George Cai is an alumnus from the NYU Stern-NYU Shanghai MS in Quantitative Finance(MSQF) Program, Class of 2023. Meet George and learn more about his experiences in Summer 2022 at NYU Stern.
Name: George Cai
Program: MSQF, Class of 2023
Hometown: Tianjin, China
Undergraduate school: Fordham University
Undergraduate major: Global Finance
Previous internship experience: AVIC Capital, private equity analyst intern
Reason for choosing this program: The MSQF program attracted me the most because it is a joint program offered by NYU Stern School of Business and NYU Shanghai. As a person who has spent almost 10 years in New York, I would call myself a half “New Yorker”. NYU Stern has always been my dream school since high school, and I view this program as the golden chance for me to not only advance my professional expertise, but also to achieve my dream. Most importantly, I think this program is unique in that the program takes place in two mega cities and financial centers, New York and Shanghai. The perfect locations of NYU’s campuses provide me with opportunities to intern and network.
Goal after MS degree: land my dream job
Other fun facts: I am an artistic fitness enthusiast who wants to achieve success in the finance world.
- What’s your favorite summer course?
My favorite course so far is Business Communication taught by Professor Shi Yu. This course introduces the basics of communication strategy and provides opportunities for us to improve our business speaking and writing skills. We delivered individual and team presentations. We chose a company currently working to improve its reputation and crafted a presentation to persuade the audience to accept our strategic recommendation. I like this course a lot because it is highly interactive and we are constantly exchanging thoughts and ideas with the professor. My biggest takeaway is that I learned how to properly construct a persuasive presentation and to apply a communication strategy when I speak or write in a professional setting.
- What was your most memorable program experience to date?
The most memorable program experience is our Nasdaq visit. It was a fantastic experience to watch the opening bell from a close distance, which was completely different from what I have watched on TV. I could actually feel the excitement in the room when the bell rang. Beside professional program experience, our program’s social event is also memorable. MSQF is the largest program among the four joint Master’s programs in terms of class size. We have a group of 18 students currently in New York. I planned a karaoke party after our Summer Module 1 classes ended and it served as a chance to bring people closer. It was a memorable and fun day because people were enjoying themselves as they were singing out loud.
- What was it like to study and live in NYC in the summer?
I am living off campus, so commuting to school is part of my day. I’ve been living in New York for many years, and I would say that my most memorable NYC moment is my everyday commute. I think what makes it memorable is that I’m able to see different people from different backgrounds who come together in one small place. New York is truly a melting pot and I think there's no other city in the world with an energy that can compete with New York. The fast pace, the buzzing traffic, the hustle and bustle of the people, the 24-hour life, and the creative spirit make NYC one of the most vibrant places in the world. With that said, I am also very excited to start a new journey in Shanghai, the financial center of Asia. I would love to explore the city with my friends and I’m looking forward to landing my dream job in Shanghai