What was your undergrad major? [Archive] - Quantnet.org

Dmytro

09-25-2007, 12:02 PM

from the admission stats page for our program:
Majors - Students Admitted to the Financial Engineering MS Program
The makeup of our cohorts is varied. Although about two thirds of our students come from a mathematics, computer science, or engineering background, we have very successful students who come from more non-traditional backgrounds for financial engineering studies, such as humanities (music and classical languages, for example). The requirements for admission are not related to a specific major, but rather to the overall strength of the applicant.

follow this link to get more detailed stats on the background of our students:
Baruch College's Financial Engineering MS Program (http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/math/masters_admission_stats_new.html)

best of luck!

Yuriy

09-25-2007, 01:51 PM

BS in Mathematics :)

Erica

09-25-2007, 07:33 PM

B.S Print Journalism, University of Colorado, Boulder '93

Guess who had to go back and take ALL the pre-requisite courses?:tiphat:

woody

09-25-2007, 10:50 PM

Economics, UCLA.

Vadim

09-25-2007, 10:59 PM

Here is information re entering classes 2005/2006/2007

Entering class of 2007 - Quantnet.org - Financial Engineering Forum (http://www.quantnet.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1078)
Entering class of 2006 - Quantnet.org - Financial Engineering Forum (http://www.quantnet.org/forum/showthread.php?t=166)
Entering class of 2005 - Quantnet.org - Financial Engineering Forum (http://www.quantnet.org/forum/showthread.php?t=273)

-V-

Andy

09-25-2007, 11:02 PM

BS in CS/Math (double major)
Would be fun to know more about Quantnet members who are not in the program or already working. Better yet, put a picture to your name ;)

iosakwe

09-26-2007, 12:56 AM

Currently pursuing "Math w/ Finance concentration."

kean

09-26-2007, 02:28 AM

I think best is to have maths background with numerical methods, optimization, analysis, linear algebra, statistics and advanced calculus. Some smart guys can pick up maths easily even they do not have maths background.

However, if the course is taught in a compact mode I reckon a good preparation will help.

Dmytro

09-26-2007, 11:25 AM

maxrum

09-26-2007, 11:36 AM

Aerospace Engineering
(Aero Dynamics and Fluid Dynamics)

sandeep

09-26-2007, 12:26 PM

Civill engineering (Major in Structural Engg)

kean

09-26-2007, 01:01 PM

stats and OR. I am currently pursuing mathematical science.

so what's your background?

kean

09-26-2007, 01:21 PM

don't get me wrong. i have a friend who has just graduated with a MFE degree in Singapore from a non-math background. i mean these people are smart.:prayer:

so what's your background?

Yuriy

09-27-2007, 12:37 AM

stats and OR. I am currently pursuing mathematical science.

Kind of similar to what I'm doing now, but I went from Math to Stats and OR, and, of course, FE :)

Andy

09-27-2007, 12:46 AM

Does anyone notice the trend that majority of currently admitted students are science majors. We used to have history/art/music/law etc majors but it's rare now.

Yuriy

09-27-2007, 12:53 AM

I was not aware of the fact that there were history and art majors in MFE :)

Muting

09-27-2007, 01:07 AM

Does anyone notice the trend that majority of currently admitted students are science majors. We used to have history/art/music/law etc majors but it's rare now.

I am from finance : )

Yuriy

09-27-2007, 01:15 AM

I am very curious about the ratio of students in MFE who had previous exposure to finance to those who had non-finance background prior to joining MFE :)

alain

09-27-2007, 02:11 AM

I was not aware of the fact that there were history and art majors in MFE :)

Maggie is a lawyer go figure ;)

kean

09-27-2007, 04:07 AM

My current major did cover stochastic modeling...I will join your bandwagon later into FE.

Kind of similar to what I'm doing now, but I went from Math to Stats and OR, and, of course, FE :)

kean

09-27-2007, 02:00 PM

Personally, I think CS/Math is the best combination for FE. Best.

