Engineering or finance degree for S&T?
ST
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(Baboon, 160
Points)
on 4/5/11 at 6:51pm
I'm getting the impression that an engineering is better than a finance degree for S&T. Maybe it's because almost every other recruiter at MIT is for trading, and prop trading firms mostly recruit at engineering schools. Am I right? Why do you think engineers are so popular for S&T recruiters? Quantitative skills?
By engineering, I also mean computer science, math, physics etc.





It's correct, the
It's correct, the quantitative skills you pick up in programs like that prepare you for playing in today's markets better than a business discipline (finance, accounting, statistics, etc.).
A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.
I have always heard the same
I have always heard the same thing, but why is this. What is it about the day to day work of a trader that makes these skills so necessary? I can understand quick mental mathematics and a good general knowledge of calculus and statistics but why such advanced math, I thought that was needed only for programming gigs?
Traders are more cerebral
Traders are more cerebral than bankers. There's a substantial amount of programming involved. Trading processes are highly algorithmic these days. For banking, "You need to know addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division if you're getting fancy."
"The code of competence is the only system of morality that's on a gold standard." - Francisco d'Anconia
The movement in trading is
The movement in trading is away from gut feeling and fundamentals and more towards algos and computer based trading. Having programing skills allows you to adjust the algos quickly when the markets change.
Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays
Dude, just major in what you
Dude, just major in what you want to. And make sure you beast it and get a high gpa. It's college, have fun... and read the FT (student subscription)
"Have you ever tried to use a chain with 3 weak links? I have, and now I no longer own an arctic wolf."
-Dwight Schrute
Hamilton wrote: Dude, just
Dude, just major in what you want to. And make sure you beast it and get a high gpa. It's college, have fun... and read the FT (student subscription)
Hahaah I just read that you are at MIT. Good luck getting a high gpa in a technical major.
"Have you ever tried to use a chain with 3 weak links? I have, and now I no longer own an arctic wolf."
-Dwight Schrute
There are a lot of engineers
There are a lot of engineers on the desk I'm on (myself included)... If I were you I'd go with engineering just because there are a lot more doors open for you.
If you're at MIT, they're
If you're at MIT, they're probably not going to have questions regarding your quantitative ability, so I'd say that it doesn't really matter. In my school (a target that is nowhere near the capability of MIT in terms of being quanty) sent econ majors to prop trading to the likes of DRW and SIG. Of course, algorithmic trading requires a pretty focused set of skills that requires even a specific engineering major.
Algorithmic trading is only
Algorithmic trading is only one kind of trading right? I have a family member in trading at a BB but doesn't know programming and is not out of the ordinary in terms of quantitative ability. Asking because I would like to get into trading but was hoping to do a non-mfin/mfe type program like masters in finance or masters in applied economics.