Best Courses To Supplement Finance Major
Hi,
So basically, I'm considering changing my major to finance and I was wondering what are some good electives and whatnot to supplement it. I don't want to look like a retard that took a relatively soft major, so I was thinking about adding a few math or physics classes (I really, really enjoy physics and was thinking about taking a calc-based physics series to enhance my problem solving skills) to make me more marketable since even accounting is probably more difficult than finance. Any suggestions about which ones I should take? I know a lot of you will recommend econometrics, but I've already declared a minor in econ and frankly, I hate it, so I just want to finish off whatever courses I have left for the minor and then be done with it. I'm more interested in math/physics, so anything in those would be ideal.
Also, I'm really into capital budgeting and assessing the financial relevance of projects, so which kinds of careers will offer similar work to this (aside from IB of course) and what are some good classes to supplement this?
Thanks!
comp sci math stats
Any specific math courses? I took the basic stat and up to integral calc, but what else should I take? Also, is physics worthless, because I think physics > math in terms of how much I personally like it.
I've been taking math, everything from integral calculus, discrete numbers, linear algebra to the mathematics of derivatives.
The math is not about the content knowledge, it's about the way it teaches you to critically think and problem solve. Just take any upper lever math.
sounds like you should be an engineer
From math: as much linear algebra as you can handle, and as much numerical analysis as you can handle. if you are a whiz, stochastic calculus and differential equations on top of that. From statistics: one rigorous probability course. measure theory if you want to challenge yourself and are considering a ph.d. in finance at any point in your life. From econ: econometrics. the rest of the econ that i took was pretty worthless for anything. From your b-school: a capital markets course.
If you really want to bend your mind, take topology. One of the most fascinating courses I took in undergrad.
Course selection help wanted (Originally Posted: 12/06/2015)
Hello, I'm new to this site, but it seems like a great place to come for finance related things. I'm in need of advice on the best paths to achieving my goal of working for a hedge fund (I haven't decided on any specific positions). I will be going into high school next year, and I would like to know what courses I should take, what universities to target, and any other advice.
I am 100% certain that finance is the field that I want to work in, and I have wanted this for years. My interest started when I was 9 or 10 years old, I'm not sure how I got interested but it's probably due to the fact that my uncle is a stockbroker. Ever since then I've been reading things about the finance industry in my spare time, and every time it reassures me that this is the field I want to work in.
Once again, any advice is helpful, and thank you in advance!
Lol you're 13 years old and want to get in a Hedge Fund? Troll post. Is this that @ibankorihop'' kid? Generally speaking people don't usually get in a Hedge Fund straight out college. Plenty have prior experience at top Asset Management shops like Fidelity, BlackRock, etc. Others may come from equity research, ibd, s&t, etc.
1) This is why I only recently joined. I knew that people wouldn't take me seriously. Everyone has to start their path somewhere, and I figured taking the right path in highschool would be a good start.
2)I realise what you have said, and I knew that I would need to do other jobs first. I just want a recommended path to my goal.
if serious:
make good grades, chase hot girls, play sports
idk what courses youll be able to select -- especially as a freshman. take a comp sci class, its only going to get more important
You'll be double your current age before landing a decent HF gig. As for subjects, do a lot of quant (advanced math), programming, finance subjects.
Choosing Class for my Final Semester (Originally Posted: 11/10/2014)
Hi guys, I'm about to be selecting classes for my last semester in college. After graduating I'll be working on a BB MBS trading desk. I'm wondering what I should focus on studying to be best prepared for next year. I'm a Finance and Accounting major and a Statistics minor so those are pretty well covered.
Trying to decide between: Macroeconomics Econometrics Object-oriented programming
I've already taken one programming course and I feel like I could teach myself a lot of that anyway (I'm pretty good with VBA after this past summer). I'm pretty interested in Macro stuff and have obviously considered the possibility of trying to get into a macro-focused hedge fund later on so I feel like the Macroeconomics course could be good. I've already had basic courses covering Macro but this would be more in depth. Finally, the Econometrics course sounds interesting and looks to be pretty rigorous but I have a relatively strong background in math/stats so I think it could be a good opportunity to apply some of the theory I've learned. Please let me know your thoughts
I'd go for Econometrics or object oriented programming,but depends if you want to have a quant career later on.
I don't think I do though. I'd like to move from the sell-side to some sort of buyside fixed-income role but I don't know that I want something that's way more technical than what I'll be doing on the sell-side
Choose the easiest of the 3 and enjoy your final semester.
Take an english lit or philosophy course. Something fun that you'll most likely never do again and that will round you out a bit. You have a job and it sounds like you have quant courses outside of your major/minor behind you. Maybe I'm wrong because I was nowhere close to a quant but I don't think taking one, or a few, more tough quantitative course will do anything more for you. After college I very often read books and independently studied topics related to econ, finance, etc but I only picked up something interesting like Dostoevsky or Plato a hand full of times. And reading a Socratic dialogue is far more interesting when you have a class of people with whom to discuss it.
