Is a CS minor useful?
I'm an incoming college freshman to a "target" school looking to major into Econ, and then parlay that into a job in finance/business.
My dad wants me to get a Computer Science minor. However, he also pointed out that doing so will probably lower my GPA, which potential employers will see. To counter this, he suggested I learn applicable programming languages on my own such as over the summer and create something relevant to put on my resume in place of a minor.
- Will a Computer Science minor help in any finance/business jobs?
- Would it be as good enough to learn programming languages on my own outside of college?
Is a Comp Sci Minor Worth it
There are many discussions on WSO about college majors, minors, GPAs, etc. For this particular question, the forum offered up this advice:
- The CS minor probably won't be too beneficial to a finance job
- I think there is a lot of demand for CS skills in current job markets
- Your GPA is up to how hard you work to keep it up
- If you’re already worried about your GPA, I'd focus on just the econ major
- Minors don’t matter that much in interviews
- If you want to work in a CS-related field, then you’ll need to major in CS not just minor
- If you major in CS (not minor), it will open so many doors in the future (VC, product management, quant research, etc)
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My personal opinion is that the CS minor probably won't be too beneficial to a finance job. However, I think there is a lot of demand for CS skills in current job markets, and from what I've noticed from friends who are in that area is that they are generally finding jobs very easily (in relation to other fields) and with good pay. One of the best examples I have is a friend who literally graduated 2.5 years ago (maybe 2 years from his current job's start date), had an internship, got hired on, switched to a bank, and now is doing consulting work for some company, but he works as many hours as he wants and I think he makes some $45/hour. He's quite content with that.
Cool thank you for your input. Do you think it's possible the CS minor will have any benefit for a business/management role, especially one where the product is technology/computer based?
first comment was right on the money. Minors really never mean much on resumes. You're better off double-majoring in CS and Econ if you want to go that route.
I guess I could double major, it's just that by taking that many CS classes my GPA would most likely be utter shit.
Yeah, if you are thinking that already, I'd focus on just the econ major. You can always learn CS outside of school as a hobby. As for whether I think the CS minor would be good for any business management role, especially if the firm is tech based, I think it depends. Put yourself in the hiring manager's (or owner's) shoes. If I am a F500 company, I probably have a whole department designated to CS tasks and another for finance tasks. I'd hire you for finance without consideration of the CS minor. However, if I am a small startup, the overlap in skills would be nice to have because I need to keep costs low. Make sense?
In my bachelor's, during what I thought was my last semester, the Dean came in and announced that if you take just these two extra courses, you'd be considered a triple major. I did it, thinking it was a great idea - certainly not hurtful. I don't think it was ever soemthing that interviewers were utterly impressed with, though. More kind of a "Neat. So then you went on and did your master's?"
I am actually trying to learn programming outside of school as I have already graduated. Perhaps, I need to look other places, but from what I have found, they only show you snippets, and it's really hard to truly LEARN the language from it. (If you have suggestions to correct this, I'd love to hear them) So, in terms of actually learning it CS might be the way to go. Also, if you want an internship in CS to prove that you can handle it, then CS is probably the way to go. To counter all that though, I think python is the most relevant language to finance from what I have seen on postings, unless you're a quant then it could be any of them. So, knowing basic python might be enough.
If it were me, I'd do the double major, and just bust my ass to make sure I got a decent GPA. Tutorings, emailing teachers with questions, the works.
