Which of these three double majors would be the best for a career in quant finance? I'll be starting college next year and I'd really like some opinions. Also, I plan to do a masters in financial engineering if that matters.
Finance and Computer Science
Finance and Math (with a focus on Operations Research)
Computer Science and Math (with a focus on Operations Research)
| +40 | Wharton Huntsman Program vs Yale vs Dartmouth | 40 | 1d | |
| +32 | Umich Ross vs Rice vs Notre Dame Mendoza | 17 | 22h | |
| St Andrews vs LSE vs Middlebury | 18 | 13h | ||
| +26 | Target School Kids Stop Complaining | 6 | 1d | |
| +25 | Oxbridge or Top 15 US School. | 7 | 14h | |
| +23 | Imperial College Finance Masters' | 5 | 1d | |
| +22 | UCL Vs Warwick Vs Umass Amherst Vs UW Madison Vs UofT for undergrad | 22 | 8h | |
| +20 | LSE BSc Economics vs Cambridge BA Economics | 7 | 15h | |
| +18 | UK/EU MSc's in Finance | 7 | 17h | |
| +17 | Why is Boston College CSOM praised so much here? | 10 | 4d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
I would think that you definitely need a solid grounding in mathematics, even if fin engineering programs don't technically require more than multivariable calculus, prob and stats, and differential equations.
So, either finance and math or comp sci and math, in my opinion.
I couldn't tell apart a linear equation from a quadratic one, but even I can tell you that it is Comp Sci + Maths. Why ask a question that has an obvious answer?
math+comp sci, stat+comp sci, physics+comp sci
From other posts here, it seems like its more important to know math than finance. Do you really need to study finance or econ to become a quant at a BB?
Basic finance can be taught to a smart person in a matter of weeks. Advanced computer science or mathematics cannot.
@holla_back, what do you mean by "basic finance"? I was told that finance major are supposed to learn about derivatives, securities, and asset pricing theory. It is really possible to learn these topics in just a few weeks? If so, what's the point of a finance degree (either undergrad or grad)?
"learn about"? I could teach you "about" calculus in a 1 hour lecture about the difference between analysis vs. algebra and the idea of a mathematics for continuous-value problems. Or I (or rather someone else!) could teach you about Calculus by having you study a year and write proofs for a PhD-level Real Analysis course.
If we're talking about a undergrad business class on derivative securities- we can assume its going to be something pretty basic. Look at the syllabus. Does it require a Calculus I and intro prob/stat? Or does it require real analysis, probability theory, stochastic processes.
Blank and Comp Sci, really. Knowing math or stats doesn't mean shit if you can't translate that into something actionable. You need to know how to program if you want to go the quant route because all of your competition will be able to.
Explicabo ex et saepe veritatis vitae. Eum reiciendis rerum quibusdam et culpa officia. Natus expedita facilis reiciendis quo eos molestias sed. Quasi ut eum dolore repellat. Non aut dolores non consequuntur ut nam ullam. Incidunt id laboriosam ad et numquam.
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...