r/cscareerquestionsEU • u/LegitimateChimp772 • 2d ago

Does master's university prestige still matter with FAANG + quant internships?

For some context: I’m from a European country, but not one with top-tier education (not UK, Switzerland, France, or anything like that). I’m just finishing my bachelor’s degree in computer science at the top university in my country, which is around top 200 worldwide.

I’m deciding between doing my master’s at my current university or at a different one that is slightly worse (around top 400 worldwide) and not really as well known as my current one. My goal is to intern at one of the top quant firms next summer as an SWE, but I’m afraid this might lower my chances a bit.

I already have some internship experience, and by the end of summer I’ll have had 2 FAANG internships plus 2 quant SWE internships (not top-tier ones, though). I’m wondering whether choosing the “worse” university will lower my chances of getting interviews in any way. Do recruiters care about this if it is not a top-tier university like ETH or ICL, especially when I already have some experience?

It is not like the other university is bad or anything. I know at least a few people there who got internships or new grad offers this year from companies like js/citadel/hrt, but it is definitely not as respected as my current one.

Thanks

0 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

33% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/Rude-Fold7328 1d ago

Not overthinking. In the English speaking world, yes it matters a lot. Not much continental Europe. Matters a lot in MENA. Matters a lot in Asia. 

1

u/LegitimateChimp772 1d ago

Well, my goal is to get into the English speaking world companies (London) or maybe Amsterdam. However, I'm not from an English speaking country myself.

1

u/WunkerWanker 5h ago

Amsterdam is just like the rest of continental Europe. Experience matters. Connections matter. (And speaking Dutch matters for more and more companies nowadays, the shortages in IT are over).