How do I know if I have the math skills necessary to become a quant?

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just keep taking the next level up math classes...differential equations, linear algebra, etc...also suggest you start taking computer science and programming classes

Update:

Quant life seems tough tbh

Since I would say I have decent social skills to pursue something where I'm much more confident I can rely on my soft skills to get ahead

But I want to something self fulfilling and quant seems to be more up that alley, the competition is mind boggling though

If you want to set yourself up for the math needed, take classes in:

• Statistics (Multivariate stats, Time series and stochastic processes, Inference, data intensive / big data statistics, stochastic calculus)
• Machine Learning ("Classical" ML, Deep Learning)
• Basic Optimization classes
• General Big Data classes - you'll often be working with large data sets and huge amounts of inputs
• CS classes (Data structures and Algorithms, Database systems, Concurrent / data intensive computing)

Quants work with a wide variety of data. You have tons of potential inputs, and you're going to work with large amounts of data - one thing is to know how to deal with that data in theory, another thing is to do it in practicality.

Will add that stochastic is actually only used in a few areas of quant strats; most important classes you will take are Statistics, Optimization/overfitting, and by far the most important and fundamental item in applied math: Linear Algebra.

Take some upper-level math and computer science classes, if you like them and/or can do well in them, you can probably get through quant interviews.

For starters:

• Linear Algebra / Vector Spaces
• Calculus-based probability and statistics
• Stochastic Processes
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Machine Learning
• Parallel Computing

There are a lot of types of quants, from mathematics PhDs who use stochastic calculus on a daily basis to glorified programmers.

Do You Look Like A Quant? you have to look the part first.

Quant is a route I could've gone down with my degree, but I've always thought the quants seemed pretty isolated from the rest of the firm. May be different at places like Two Sigma but at a BB I'm not sure being a quant is where you want to be.

You may actually be good at math, but asking your question only after calc 2 is beyond useless--simply insufficient data. You should try a few other math classes: multivariable, linear algebra, induction, etc… they are still considered basic in Math anyway and they won't waste your time, believe me.

As corny as it sounds, college is really there to explore your potentials, to discover who you are and who you aren't. Don't overlook this, because you won't be given another chance like that once you graduate. Try things as much as you can so you don't regret it later in your life. It's too sad to abandon your potential just because of what others have already achieved.

Personally, I think solid quant background + great social skills will set you up better than any of your business major peers…

As someone who slogged through an applied math double major and hated almost every course, the answer will become apparent over time.

First course I took was Calc 3. I had an A going into the final because each exam had been a variation of: if you did the homework and know how to apply the theorem as written in the book you are fine.

The final was very theoretical in nature. No longer 'Repeat the theorem to solve for a discrete answer' but 'given how this theorem works, give me a set of solutions/very general answer that displays an actual understanding of the math'. There was a set of questions which was 'true/false, if false explain why' that I just wrote true to all of them. Ended up with a fking B- in the class solely of that final grade.

Other math courses took the same route. The theoretical ones kicked my ass, the ones which were practical I did much better in. Long story short, if you want to be a quant you need to love math and have a deeper understanding of it than monkey see monkey do repetition.

Use the social skills you’ve alluded to (multiple times) and go network with some people in the field in person.

If that feels more uncomfortable than asking strangers online, maybe being a quant IS the right path for you....

Quantitative finance is quite vast. There are people who succeed with just a bachelors degree and people who have PhDs from top institutions and everything in between.

There are specific areas of quantitative finance that require PhD level mathematics knowledge. These are usually roles involving derivatives pricing requiring stochastic calculus or some obscure field of math. These are usually sell side roles at banks.

Surprisingly, buyside quant is actually significantly less complex in terms of the type of math that you need to know. Mostly upper level undergraduate math is fine. Multivariate stats, linear algebra, optimization, etc. A lot of the difficulty is centered around making sure that you don't misuse the mathematics that you know as well as ensuring that data is high quality. What separates the best buyside quants is the ability to be creative with what you know and conduct research effectively and efficiently. Having a PhD often makes you better at this as it gives you a lot of practice in both being creative and doing research but I think people often think that PhD level mathematics is required. Usually it is not.

Frankly it is rather humorous for you to be judging your skillset for quant at Calc 2 level. I majored in Stats - Data Science focus at a tech-heavy uni. Going in, I LOVED math, and incidentally scored 800 in the subject on SATs, so ended up qualifying for intermediate calcs from the get go. Despite their more accelerated rigor, those classes were a poor indication of ability because everybody in the "accelerated" program aced them, but only about 60% passed Stats come next semester.

The whole major was about machine learning, prediction, and reading massive data sets, so the areas we hit hard, and are an excellent indicator of field aptitude, were multivariable calc and linear algebra, stats (intermediate/advanced levels especially), and computer science. If you want to pursue the focus then incorporate some of these in your academics early on, if possible, and if you ace them or feel a lot of comfort with them then you've got the skill to proceed into the heavy stuff.