'm not sure what the implications are, in terms of job prospects, when having two masters degrees. I don't necessarily think that two masters will increase my job opportunities, although they may. As far as the waste of time, I agree that it is a much more lengthy option if I study at Boston... time is money. Guys, thank you so much for the input; it really means a lot to me. I'm glad to have a place where I can get such great advice from such great people. Yousuf _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

04-08-2005, 07:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Blitz_Whiz Eager! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Usually at home Posts: 59	Re: just curious I am more inclined to lead a academic life If given the option. I would do the two masters < with funding > by the univs in different specialities if only to learn more.<I thought most ppl at MIT & Berkeley were funded> As for loss of earnings i think if you go with this option you would have a wider , better & more in demand Skillset so your future earnings will surely offset this loss. In your case I thought you had no problem wt funding.You can get Loans <I remember that u r from US> to fund this and rest you can work part time. You know ur financial situation much better so even if this option means a little more hard work and a little time in penury I would go for it.This bias is only bcoz one gets to learn and know more and maybe coz one might have more varied career choices. For ppl like me for whom funding is the most important factor, If The loan amount is too big or the effort required too strenuous I would surely goto Berkeley and then maybe in some distant time pursue the other master at MITafter gaining some financial stability.

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