What major?

Future UW Madison student here. I’m planning on majoring in economics but I also have interests in math, physics, CS and business.

I’m not sure what combo to go with though. Eco + CS? Eco + math? CS + math? Or, to be competitive, should I be one of those guys doing a “Business: Finance, Investment and Banking” BBA? I’d like to keep my options open as far as possible, and hence I’d probably need math too. 

One more thing. Do I really have to transfer? My parents are suggesting that I keep it as an option but I think I’m gonna have a good time at Madison and apparently it does have SOME exposure, such as through the UW Madison Investment Banking Club. A lot of folks on LinkedIn who are in the field also seem to have been alumni.

What about the pipeline for quants as well? I’m not sure what to major in when considering all this.

8 Comments
 

Even still, IB out of UW Madison means you won’t have great exits, which is kinda the whole point of it for most people. It’s not a bad school and you can definitely succeed out of there but for the simple purpose of making things easier for yourself and having a better collegiate and professional experience, transfer out of there ASAP

 

I second the transferring. It's not a bad school by any means, but if you are committed to this path, TRANSFER! UT UCB UV UNC would be your best bet. Of course, if you can transfer into Harvard, do it but highly unlikely. Keep a 4.0 do clubs and volunteer activities you know the drill good luck.

 

Absolutely. USC is a great school and a HUGE upgrade over UW for IB and PE placement. The girls over there are great and obviously the weather and general environment in LA would be a huge upgrade over Madison. No reason not to take it

 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

Major and Minor Combinations:

  1. Economics + Computer Science (CS):

    • Economics might not offer enough hard quantitative skills.
    • CS can provide a strong technical background, useful for quant roles.
  2. Economics + Math:

    • Math is crucial for quantitative finance.
    • This combination can be beneficial but might lack the technical edge provided by CS.
  3. CS + Math:

    • This is a strong combination for quant finance.
    • Provides both technical and quantitative skills.
  4. Business: Finance, Investment, and Banking BBA:

    • This can keep your options open in finance.
    • However, it might not be as quantitatively rigorous as a CS or Math major.

Additional Considerations:

  • Interest and Aptitude: Choose subjects that genuinely interest you. This will help you excel and maintain a high GPA.
  • Quantitative Finance Path: If you're aiming for quant finance, consider majors like Math, Physics, or CS. These often lead to PhD paths, which are common in the field.
  • Minor Choices:
    • If you major in Math or Physics, consider minoring in CS.
    • If you major in CS, consider minoring in Math or Statistics.

Transfer Considerations:

  • Exposure and Opportunities: UW Madison has some exposure through clubs like the Investment Banking Club.
  • LinkedIn Alumni: Many professionals in the field are UW Madison alumni, indicating a viable pipeline.
  • PhD Programs: If you aim for a PhD, transferring might be worth considering, but it's not mandatory.

Pipeline for Quants:

  • Internships and Research: Apply for internships and research opportunities to build your profile.
  • Competitions: Participate in math competitions like the Putnam test to demonstrate quantitative ability.
  • Quantopian: Experiment with platforms like Quantopian to learn programming, finance, and math.

Final Advice:

  • Explore Interests: Take introductory courses in your areas of interest to see what you enjoy.
  • Backup Plans: Consider having a backup plan like an MFE (Master of Financial Engineering) if you don't pursue a PhD.

Remember, it's essential to figure out what you like and what you're good at, and then align your major and career path accordingly.

Sources: Deciding on quantitive majors/career path?, What are the different career areas of wallstreet?, Majoring in Wall Street?, BAML Front-office quant vs Prop Shop Trading, MBB vs Quant at IBank

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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