Derivatives class in college

If I am 100% positive that I will not pursue a career in ibanking, is there a point in taking a derivatives class? Should I take some easier courses like international financial markets?

What are some good courses for Asset Management/FA

15 Comments
 
makers markJust take what you're most interested in-otherwise it will suck

I disagree with this sentiment. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and learn to like what you have to do.

-MBP
 
everythingsucks
makers markJust take what you're most interested in-otherwise it will suck

I disagree with this sentiment. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and learn to like what you have to do.

I agree with everythingsucks.

You should take the derivatives class whether you like it or not. I took one last semester and it was basically a math class, but it was really helpful. I learned a lot about the basics of options, futures, forwards, swaps, etc.

MKballer
 
mkballerYou should take the derivatives class whether you like it or not. I took one last semester and it was basically a math class, but it was really helpful. I learned a lot about the basics of options, futures, forwards, swaps, etc.

Which book did you use?

 
Best Response
mkballer
everythingsucks
makers markJust take what you're most interested in-otherwise it will suck

I disagree with this sentiment. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and learn to like what you have to do.

I agree with everythingsucks.

...

i see what you did there.

Gekko21
econ
mkballer econ, we used Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives by John Hull, 7th ed.

Which is supposed to be a pretty good book, right? What'd you think of it, personally?

It's not too bad and it is used by nearly every college derivatives course. The good thing about it is that there are end of chapter questions and problems so that you can practice actually doing the math yourself--Natenberg doesn't have that option.

agree. i'm not fantastic at maths but the concepts from the book were WAY more accessible than the disaster of a book i had envisioned in my mind. especially after attempting to read my econometrics textbook in first year, which i gave up on.

 

Id quis qui magnam qui quia sint necessitatibus. Beatae nihil fuga amet ut est excepturi. Sit sed voluptatem et omnis atque quas accusamus. Voluptatem ut perspiciatis qui eveniet perspiciatis. Fugit labore ipsa aperiam.

Velit rerum dolorem corrupti natus. Laboriosam iste aut quod architecto. Libero omnis et quidem fuga distinctio nostrum rem. Rerum voluptas commodi repellat aut id nesciunt. Unde maxime a et et.

Hic eum et eum ullam. Et perspiciatis quia voluptatum voluptate sunt. Quas facilis illo aut ipsum dicta est sapiente. Qui expedita aperiam non autem ducimus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”