I am going to disagree with the general sentiment and say that I think having CS skills is increasingly relevant today and I would strongly encourage you to double major (I agree that the minor is somewhat useless). Econ is a hard major anyway and I really don't think you should stay away from studying something useful because it may lower your GPA. Plus GPA is only used as a "gating item" so I really think it's better to have a 3.5 with a double major in econ and CS than a 3.7 in a English major (once you start interviewing, your GPA becomes useless anyway so better to have actual skills and relevant experience). The CS major is going to open so many doors in the future (VC, product management, quant research, etc) so I would really think it's worth the effort
I agree with the comments above that if you want to go the CS route, go full out and double major. When companies see this, they take into account the difficulty of different majors. For someone double majoring, the expect someone's GPA to be a little lower, especially when one major is CS. In terms of demand, a friend of mine majors in CS at a non-target and went through the traditional application process (not through connections) after his sophomore year and landed an SA role with JPM. I would highly recommend at least doing something with CS as just saying you know coding languages on a resume could mean anything
Econ Major + Comp Sci Minor = Hard Major? (Originally Posted: 09/26/2013)
I'm currently at a school known for rigorous academics and grade deflation (think Princeton, MIT, Caltech, Chicago, etc.). If I were an econ major with a comp sci minor, would I be considered in the "hard" major category? Most people in the know consider my school's econ department as being probably the most quantitative off all US universities'. I'm aiming for BB IBD.
I've heard that majors can be distinguished into 3 categories
1) Easy: liberal arts like history, english, etc. (3.7+ requirement) 2) Medium: Econ, biology? (3.5+ requirement) 3) Difficult: Math, Phys Sci, Engineering, Comp Sci (3.3+ requirement)
Of course the GPA "requirements" are barring extraordinary work experience.
I'm also a Varsity Athlete.
Pretty sure you would be considered medium since comp sci isn't your actual major. Whether or not having the comp sci minor gives you a leg up in recruiting is another question
I would say comp sci minor would be a talking point/something of interest if OP is aiming for BB IDB. Potentially different story if he/she was aiming for a more quant-y role.
I'd recommend double majoring rather than copping out with a CS minor unless you are absolutely certain you want to do BB IBD, because you'll have a lot more options if you do a full degree in CS. That is assuming, of course, you have sufficient time as a varsity athlete.
blows my mind that some people have such rigid thinking
I can either do econ major + comp sci minor OR econ and stats double major
Why do you care if your major is considered hard or not? Go smoke a bowl man.
All else equal, I would rather look better on paper than not.
Given your initial post, wouldn't you look just as good with an "easier" major and higher GPA to compensate?
Don't get into a major because you think it's hard. If you have a genuine interest in CS then do it.
Computer Science Minor (Originally Posted: 08/14/2012)
I'm considering minoring in computer science (which I absolutely love), but I'm afraid it could screw up my GPA. I've read other threads on WSO saying that it may be a good idea to just take some easy minor to keep your grades high enough for ibanking. Am I really shooting myself in the leg if I choose CS as a minor? My GPA is 3.9. Would it necessarily drop to ~3.5 in my CS courses?
Thank you
Isn't it up to you whether or not your GPA drops?
Are you attending a real target?
If your CS minor consists of OOP, systems programming, and algorithms and data structures, you NEED to do it.
You can thank me later.
Yeah, I can't recommend this course of action enough. The CS minor will be gold, especially if it's something you truly enjoy.
go for it! you may need to work a little extra but its worth it.
CS it is then.. screw accounting
Thanks again everyone
You're asking WSO if you would drop to a 3.5 GPA..?
How the hell would we know? There are people who get 3.9+ in CS. Just try your hardest and don't worry about what a bunch of strangers on a forum think you can or cannot do.
Almost everything you do nowadays requires a programmer behind it. It's the future, and it's certainly valuable knowledge to have. When programmers and machines take over the world, you will have a better chance of being deemed valuable enough to obtain a job offer.
I think it's a brilliant idea, but you better ace it. Don't drop your GPA on behalf of CS. And yeah, some people (lots of people actually) ace 3.9s in CS.
It's a technical world - get a technical degree.
I just posted in another thread advocating taking CS classes, but really it's up to what you want (careerwise). It might not help you as much in, say, institutional sales as it would in many types of trading (or even IBD, to a lesser extent). If your end goal is IBD though, I wouldn't place CS above accounting.
Economics Major with CS Minor for last semester (Originally Posted: 09/08/2011)
I'm an economics major graduating in December from a target with a not so great GPA (~3.0) . I'm in my last semester and to finish my Computer Science minor I need to take 2 more classes this semester. These classes are BRUTAL. I'm wondering if I should stick it out and risk maybe getting a B- or C+ or just switch out and forget the minor and take two classes I want to take in finance or something.
