tl;dr - have somewhat relevant experience at elite PE but only with real assets, have weak understanding of finance outside of real estate, weak understanding of data science (but I used to be above the curve), graduated from a semi-/target undergrad with BSc Finance & Data Science - which graduate program is better-regarded when recruiting for HFs?
I am looking at potential graduate school programs with the intention of breaking into quantitative finance at a HF and am having a difficult time deciding whether to pursue an MBA, MS Data Science, or MS Finance given my current skills/experience and position.
For context, I have experience in a PM role at a top-tier REPE shop; however, the role is only tangentially relevant given the fact that PMs at my firm do not drive investment decisions for the most part. The portfolio analytics, reporting, and exposure to the underlying assets may have some relevance, but the biggest differentiators are that the assets are primarily real estate, our team does not generate investment theses, and we only recommend investment-related decisions when it affects our fund-level returns (such as dispositions).
My undergraduate degree is from a non/semi-target for hedge funds / target for IB (not an ivy, but well-known and strong presence on Wall Street) - BSc in Finance & Data Science. I am not sufficiently confident that the brand name of my alma mater will carry me far enough to an elite HF, but fairly confident I could land a role at a boutique/family office-type gig.
In terms of technical ability, my finance knowledge is sub-par outside of real estate (you would probably question whether I studied Finance in undergrad if you had me pitch a stock to you). My programming skills are extremely rusty as well, but I am fairly confident I could pick Python/R/JS back up again if I was incentivized to do so. Same thing for statistics - I could pick it back up if you gave me a month or two to study, but am nowhere near an expert level.
My dilemma is that I neither have knowledge of stocks, nor do I have strong enough programming skills. Effectively, doing either MS Finance or MS Data Science would leave me lacking in whatever skill I decided not to study. I'm not worried about that because I'm sure I could learn it on my own for the most part. The question is which one is more well-regarded when applying to true quant hedge funds? What about traditional hedge funds?
Why would you want to do this?
preftige
.
in all seriousness, i'm thinking it could be a good career path to get into HF PM and work my way into growth equity investments in that space. as per my username, i'd like to get into VC but i've never heard of anyone make the jump from real estate to VC directly
I don't really mind if it takes me 10 years to get to where I want to be. But if you have any suggestions for me, I'd love to hear any alternative career paths you might suggest.
Are you a student or are you currently working in REPE?
Hope you sell yourself in an interview better than you did on this post
not sure why i would gas myself up in a post here if i'm looking for honest feedback
My honest feedback is that you have a long road ahead of you. You will be competing with people whose sole focus their academic lives has been to excel at what you identify as your weaknesses. Maybe do something else you have more background in instead?
Seems like you are on a safer path. For whatever reason due diligence from the endowment/institutional side is decades behind where it’s at in the public markets. Partly because public markets have more data. Way easier to juice returns in private markets with hidden leverage.
Also if you want to do vc why not try for real estate vc like what amazon announced with realogis?
Do you mean the deal with Prologis? And thanks for the suggestion. That would be a more ideal path for me to take to get to VC; unfortunately I don't have any connections who work in REVC. Will probably start cold-emailing people in the industry; it just seems like there are very, very few people in this sector to begin with.
Yes. With your background if you want to do vc then real estate vc makes sense instead of a 10 year path.
Also think some cool vc in construction. I guess cold emailing is the way to go. My guess find a way to track whose getting funding in the space. Then try to connect with the ceo or hiring manager or someone already at the shop. Funding = hiring. I assume on the start up side would be easier than vc side.
Do a start up if it does well then vc roles might open up.
I don't work at a HF so can't really comment on career trajectory - but as for graduate degrees, I'm currently working on a Masters in Finance and it's pretty quant intensive. I've found it to be super technical, which is what I wanted. I'm teaching myself how to write Python and testing different data mechanisms out - my impressions are it's easier to find resources outside of university on how to scrape and interpret data then it is to find technical math/quantitative instruction. Good luck mate
Something to think about...
Why would they hire you over a PhD in Math/Physics/Economics or a CS kid with internships at FAANG who has been algorithmic cryptotrading since high school?
Not to hijack your thread, but I'm facing a similar situation.
I was thinking of becoming a pitcher in the MLB. I have experience in real estate. Thank you.
Voluptates delectus omnis odio autem occaecati. Sequi voluptate sint sit suscipit est. Minima facilis aut doloribus qui quas pariatur. Eius est est illo ipsa. Omnis doloribus earum ut laboriosam. Velit voluptates placeat minima autem.
Dolorem quidem sit laborum quo et tenetur est. Ipsa dolor in est aut corporis delectus qui vel. Voluptate molestiae non est aut inventore ipsum et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...