MFE/MS in Mathematics or Aerospace Engineering

Hey guys this is going to seem weird but I'm in a bit of dilemma about what to do with my life.

Right now I'm working as an accountant basically at a small company that sells parts for airplane manufacturers.

I've had experience in the past working for a BB as a financial advisor and understand to a degree what wall st is like.

I live in NYC btw. I have a 3.2 Gpa BA in Economics from a super non target. I really struggled to get any kind of job after graduation.

Recently I was accepted into an Aerospace Engineering program.

I've narrowed down my two options based on my interests:

Path 1: Get a MS in mathematics, get a good gpa in my MS and take the GRE and apply to MFE programs so I'm competitive at Baruch, UCB etc the top MFE programs.

Path 2: Start my BS in Aerospace Engineering.

Now I enjoy mathematics, physics, finance and statistics as subjects, I want top learn more and I care about them not just as a means to an end.

My true passion in life has been aircraft and spacecraft. I'm a huge nerd in that regard going to museums alone and being in awe studying every little detail.

But having worked at a BB I also caught the prestige bug and going out on the town in Manhattan, seeing professionals interact at the top of their game, the feeling of superiority over others. Plus the starting salary for MFE grads is much higher.

I hate mindless work in excel, I'm doing it right now and it bores me and that's what worries me about my MFE plan that the subject mater is not as interesting as say propulsion dynamics of a Saturn V rocket.

I think securities trading is foolish on a per second basis, a simple random walk that can't be predicted on a second to second or minute to minute basis. I do enjoy subject matter related to credit and interest rate risk, bond pricing and option pricing.

I feel my mindset going in is to try and do the least amount of work possible for the MFE and still get the most amount of prestige and money and "yeah I'm the boss" status. The subject matter is not my attraction.

I'm in it for the prestige, money and feeling of superiority when it comes to finance.

Is that enough to carry most people through?

4 Comments
 

If you have a true passion for advanced mathematics and stats and engineering, investment banking is not where you want to be. Why not pursue your engineering passion and end up at startup, adding value through creating innovative products than wasiting time thinking about buying/selling companies or raising capital for them. Trust me, he who owns the equity and not raises it, is the true man on wall st...

 

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