Which Math Course, Calc 2, Stats 2 or Linear Algebra?
I am trying to figure out which of those courses would be best to prepare me for a general MSF degree (I only have calc 1 and stats 1 now) I am not sure which way to go, leaning towards stats because it seems more practical and utilizes software that could come in handy. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions. Thank you.
Pretty much every serious MSF program requires calculus / linear algebra / statistics / real analysis, so take as many of those as you can. Even if the program doesn't formally require so much math, math fluency always helps. In order of priority, and pretty much in sequence:
The further you get along the sequence, the more you will be able to spend time learning finance rather than math, which will reflect well for future interviews. Pick up Matlab along the way and you'll be solid.
Good list. I would throw in a PDE course if time permits. (Useful when you get to feynman-kac representations)
Hey notepad - out of curiosity, why is time series so low and real analysis so high?
Because one learns measure theory in real analysis, and probability is basically just measure theory. Probability is a pre-req for stochastic calculus (which I think is what he meant by time series), which is used in every part of derivatives pricing.
It's true that with basically no math or stats, you can go ahead and take a class that uses something like Hamilton to learn the classical theory, but you'll have absolutely no idea how to handle anything non-classical. The usual theory simply fails. Given the current industry focus on fat tails, measurement in the presence of microstructure noise, non-normality, and other non-standard setups, I think it's worth building up the math foundations to take a more advanced course instead.
At the bare minimum, calc 2, linear algebra, and a calc based prob/stats class. If you have time, then diff eq and calc 3 and an analysis course.
The people who took just the bare minimum requirements got absolutely slaughtered in my MFE.
Btw MBP it's 288 ;)
He wants msf not mfe.
Hmmm yeah to be fair I'm thinking more M. fin / Msc. Maybe you should just disregard my advice and relax =)
Sorry if I've confused anyone.
i don't understand how you can take linear algebra with out cal 2.......
And then there's manifolds :3
calc 1 is usually a prereq for la
It's ok Notepad, still useful for prospective quants!
Thank you for all the posts & suggestions. I am not going the quant route, but as TW Pepper said, the MSF. I will have only one semester to take the course/s and I am still not sure which of the 3 courses listed I should take. Only keeping in mind the MSF, which course would I take away the most applicable information/skills I would use during my course of study?
I say Calc 2. I you really need the stat background it's legitimately not that hard to self-study.
try to take calc 2 and la in the same semester dude!
linear algebra is ridiculously easy. You could teach it to yourself if you had to (serious). I'd go with Cal 2 if I were you.
yeah cuz calc 2 is really difficult =|
I agree that Calc 2 would be much more difficult to learn on your own than linear algebra.
As to original question - I say take stats. WAY more applicable than linear algebra - you will not be using linear algebra in an MSF, but an understanding of stats will go a long way. Probably need Calc 2 for a decent stats course though... but any stats would be beneficial if you have no experience in it at all.
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