BS in CS/Math (double major)
Would be fun to know more about Quantnet members who are not in the program or already working. Better yet, put a picture to your name ;)

kean

09-27-2007, 02:10 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am a postgraduate math student at the moment. I am no where near quant level.
I think may be a mistake that I was awarded a Senior Quant Analyst title in this forum. I hope I will be in the near future.
I am new to this area.

Cheers,
K

Yuriy

09-27-2007, 04:48 PM

Yes, CS and Math seem to be the optimal backgrounds for FE.

The only thing is... most CS people don't really want to go to FE. Most of the people who I know to have CS background are not willing to do Finance. They are comfortable doing what they are doing. One person is doing MBA at NYU, another one got MS in management, a few more work as programmers.

Adam

09-28-2007, 12:49 PM

For whatever it's worth, I was a double major in Theater and English. Studied musical theater songwriting for a bit, as well.

Somebody has to represent the liberal arts around here...

Dmytro

09-28-2007, 03:13 PM

thanks, Adam, i was waiting for this post ;]
yet another proof that the right undergrad is not what makes or brakes you (Adam kicks *** in this program, btw).

Satnam

09-28-2007, 03:20 PM

thanks, Adam, i was waiting for this post ;]
yet another proof that the right undergrad is not what makes or brakes you (Adam kicks *** in this program, btw).

I will second that "Adam kicks *** in this program".

Yuriy

09-28-2007, 03:32 PM

It looks like we have almost all majors covered :D

Anybody from a medical field? :) Nurses, doctors, dentistis? :)

woody

09-28-2007, 06:05 PM

I was supposed to be a filmmaker. I got scholarships for photography and studied a summer in Paris. If it weren't for an accident my senior year that prevented me from lifting heavy cables for a year, I would have been a production assistant in Hollywood instead of coming to NY and ...

Hien

09-28-2007, 07:15 PM

alain

09-28-2007, 09:14 PM

Anybody from a medical field? :) Nurses, doctors, dentists? :)

I doubt anybody is from the medical field. If there is one he/she would be a rare case. My whole family is in the medical business (brother, mother, aunts). For that reason I happen to know a lot of doctors. I can tell you that medicine is a very demanding career in itself (pre-med, med school, residency, board tests, etc) so people usually stay there.

Also, after you become a doctor, you don't want to change careers and start over since it is a huge investment.

The other thing is that people go to FE usually for the money. I haven't seen a first doctor begging for money. I think doctors and dentists mint money ;):D

This is just my opinion though. I could be mistaken.

Yuriy

09-29-2007, 01:47 AM

Alain, I think what you said makes sense :)

After all those years of medical schools, money spent, and sleepless nights people don't want to start over. Plus, as you said, if a person makes enough money, and, I add, if he/she likes the field, there is no point of switching :)

Yuriy

09-29-2007, 01:48 AM

By the way, I wanted to ask how people came across financial engineering (after studying something else)? Should I start a new thread? :)

Yuriy

09-29-2007, 01:54 AM

I was supposed to be a filmmaker.

There was a time in my life when I could appear in a movie :) but was cut out after the scene was filmed :) my guess is that I could not properly handle the dog that I saw for the first time.

rockefeller

09-29-2007, 05:46 PM

I got a BSc in Computer Science and Im also completing a BSc in Business and Economics. Will there be an advantage in the admission since I have the combination of these two bacehlors?

woody

09-29-2007, 06:34 PM

so how did you end up in IT?

After I arrived in NY (story too long) I snuck into the NY job board and found a posting for software tester, $10/hr. Then started a tech company for the Web boom. Then got a job in energy trading software from a friend. Then started Economics MA. Then became very interested in the mathematics of it (econometrics mostly) and the prof suggested I apply to Baruch...

Yuriy

09-29-2007, 07:17 PM

I got a BSc in Computer Science and Im also completing a BSc in Business and Economics. Will there be an advantage in the admission since I have the combination of these two bacehlors?

