IB --> Quant Fund

Hi WSO,

Around two years ago, I wrote a research paper that covered an innovative trading strategy I thought of where firms can find a competitive advantage through an unorthodox method (think like satellite imaging of oil stores to accurately predict economic supply https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-digit/submission/.... Moral of the story is I thought it was fascinating. I am starting my junior year and have a background in accountancy, finance, and only a minor in engineering. I am wondering if it is possible for me to break into this type of role without a quantitative background.

Is it possible out of undergrad, would I need to do IB-->HF, or a master's in financial engineering or something? How would someone go about starting a firm like this?

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IB does not help you with quant, close to 0 skill overlap The few mainstream ways to get to a quant fund from what I see: 1. Math/Physics PhD and recruit into top quant funds like Renaissance 2. Masters in financial engineering 3. Masters in Computer science and join a fund as backend/platform engineer that has option to move you to quant role after a few years (eg 2sigma) I have friends who did the 3rd route with an undergrad degree, but they are gold medalists in IMO/IPHO/IOI so if that suits your profile, sure feel free to go ahead as well

 

do you really want to go from shooting the shit and laughing at finmeme posts with chad from duke to cranking through advanced math + programming models with albert from harvey mudd that most likely thinks you're a pleb

 

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