Career Advice - Work out the gate then MFE or MFE first?

I'm in my fifth year at a University in Ottawa (Canada (brb kms)) in Finance and definitely didn't apply myself to the extent I know I should've as the coursework was utter garbage and I felt more like I was an advanced English Major than a Finance major where I had been hoping for higher level maths so I had no motivation to study or pay attention and was busy day trading options for myself lmao which I do semi-decently at and learning VBA and Python.

I've done 3 internships one of which was semi-finance related where I was doing Underwriting for a firm on Bay Street. The other two was a trash government coop and a crown corporation coop. I also did an exchange in Europe.

Sitting on a 7.2 which is equivalent to a 76/78% average out of 100% give or take so a 3.3

If I go balls to the wall in my upcoming final term I can pull off an 8.0 final so a 3.7 but at minimum I know I can definitely get to the 3.5.

Applied to numerous S&T and IB Internships over the years and never got anywhere as I wasn't chosen for the school's student run investment fund because my exchange got in the way and the year I applied they were going ham on gender equalization and took in tonnes of girls at the expense of better qualified guys. Still my fault though and I take ownership.

The IB dream never appealed to me but since first year I've really wanted to get into S&T but now I'm aiming for something quantitative or mathematical since that's the direction the fields going.

Is it better to pick up some bullshit generic tech job or advisory/consulting job or internal job with some Fortune 500 and work for a few years and then go get a Masters in Financial Engineering / Financial Mathematics and end up working as a quant or should I go direct to the MFE?

Been debating this for 2 months now internally and can't conclude what the better EV play is.

Time for some second opinions

Thanks

 

Could I handle it if I took the interview this month? 100% not

Could I handle it 1.5-2 years from now after studying this niche more in depth and undergoing a math & programming intensive Masters compared to a Liberal Arts-esque Finance Undergrad? Most definitely

 

incoming mfe student here. I would go straight for mfe but you might have some trouble getting into a good program because of the lack of math courses. At the minimum you need up to calc III, linear algebra, calculus-based probability, and some programming courses.

imo, it's only worth doing the top programs because they place you in quant trading or developer roles at a bank or hedge fund. Otherwise many lower tier programs place you in "back-office" quant roles like risk, model validation, etc. Nothing wrong with those fields but depends what you're looking for.

I would try to do some sort of trading project that uses quantitative techniques, kill the GRE if you're applying to US schools, and shoot your shot.

 
Most Helpful

Expedita et nisi enim atque omnis. Alias ipsum suscipit unde cupiditate. Et quam consequatur inventore nam fugit qui. Quidem ea odio dolor molestias in dolores. Illo voluptatem quod ut perspiciatis voluptas ut et. Qui necessitatibus cum sit dolor sit.

Explicabo vitae voluptatum ut culpa qui quae maxime. Non illo vitae quos consequatur necessitatibus laudantium. Sequi et repellendus magni iusto quia a placeat. Id id voluptatem in dolor. Quasi quia odio natus illum dolor accusantium.

Eligendi dolor architecto quo magnam vitae ut dolorem. Eum id id dicta unde architecto. Dolore fuga quia delectus. Dolore doloribus quis ut corrupti. Itaque perferendis debitis eos consequatur ipsam. Eius tempore nisi mollitia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”