Undergrad Degree

I am on the finance track and think that it is best suited for breaking into trading. Traders are known as having a reasonable amount of science background in some instances as well. I am going to double major or minor in math to help cover my bases and make myself more marketable. For some trading desks it helps to know a good deal of math (calc III/real analysis/etc). I would say drop accounting for finance but wait for a second opinion.

i'm also from a non target school.

thanks for the response.

ditto

It might also come down to your work experience as well...coming from a non target and all. If you still have the opportunity to do some sort of work in the securities/trading field make sure to take full advantage of that. Breaking in from non target is hard, but w/ a good solid background (GPA, major, etc) and relevant experience it is easily possible.

My school has a dual program where you get your BA and Masters in Economics and it only requires one additional semester after your 4 years. Should I enroll in this program, or just stick to accounting or finance?

get a real mba from a top tier school. all others are worth less. (not worthless, but worth less).

I studied engineering and work at a BB. In fact, I would say that 30-40% of the analyst class is non-business. Lots of engineers from CalTech, MIT, and the like, some english and history, etc. Very diverse.

a lot of quant work will help you prepare to be a trader, but it pays to be well rounded

what is the highest level of math recommended?

major doesnt matter. its about how good you are. itll help if you've been trading personally

Don't really think personal trading appies to most trading positions. Much of it is modeling and structing to optimize the spread b/w buy and exit strategies. Math majors do well. Engineering majors do well. Surprisingly, I find that the ones that are really on the fast track are computer science majors. Programming goes a long way. If you can code and program, you are way ahead of the game.

Regarding MBA... It matters a lot on the banking side but not as prevalant on the trading side since the majority do not have MBA's.

It doesn't matter what your major is. They want polished, smart people, like the ones that come from Ivy's. If you don't come form an Ivy then it's best to know someone.

A math/ physics major defenitely helps, but that, of course, doesn't mean that it's the only way to get into S&T!!

try getting a Math + Economics major. Does wonders for S&T.

to break into trading, best major is probably a quantitative one.

Comp Science, Math, Physics etc..

Programming is a big plus as well

engineering probably too.

why econ?

You guys seem to show that those only w/ math specific majors can get the job. While it may help, you also have guys that just do plain econ and finance and do just fine.

Just curious as to what time you guys get in in the morning on avg (i've heard diff answers and it varies from 6:15 to after 7)? But you're out of the office earlier than anyone else, which is always nice I guess.

How about operations reserach & engineering? It's a undergraduate program that combines engineering and business/finance.

math or physics. esp if you are thinking of engineering, I would do physics. Much more math intensive, far more impressive.