Interested in trading... need some guidance.

I'm a college student who just finished my freshman year, majoring in CompSci and Math at a non-target. I've had my eyes on algorithmic trading and quant stuff for some time. This summer I'm interning at a start-up (data analysis/ analytics work).

I've looked through my school's alumni network, and haven't found much luck in finding alumni in finance. I've thought of transferring to a target (some Ivies- Penn, Cornell, Brown), or some semi-targets (UVa, Michigan, CMU, Rice), etc. I'm doing well academically- 3.9/4.0, and have some good ECs, so transferring shouldn't too bad.

- What do banks/hedge funds/prop shops look for when hiring traders? I'm interested in places such as Jane Street, Tower Research, RenTech, AQR, Two Sigma, D.E. Shaw, etc.

- What's the outlook for trading, say for the next 5, 10, 20 years? Is this a career worth pursuing? How have the post financial crash legal regulations affected the industry? Is this a sustainable career?

7 Comments
 
klaasv

Don't know I am not from the US. I do know some prop shops are mainly focused on skills instead of background/grades.

Incorrect. Most of the notable prop trading places recruit almost exclusively from a hand full of schools, specifically mit, u chicago, caltech and similar science focused schools.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 
seabird klaasv:

Don't know I am not from the US. I do know some prop shops are mainly focused on skills instead of background/grades.

Incorrect. Most of the notable prop trading places recruit almost exclusively from a hand full of schools, specifically mit, u chicago, caltech and similar science focused schools.

Maybe in the US. In Europe it is usually enough to have an university degree (usually Masters degree). But then again in Europe not all people can attend University so you already have huge cut in people who can apply.
 
seabird klaasv:

Don't know I am not from the US. I do know some prop shops are mainly focused on skills instead of background/grades.

Incorrect. Most of the notable prop trading places recruit almost exclusively from a hand full of schools, specifically mit, u chicago, caltech and similar science focused schools.

Agreed. It's the same in Europe.

 

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