Masters in Math? for trading?
(Senior Chimp, 29
Points)
on 12/29/10 at 10:35pm
I am finishing up my bachelors in math, and i can start taking grad classes while still working on my bachelors, and it wouldnt take me much longer to get a masters. While there are definite benefits to having a masters, would this give me a leg up in trading at all? and would it be more beneficial to do the masters in applied math rather than pure math? thanks so much





ED Commodities trader from a
ED Commodities trader from a BB said when they look for jr. traders, they just look for someone who is good with numbers i.e. can add, subtract, multiply, divide big numbers really fast. Not necessarily a quant, but someone that can work very well under pressure with numbers. I don't think having a masters will benefit you much at all.
it will benefit in terms of
it will benefit in terms of signalling quant ability, which with a lot of the desks will help you. However, the benefit of the masters program is largely in the idea of giving you another shot at internships and grad recruiting, not really the prestige/stuff you learn.
In the end if there were two exactly the same candidates but one with an Msc and one with a BSc in math, the decision would come down to fit rather than the degrees.
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will help a lot (in terms of
will help a lot (in terms of proving you can do the job and, to a lesser extent, for the knowledge gained) for algorithmic trading or options trading (the only types that people who aren't idiots are interested in doing)
i also think grad level pure math would be a lot less useful. i would go with applied math
arden wrote: will help a lot
will help a lot (in terms of proving you can do the job and, to a lesser extent, for the knowledge gained) for algorithmic trading or options trading (the only types that people who aren't idiots are interested in doing)
i also think grad level pure math would be a lot less useful. i would go with applied math
1. It will not prove that you can do the job whatsover
2. Algo and Options trading are the only ones that people who arent idiots go for? Are you serious? This is the most ridiculous comment I have seen, and this is coming from an options trader.
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getting a bachelors in math
getting a bachelors in math helps prove you have the aptitude for the position, obviously, since banks don't hire out of high schools. it's insane to think that getting a masters wouldn't help prove that you have the skills required marginally more so than a bachelors
Getting a bachelors in math
Getting a bachelors in math signals intelligence, and no doubt a masters would help a little little in that regard tbh, but chances are a lot of the content learned in a math masters will not have applicability.
I was more attacking your sentence that it can help prove you can do the job, which is very false becasue trading is not about mathematical equations.
On my desk (equity derivs), its mostly Econs, Chemisty, 1 CS and a couple who did not attend university.
What traders looks for in hiring is an aptitude to learn and if you have a BSc math with high GPA that is enough to show that.
Exception for quants in which case they will want Phd's anyway.
Having a masters can actually hurt you in rare cases. I know a trader who never hires Masters students because he thinks they do not understand what trading takes. But this is a very care case and probably shouldn't really be used as a reason not to do a Masters, but rather just something to think about.
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A masters in pure math won't
A masters in pure math won't help at all. I would strongly consider doing an MFE from a good school though if I were you. For example the MSCF from CMU will certainly help you a lot.
-MBP
if you went to a good school,
if you went to a good school, your bachelors degree should be enough. If not do the MFE not masters in math.
arden wrote: will help a lot
will help a lot (in terms of proving you can do the job and, to a lesser extent, for the knowledge gained) for algorithmic trading or options trading (the only types that people who aren't idiots are interested in doing)
i also think grad level pure math would be a lot less useful. i would go with applied math
No high-level math is required to trade options. I also know alot of very wealthy people who trade things other then options and who don't make use of algorithms. I guess they are idiots in your mind, but they are rich idiots.
pure math is completely
pure math is completely useless. in fact, anything theoretical (by its very nature) is completely useless. sorry to burst your bubble
awm55 wrote: pure math is
pure math is completely useless. in fact, anything theoretical (by its very nature) is completely useless. sorry to burst your bubble
the fact that you're not smart enough to understand something doesn't make it useless
arden wrote: awm55
pure math is completely useless. in fact, anything theoretical (by its very nature) is completely useless. sorry to burst your bubble
the fact that you're not smart enough to understand something doesn't make it useless
well, i structure and trade rates products at a BB and i can't remember the last time I used number theory...ass
arden wrote: the fact that
the fact that you're not smart enough to understand something doesn't make it useless
I trade equity derivatives and I have a BA Econ
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derivstrading wrote: arden
the fact that you're not smart enough to understand something doesn't make it useless
I trade equity derivatives and I have a BA Econ
Which university?
chubbybunny
the fact that you're not smart enough to understand something doesn't make it useless
I trade equity derivatives and I have a BA Econ
Which university?
Non target
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I would say mathematical
Jack: They’re all former investment bankers who were laid off from that economic crisis that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have zero real world skills, but God they work hard.
-30 Rock
I completely disagree with
-MBP
everythingsucks wrote: I
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derivstrading
-MBP