College major (pls don't crucify me)
I know I'm going to get shit for this because it's posted about a lot, but honestly there are so many conflicting answers out there. I'm coming at a lower level ivy (brown) and 8n trying to decide what to major in. For getting onto wall Street, here are the different opinions I've heard
The most common is to just major in finance or economics. I like economics and would not mind majoring in it, but I have other interests too, some of which I'll only really have a chance to do in college.
Another one I hear is that finance and economics, while certainly fine, may be overlooked for "smarter" majors like math, applied math, or physics, particularly if someone is coming out of a target. I honestly don't see how physics has any relevance to finance, but is the fact that it suggests intelligence significant in getting a job?
Computer science seems to be popular. Not mentioned as much as economics, but sometimes I see it grouped with it.
Potential majors I'm looking at are: Economics CS-economics Computer science Applied math-CS Applied math-economics (can further specialize in mathematical finance). Physics Neuroscience
Any recommendations of what I should do? Is GPA a lot more relevant than actual major?
Your best bet would be to combine a STEM major plus econ. I'd recommend CS + econ because you can always fall back on programming if WS doesn't pan out. It gives you a tangible skill set, plus some grounding in business with the econ major. I studied finance + Mech E, which was a good choice looking back.
Thank you for the response! I'm thinking I might fill out the econ requirements so I have that major as a baseline and then from there, deciding whether I want to do a combined major or whether I want to just stick with econ alone. Also, for some tracks (for example, applied math-econ for mathematical finance) I have the option to do a bs as opposed to ba with extra class requirements. Would the bs be advantageous at all. or would it be just as good as a double or single major?
Definitely agree with this. While choosing a "smart" major can certainly be a positive, employers don't need their analysts to be the next Gauss. They need them to know how to model, churn out pitchbooks, etc. If you come out decent at programming that's definitely of far more use to most employers than knowing how to prove why bending your slice of pizza down its center prevents the tip from drooping.* *an actual problem from my differential geometry course
By coming out decent at programming, do you mean having it as a major or taking a few classes to get some basic skills?
This is exactly what I would suggest and/or do if I could go back in time. If you can add a minor in finance to that econ major, that would be even better.
I majored in physics - worked out just fine for me. If you can't figure out why physics might be relevant, then you're not smart enough for physics.
It also depends what you mean by Wall Street. If it's traditional IB, you don't necessarily need an applied science / math degree although it could help you stand out. That being said, a CS / physics degree might open quant finance doors not available to traditional econ / finance majors.
Assuming you aren't looking to do quantitative finance, I think the best bet is to take a major that interests you and get the absolute highest grades you can get (shoot for 4.0). An Ivy League degree + a solid internship(s) + high grades will open all the doors you want opened (outside of quantitative finance). (Also, since most Wall Street warriors, so to speak, end up in graduate school (usually for an MBA), having really high grades (even in an easier major) gives you a leg up on the competition.) And I'm sure Brown has some sort of finance/investments club, too, that you should participate in.
Then again if you're actually interested in the quant courses then knock yourself out. But Wall Street loves liberal arts majors from prestigious schools. However, if you went to a (relatively) pedestrian university (like me) then you really need a quant/finance major to break in.
Thank you so much for the reply!
Never go wrong with Econ ;)
The advice to get a degree in Comp Sci is popular, and so are the freshman enrollment rates, but the graduation rates--not so much. Finance, like IT and Medical, is a very broad field with many different fields requiring different skill-sets and personalities. What careers are you interested in? What type of work do you see yourself doing for the next 30 years?
put yourself in a hiring manager's shoes ... you are looking for someone who will hang around the office, enter data in the right spots and stay in the role for a few years
If you studied finance and maintained a reasonable GPA, I am confident you wont be totally lost inputting data. I am also reassured by the fact that you spent 4 years of university pursuing a degree in finance, had an internship or two in finance and are now pursuing jobs in finance.
The last thing I want after spending time recruiting, hiring and training an analyst is to have to go through this same process any sooner than necessary.
it's fucking stupid to want to go into FINANCE after university but not study finance while at university. I get it if someone made up there mind too late and could not change their major, but if you have the opportunity to change your major I would prefer to see that.
I think many (most?) of the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities don't offer finance. As I've mentioned in another thread, if I'm hiring for the analyst position I'm hiring the 4.0 finance major from the respected state university who is clearly a finance geek. But here's the thing--I've seen this first hand. Ivy Leaguers are generally so intelligent that they can be trained very quickly to be an analyst. So that's why "target school" kids can major in whatever they want.
As replier said there is no finance major at my school. Econ is probably the closest I can get. Or APMA-ECON with a specialization in mathematical finance.
echoing something already said before. assuming you don't want to do quantitative finance...
major in whatever the hell you want. if you want to do banking, you can take accounting prep courses online, but you're at an Ivy, major in what you want.
To leave doors open to the more quantitative side (which I might actually be more likely to do, though definitely not 100%), would CS-Econ, APMA-Econ, or Econ+Physics put me in a good position?
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