Confused Freshman

I'm currently a freshman at Columbia and hope to get a top financial job - PE, HF, or S&T. I don't know what to major in because it seems like to get into PE, I need to major in econ-math and work in ibanking for several years, and then get an MBA. To get into a Hedge Fund, on the other hand, I need to major in physics and then go to grad school in either financial engineering, math, or physics. I don't really know where trading fits in between the two.

Simply put, what is the best degree to get to keep my options open? Also, assuming I stay in finance for a long time and want to make as much money as possible, is it better to be a trader, a quant, or in PE?

Lastly, should I try to transfer to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, or Wharton?

Thank you very much.

4 Comments
 

are you joking?

what kind of math do you plan on doing in private equity deals? do you know what PE, HF, S&T stand for or all you just hashing together the overhyped buzz words you hear on this forum?

there are many different fields in finance with many different skillsets. The best people in each of these fields will become well paid. (i.e. if you're natural salesman/dealmaker you'll make a mistake becoming a mediocre quantitative analyst at GS who will never break the VP barrier and vice versa)

 

drink a LOT, get laid, make life-long friends, have as much fun as possible, study what interests you, get really good grades, be involved in a few student organizations.....

If you do that, everything will work out well for you.

 

You're seriously thinking of transferring out of Columbia -- of all schools -- for potential career tracks that you may or may not pursue but clearly have little grasp over what they really entail?

Wow...

Listen you're a freshman at a top tier university. Have fun. Study. Get involved on campus and network.

Follow that and everything should work out.

 

Perferendis laborum qui blanditiis. Culpa ut mollitia recusandae molestiae error. Sint ut minus eligendi hic. Quibusdam voluptatem porro et. Vel id officiis omnis aspernatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”