There is also a chance that I do so poorly in one that I have to switch one of them to Pass/Fail and then don't get the minor anyways. I've already started applying with the minor listed on my resume. Does it even matter at this point to have the minor? If i take the classes and switch one to Pass/Fail but don't techinically receive the minor from my school, will it matter?
I'm trying to go into a wide variety of fields in finance. S&T is what I'm aiming for though.
I wouldn't worry about the minor if you are interested in other classes. The comp sci skills are really only applicable in the world of finance when you earn a Ph.D. and decide to become a quant.
Just remove the minor from your resume as soon as you decide. You can always mention somewhere that you have taken various comp sci classes.
I actually did something very similar in undergrad. Similar major, attempted a similar minor. Upper division CS classes kicked my ass so I switched to Pass/Fail. I had it on my resume as long as I was in a CS class and took it off after. I don't think the Pass/Fail option matters unless you've taken a ton of Pass/Fail classes already.
The downside of not finishing this is that you sometimes don't get recognized for having survived all the CS classes. My GPA wasn't as high as it could have been since I was spending a ton of time programming, but because I wasn't an engineer/CS major, I felt like people sometimes ignored that I took those classes. I think I got the short end of the stick on that through job recruiting and subsequently when I was applying for b-school.
masters degree then recruit again.
What do you mean doesn't matter? For my school if you P/F a class you will not receive the minor.
We've already established that you won't get the minor if you go P/F. My point was that I don't think companies will write you off if you've had one P/F class on your transcript. Isn't that what you're asking about?
No, I'm talking about the minor in general. Do you think it is worthwhile to get in regards to interviewing to show my ability with computers and technology?
Honestly I don't know that the CS minor really helps as much as we think it does. I kind of regret ever trying because in my experience, most people focus on the major and it took much more time and effort than it was worth and I ended up not getting it.
Having said that, I feel like you're really close (closer than I was) so that it may be worthwhile to suck it up and finish it. Even if you get a C+ in one of the classes (so long as that's the lowest grade you think you can get), your GPA won't move as much if you have a 3.0 overall with the rest of your classes. Once you have the minor, it might be more apparent as to how your grades got to what they are. If you don't get it, you're stuck with a 3.0 GPA as an econ major and might never get that interview to explain it away.
This is only based on my experience though, and this was a few years ago now...
I think you make a good point...I'm half way through. The minor is 4 courses, I've taken 2. I guess I'll stick it out and not take the easy way out and coast through my last semester (as appealing as that sounds). Any other advice would be appreciated.
The only other thing I have to say is that if you just want to enjoy your last college semester, then do that. I'm not sure if it's the right "career" advice but I remember long night programming in the computer lab and it sucks to have to do that before you graduate, esp. if you're not a CS major. You live once and (hopefully) go to undergrad once.
I decided to drop the CS minor. List my courses as relevant coursework and I am taking an advanced Futures, Options, and derivatives class instead.
Congrats. Enjoy the classes and the rest of your college career.
Minor in Computer Science or.... (Originally Posted: 12/03/2008)
Just wondering if anybody had any thoughts/advice about this situation.. I am pretty unsuccessful for the recruiting period.. no offers yet. So I have a few choices...
(1) Apply to MS in Financial Math... (best choice ONLY if I gain admission)
(2) Stay on extra semester to do a Minor in Computer Science. thereby graduating with Major: Finance, Minor: Economics, Minor: Computer Science.
(3) Stay on extra semester to pick up more Econ classes to graduate with double major Finance and Economics.
Suppose option (1) doesn't pan out because I'm aiming for the top programs, which option (2) or (3) looks better? I'm aiming for BB trading positions.
I'm in a similar situation and it's not easy. I was a summer analyst at JPM in equity research this past summer in nyc (didn't want to do it in the end - ib is more in line with my ideal career position). Anyhow, I had final round interviews at JPM, BAC and C and came out with nothing (not that they were really hiring anyway - Citi took the most and apparently the number was under 6 (my friend who's a first year IB analyst there told me).