I appreciate the insight and I agree. However, I took a Philosophy course this semester which already got me interested in the subject and I think it's something I could study without the help of a course. I considered taking another Philosophy course (Philosophy of Mathematics is particularly interesting to me) but I chose to take a U.S. Foreign Policy course instead. However, since I already have a free elective/fun class I thought I would take something else that would be more relevant.
sophomore choosing courses for the spring semester (Originally Posted: 10/21/2013)
.
managerial isn't really helpful for banking.
from what my friends at USC have told me, i'd take investments and the m&a course.
Which course should I choose? (Originally Posted: 03/07/2012)
I'm wondering which course between http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/statistics/modules/st9/st906/ Financial Time Series Analysis, http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/statistics/modules/st9/st909/ Continuous Time Series & Interest Rate Models or http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/ug/modules/3rd/ec306/ Econometrics 2: Time Series. I aim at landing an equity derivatives trading position,so Iwant to know if I need or can I really use that stuff. Thanks in advance!!!
for equity derivative trading, mostly you don't need those stuff
Take whatever interests you the most.
Coffee grabbing 101.
On a serious note, pick what you will enjoy. Don't put yourself through a hard course just to marginally (this is moot) improve your chances.
Chances are as an SA, the trader wont give a flying fudge on whether you did financial time series or continuous time series or a HBO series.
Ditto above. If you want some background on options, I recommend Natenberg's book.
Choosing courses (Originally Posted: 07/15/2013)
I
m entering senior year and am choosing courses soon. I only need to take a couple more finance classes to fulfill my requirements and am wondering if I should continue to take harder finance classes vs easier elective classes. Id rather boost my GPA than have it suffer, as I know you learn everything on the job anyway. But Im a bit worried that when I go to take the <abbr title="Chartered Financial Analyst"><abbr title="Chartered Financial Analyst">CFA</abbr></abbr> Ill be at a slight disadvantage.Thoughts?
You can definitely self teach yourself everything for the CFA. So you could will take gpa booster courses.
...stupidest logic that I've read in a while. You'd rather take easy classes to help your gpa than take challenging classes that you may actually get something from. If you're in your last year, then your GPA probably is what it is. Figure out where you want your career to go, and tailor your course choices to that. You have to pay thousands of dollars for those classes. Make them count.
Best College Class Schedule... (Originally Posted: 02/26/2008)
I just met with my adviser a couple weeks ago and will be handing in my schedule for the upcoming semester. I think everyone has a strategy they want to employ when making theirs (i.e. no class before 10am, classes M-Th only, etc.), but what was the best class schedule you ever had when in college. I realize this could be subjective based on what one person desires/another person doesn't, but let's hear it. Mine last semester was a personal favorite:
Monday: Intermediate Financial Reporting (12:30-1:45), Intro to Money & Banking (Econ)( 2 - 3:15)
Tuesday: Cost Accounting (3-4:15), Business Communications (4:30-5:45)
Wednesday: Same as Monday
Thursday: Same as Tuesday + Intro to Finance (6-8:30)
Friday: No class
I loved this schedule. It gave me tons of flexibility in the morning (able to do work from the previous night, sleep in, work out, etc) and it allowed me to intern without really cutting into studying time. Further, my night class was awesome. I was excited to take Intro to Finance (compared to other classes) and my teacher ended up being a very cool guy with a good bit of industry experience.
So let's hear it. What's your best schedule you ever had?
last semester of college, never going to class except for midterms and finals.
Last semester of college. I actually had a full schedule, but never had class before 12:30pm. Fridays off as well. I basically went to 2 out of my 4 classes, only because attendance mattered in them (and even then, I barely went).
I had a friend, not unlike Bateman, who had 1 class last semester and he only went on the midterm and final. The dude straight up took a 3 week vacation in the middle of the semester and still managed to get a C. He is a legend as far as I'm concerned.
Haha...that's great. Reminds me of Freshman year when I had two classes (out of five) where there was no reason to show up as long as you read on your own. I went to class on the first day for my Macroecon and Astronomy classes and came back for the midterms/finals (and I think a review session here and there).
In all, I spent roughly 6 hours in class per week...drank four nights per week...and still ended up with close to a 4.0.
On second thought, I rescind my original post -- what I just mentioned was my best class schedule ever.
Class on tuesday and thursday, 1:30-3:30.
That's it.
One quarter my senior year I had class Mondays and Tuesdays only and they didnt start until 11 AM on Monday and 2 PM Tuesday.
My second semester senior year - I have:
Tuesday: Economics 9:30 Strategy 12:00 Advanced Finance 1:30
Home by 3pm. No class MWF. My major activity now is going out 5 nights a week :) Last chance to get it all out for the next 2 years...
Current Junior Schedule...
MWF - No classes - Intern 9-5pm Tuesday - 3 classes back-to-back-to-back 1:10 - 5:50 Thursday - 4 classes back-to-back-to-back, break, class 1:10 - 5:50, 7:40 - 10:00pm
But next year, 2nd semester, I'll be taking 2 classes only. No work either. Harhar!
Final semester..senior year. Three classes.
Monday 9-12 Monday 3-6 Friday 3-6
Fucking sweet. Go ART SCHOOL!
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
atrop - that is ridiculous! You had a three day weekend and then the actual weekend!
Senior year
No Class MWF Back to back classes from 8am to 9pm on Tuesday and Thursday though :(
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