29 Comments
 

this is so confusing, i mean i see sociology and classics majors going into ibanking all the time and i just dont think they have that much knowledge in math.

 

I use a lot of math, including matrix algebra, multivariate calculus, probability, group theory, and combinatorics. However, I'm not an I-banker.

 

oh shit, i would be so fucked if i had to do that. thats like the reason i am not doing straight economics at the LSE, cause i think their economics degree is totally math based.....

 

Bankers use addition, subtractions, division and multiplication -7th grade material. Derivatives guys use the college shit. I am a fucking monkey; a glorified, gratuitously overworked and overpaid typist/secretary/middleman/used car salesman -cant wait for PE.

 

You probably need multivariable calculus. Linear algebra would help. Anybody without an advanced calculus degree would not have a slight chance.

Oh stat? It is essential. An M&A analyst runs statistical regression models on the correlation between the Dow Jones 30 and the S&P 500 everyday.

 

um..so what do those political science and sociology majors do to get into ibanking. i mean if this is the case i am going to sign up for all the hard math classes at the lse

 

These people who say you need to know multivariable calculus and all this upper math crap don't know what they're talking about. The most you need to know is 8th grade material.

 

The bottom line is, if you are smart, driven, and willing to work your ass off, your major can only help you, not hurt you. If you were a sociology major, but you pick things up quickly, you will learn everything on the job anyways. The first month of your career will blow your mind in terms of how much more you learn in a month as an ibanker than a month in college.

 

My largest regret from undergrad is not doing more math. I can't say specifically how HR at a BB will look at your app, but in terms of what makes you stand out for all sorts of things, the more math the better. I did through Calc III by my freshman year and tossed in linear algebra at the end of my senior year. Knowing what I know today, I would take every math/quant course I could fit into my schedule with other requirements.

If you can fit them in, do diff eq, optimization, econometrics and stats. They will help you much more than a course like intl trade or topics in macroecon (was on the wrong side of that choice).

 

For Trading, I think you want a good amount of math, but not too much. You don't want to look like too much of a quant, unless you actually want to be a quant. If you are a quant, traders will poop on you.

For Sales, zero math required. Perhaps discouraged.

For IB, not necessary. Nothing more than algebra and Excel as has been indicated.

If you want to be a quant, that's great...for me to poop on.

 

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