It is hard to say, especially because a lot of applicants have backgrounds similar to yours. Plus some actually have MS in CS, and there are people with PhDs applying as well, and if you add applicants with Wall Street experience... the applicant pool is getting stronger and stronger every year.

rockefeller

09-29-2007, 07:38 PM

It is hard to say, especially because a lot of applicants have backgrounds similar to yours. Plus some actually have MS in CS, and there are people with PhDs applying as well, and if you add applicants with Wall Street experience... the applicant pool is getting stronger and stronger every year.

yes, Ive noticed by the statistics from some schools that it gets harder each year.
What would you propose if I wouldnt get an admit for fall 2008?
a)taking my MSc in Business&Economics + doing some more math courses?
b)getting a work in a finance related place, like investmentbank or IT-job in finance?

Yuriy

09-29-2007, 07:57 PM

yes, Ive noticed by the statistics from some schools that it gets harder each year.
What would you propose if I wouldnt get an admit for fall 2008?
a)taking my MSc in Business&Economics + doing some more math courses?
b)getting a work in a finance related place, like investmentbank or IT-job in finance?

First of all, there are many schools that you can apply to. Apply to all "levels", i.e., top ones, mid-level, and safety schools.
- Study for GRE and score high.
- Get into the finance industry if possible, find a job as close as possible to what FE people are doing.
- Take relevant courses and get very good grades.

rockefeller

09-29-2007, 08:07 PM

Do they (the schools) care about the applicants age? Ill be 29 when its fall 2008 so it feels like Im close to "expiration-date" for admission and for getting my first decent job at Wall Street.

Yuriy

09-29-2007, 08:13 PM

Do they (the schools) care about the applicants age? Ill be 29 when its fall 2008 so it feels like Im close to "expiration-date" for admission and for getting my first decent job at Wall Street.

I think some schools do care, at least, thats what I was told. There should be statistics on schools' websites showing average, min, max age of incoming students.

Baruch does not care, as far as I know. And that is very good.

kean

09-30-2007, 05:59 AM

Not everyone can handle financial maths. If you are good enough, you will get hired.

Some famous quants started after 40's.

Do they (the schools) care about the applicants age? Ill be 29 when its fall 2008 so it feels like Im close to "expiration-date" for admission and for getting my first decent job at Wall Street.

Sam Harris

10-02-2007, 09:01 PM

The other thing is that people go to FE usually for the money. I haven't seen a first doctor begging for money. I think doctors and dentists mint money ;):D

I saw a doctor have to pass the hat. He didn't understand the stochastic anomaly of clumping and didn't have enough cash on hand to cover multiple unexpected expenses.

There are lots of people making $300k a year and living paycheck to paycheck. Personal finance should be part of mandatory education.

alain

10-03-2007, 12:38 AM

There are lots of people making $300k a year and living paycheck to paycheck. Personal finance should be part of mandatory education.

MFE won't help there either.

joe_bradley

10-03-2007, 08:44 AM

Rockefeller,

To chime in with what Yuri said about age, it definitely applies for certain MFE *schools*. The job market is another thing. I know of one person who didn't get into a "top-tier" program and he was actually able to talk to someone there about why he didn't get in. They did confirm that his age (I think he was in his 30s) was a factor. Though I'm sure it isn't fatal. One real problem I had - and you may have it too - when I applied for the MFE program it had been several years since I used heavy maths of any sort, and that's one thing I'm sure they look at.

At Baruch, age doesn't seem to matter. One good thing about the MFE program here is the refresher courses that most people take the summer before classes start. That shouldn't be overlooked if you're comparing programs.

