Quant research career for a Stats major?

I'm currently a freshman stats major at a top school. Planning to graduate with a coterminal (4-yr) master's. Many from my major end up in quant finance, consulting, IB, or PhD programs with great placement across the board. In terms of starting pay, quant finance obviously wins and that's very popular these days, but I'm concerned I'd get siloed even at a top firm. I'm considering IB or consulting just for the connections, plus it seems like pay in those industries catches up after a few years. Also, wondering what the exit opportunities / end games are for quant researchers, other than retiring with a lot of cash.

I'm doing research over the summer so don't have to decide on a path just yet, but wondering what your opinions are. I love problem-solving and stats but I'm very much a people person.

 

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