I still have one more buyside interview left over winter break, but who knows what'll happen with that. I'm proficient in Mandarin and am trying to leverage that with finance to eventually do global IB or do emerging market/China investing with a US HF... right now just trying to get my foot in the door at these places, not too concerned about the position.
If nothing comes by early spring, I'm considering getting my MS at Columbia or heading over to China to get fluent and perhaps find an investment/consulting job over there. I'm not sure what would help me more in the end - the experience in China or a Masters here -- the thing is, I'm already in debt from my undergrad edu. and an additional two years would hurt.
So I feel where you're at... not an easy situation or decision. If you can afford to stay in school and get additional degrees, you might as well - doesn't look like things will be changing too soon. If you can't find a trading position at another firm, the MS in Financial Math sounds like the right path to me if you're only looking to accept a BB trading position.
Although I'm not looking to do much quant work in the future, if I did undergrad all over again I'd definitely add a minor in Math. I'd grab the Econ major if I were you. Best of luck!
i don't think you can get into a good financial math program without a stronger quantitative background than is provided in an undergrad finance/econ major; experience with differential equations is a prerequisite.
that said, by minoring in comp sci or math, you'll be a much stronger applicant. I'm considering financial math programs myself, and by minoring in math - taking a semester each of calc, stats, and linear algebra beyond what was required for an econ major at my school - my skills were up to par for the curricula, based on my discussions with profs.
MS in financial math is a good option for you if recruiting didn't go well - it's more academic than an MBA, so you have a better excuse for going directly to grad school (ie - you need to keep your math up to par).
computer science minor (Originally Posted: 04/25/2013)
Hi! I am currently an econ major at a USNWR top 5 school majoring in economics. If I were to get a comp sci minor, how much would that additional minor increase my job prospects?
Any anecdotes of econ major, comp sci minors getting good jobs?
depends on what field...
You can go into trading/trade logic type of role, or a developer. Totally depends. It wouldn't hurt for sure.
Best Minor Coursework Complement for IB? (Originally Posted: 09/30/2012)
hey guys,
Our school enforces a minor requirement where we have to take 12 hours of coursework in another business specialty. I am currently a Finance major and I was leaning towards an accounting or Management Information Systems minor but I am stuck on which to choose. Any specific suggestions?
history
There is no definitive best minor, so take what you are most interested in. That being said, accounting is a great double, as depth of accounting knowledge makes IB technical interview questions far easier. Economics, if a choice, is also a good pairing, as it teaches the logical thinking skills that sometimes are ignored in more computation and knowledge focused finance curricula (i.e. those where individuals can calculate option values with Black Scholes but have no intuitive understanding of what they're doing).
Do something outside of the box. You already have finance so you'll be like every other kid they will be looking at -- take an interesting major instead of accounting.
Foreign Language
Comp Sci Minor (Originally Posted: 09/20/2013)
I'm currently a rising junior economics major at a target school hoping to get into BB IBD by next summer. In the event that I want to go into technology after college, does having a comp sci minor significantly increase my job prospects? Would simply knowing the programming and taking basic programming classes be fine? I've heard mixed signals on this.
any advice?
What's your major?
Econ. Read the beginning.
anybody else have suggestions?
I don't think minor is enough, you need at least 2-3 years of CS classes in order to become good (IMO)... Do a double major.
I don't have time to do the whole major.......Would a comp sci minor increase my skillset significantly though? What if I wanted to do business tech or something along those lines?
bump any other input?
I've been thinking about this as well. Any more suggestions for this person?
Just do it if you enjoy it. Don't do it just to pad your resume. I've heard comp science involves lots of self learnings. i.e. you could get a job at a job at a bomb startup if you know how to code well, not necessarily if you graduated from stanford CS(although i'm sure you would also get the job if that is the case)
Minor in Comp Sci? (Originally Posted: 01/04/2011)
Im a math major that has the ability to add a comp sci minor with some extra work. Would it help my resume even though I dont have the complete comp sci background? Would it be valuable even if I dont go into algo trading? thanks so much
thanks a lot
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