Undergrad major for statistics? and what schools?
Hey monkeys,
I am currently a high school senior and don't have a fantastic GPA. Around a 3.65. But I go to a TOP private school in Georgia, as in the top 5 prep schools. I hope to be able to get into NYU, UVA, or UM. Which of those is the best? I have great ACT scores and have been on the varsity track team since sophomore year. So any other good schools i may have overlooked? But a place like Harvard is obviously out of the question. And would statistics be the best major for trying to get a job in a prop shop or hedge fund?
Thanks!!
Don't sell yourself short. 3.6 GPA is great. Schools look for other things besides GPA. Apply to more (and better) schools. I had a terrible time at NYU and transferred to Columbia with ease.
No, finance would be the best major. No one uses more than very basic stats for a fundamentally-based role (e.g., value investing), and the quant-heavy roles require PhD math. Most business schools require at least one stats course from what I have seen, which will already be overkill for working on the buy side.
^ I would disagree with this post simply because I think majoring in a more quantitative discipline that requires "proof" courses develops critical thinking skills that end up being very useful later on (i.e. for GMAT, decision making, etc.). Finance major doesn't do this.
You can make the same argument about English Lit. We're talking about getting a job and what skills that requires. No one cares if you can QED when it comes to making money in the market.
GTFO HIGHSCHOOLER
Why stats when CS/Applied Math is desired way more?
Since you go to a prep school, chances are you're not hurting for money. Send out apps to as many colleges as you want, and after you have acceptance letters in hand, then post a thread asking for advice.
As for majors, choose whichever one you think you can get a 4.0 in, but within reason. See the link UncleMilty gave. Personally, I don't give any brownie points for choosing STEM. In fact, I put Econ/Finance majors ahead of all others, since they are putting all their eggs in one (my) basket, and are clearly more passionate about Banking than other majors. If your GPA is below 3.6, I insta-ding you. Is it fair? No, but since there are dozens of other applicants who clear the 3.6 threshold, and have everything that you do, I can do so.
Far as I know, most people you'll be dealing with speak English...Unless you're strong enough to hold a business conversation in the language, I can't imagine it being a huge edge.
The two most important languages in the world besides English are Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Japan is a decaying island, don't waste your time on that language (source: I lived there for over a year). It would take you at least 2-3 years of full-time studying to be business proficient in Japanese unless you already had a background. Way easier to just hire a Japanese person to translate.
In general though, languages don't help unless you are CRISP -- you have to be totally fluent or it doesn't really count in the real world.
For someone who is a native English speaker I just can't see the benefit of trying to learn Mandarin.
For the same amount of time you could probably learn Spanish/Portuguese/French (all 3).
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