Undergrad: UVA McIntire vs Cornell Dyson
I was accepted into UVA and was given the Transfer Option by Dyson (where I go to school for one year and then transfer with priority as a second year at Cornell). I am really interested in the intersection of math, statistics, cs, and finance, so I am hoping to be some sort of quantitative trader.
If I continue my four years at UVA and McIntire, I would be able to get a BS in Commerce with a concentration in finance, a track in quantitative finance, a double major with financial mathematics, and a minor in computer science. Because UVA accepts a lot of credits I have, I wouldn't have to take any random classes and I would be able to do the double major and minor, and still have space to take some classes in statistics or economics.
However, if I choose to go to Cornell after a year, I would only be able to get a BS in Applied Economics or Quantitative Methods with a concentration in finance. I would not be able to double major because I would have to complete many gen ed classes as a part of the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences (weird?). Classes at Cornell are known to be hard as well, so that is also a downside.
I do not have to worry about cost, as both schools would give almost full financial aid. As much as I want to say I do not care about the social scene, I do, and it seems that UVA would be more fun, and I would find more people to get along with.
The big question is that is Cornell Dyson really that much better than UVA McIntire that I should give up the benefits I listed to pursue finance at Dyson if I want to go into quantitative finance?
Thanks for any insight!
If you want to be a pure quant trader then it really won’t matter if you have a background in finance or not.
A large portion of quants major in physics, maths, stats, engineering, CS etc.
I would choose the school better for the above fields because that’s where they’ll recruit from (likely Cornell, though not 100%). McIntire is great for traditional roles in finance like IB but I’m doubtful many really break into Jane St etc from there.
As someone in McIntire, this is correct. Great for traditional finance, but nowhere near as good for quant.
If I was in your position, I would plan on following through with the Dyson transfer
Thanks for the helpful comment. So if I do transfer to Dyson, should I do the degree in AEM with quantitative methods and finance?
I’m a 1st-year at Dyson. If you transfer here, your major is automatically in AEM and you’re required to take at least 4 classes in quantitative methods (one of them which you choose). Quantitative Methods isn’t a concentration like you make it sound; it’s a required part of the curriculum. Finance and Business Analytics, for example, are 2 of the 11 concentrations that you can choose (you can do up to 2 concentrations btw). I’m planning to concentrate in finance and minor in CS. Aiming for a similar career and will likely do a 1-2 year MFE program in the future. Hope this helps.
How is this even a question? Obviously Dyson.
The UVA quantitative finance track is a joke. Basically you tack on a couple stats courses to finance. Have worked with several people who have done the UVA stuff, and completely underwhelmed by all of them. Less out of my sphere of knowledge, but for UVA from my understanding is that fraternity life is important so even though it is more fun, it is only more fun for the right people, while at Cornell you aren't missing out if you don't do greek life.
The real answer is CS/Math, forget business.
What about finance? I never wanted to go into business, I was hoping to just do finance along with math and cs. Would it be better to do Dyson finance or try to go into some engineering school? It seems that I have been misled up to this point, so any help would be amazing.
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