As far as age in the job market, I've heard that it's only really a strike against you if your resume isn't strong. Specifically, you don't want it to look like you're going the MFE/Quant route because you never really succeeded in your previous careers.

rockefeller

10-04-2007, 12:16 AM

joe_bradley, fortunately Im taking my last math-courses right now when Im in the end of my BSc in economics. The courses I got this year is econometrics, calculus, statistics so I feel confindent about the math. Ive had discrete math and linear algebra also a couple of years ago. Should I go for a pure course of PartDiffEq and OrdDiffEq also before starting MFE?

Yuriy

10-04-2007, 01:23 AM

Should I go for a pure course of PartDiffEq and OrdDiffEq also before starting MFE?

Yes, 100%. Take Partial Differential Equations, and, if possible, take the Ordinary as well.
You need to make sure you know 1) Calculus, 2) C++, 3) PDE, 4) Probability

Sam Harris

10-04-2007, 10:59 AM

Yes, 100%. Take Partial Differential Equations, and, if possible, take the Ordinary as well.
You need to make sure you know 1) Calculus, 2) C++, 3) PDE, 4) Probability

What's been kicking my butt is Linear Algebra. I barely passed that class 7yrs ago and I'm really paying for it now!

Yuriy

10-04-2007, 06:31 PM

What's been kicking my butt is Linear Algebra. I barely passed that class 7yrs ago and I'm really paying for it now!

Linear Algebra is the easiest. You do, indeed, need if for the program, but only numerical aspects of it. Things like how to reduce matrix, how to find LU and Cholesky decompositions, determinant, eigenvalues, multiplication of matrices, inverses etc. I am not sure whether you need to know transformations or kernels. Maybe current students taking Numerical Linear Algebra can comment on that.

Christophe

10-09-2007, 05:11 AM

BS in CS/Math (double major)
Would be fun to know more about Quantnet members who are not in the program or already working. Better yet, put a picture to your name ;)

Engineering degree in cs/applied math, currently working on P&L/Risk software for an IB. I am considering joining a MFE program to perform tasks that are different from the usual software programming. Since I haven't done math for a very long time I have signed up for 2 classes of applied math for economics and finance these classes covers the analysis topics used in finance and I plan to sign to a probability and statistics for finance classe. I am taking these classes in Paris in a school that teaches evening classes only. This is the reason why you can find programs that target specific business areas.

Josh

12-19-2007, 09:37 AM

B.S. Physics and B.S. Mathematics, both from 2007. I'm trying to get into Baruch despite my lack of any professional or academic experience in finance (mine is all scientific). Any advice?

Ashish Tare

12-19-2007, 03:33 PM

as people are discussing which undergrad i would like to tell you people mine too.
I graduated colleege from Mumbai University, Veermata JijabaI Technological Institue (great college, tough to get in, 0.3% acceptance rate) in CIVIL Engineering.

Different than most here.

Ashish Tare

12-19-2007, 03:38 PM

By the way, I wanted to ask how people came across financial engineering (after studying something else)? Should I start a new thread? :)

yes please.

By the way, Yuiry, you had said that you will respond to the thread i created on the Internships. Please give your comments, you can find that thread, it's name is Internships v/s Brandnames

fredcheck

03-17-2008, 02:30 AM

any of you guys in math majors and engineering majors ever take finance courses?

Yuriy

03-17-2008, 04:02 AM

any of you guys in math majors and engineering majors ever take finance courses?

No, but that was because Financial Math was not well known at that time.

Sanket Patel

03-17-2008, 02:44 PM

I'm finishing my last semester of undergrad. I will have degree in Finance, Economics, and a minor in Mathematics.

Any other non physics, math, or engineering background people here?

iosakwe

03-17-2008, 03:58 PM

any of you guys in math majors and engineering majors ever take finance courses?

In a Baruch, there's a math w/finance concentration being offered. The bulk of the Mathematics is probability based and applicable to the financial industry. There's also a requirement of taking two finance classes. Principles of finance and Corp Finance | Investment Analysis. See http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/ugradprograms/mth.htm#Major for more information.

Sangwon Hyun

04-27-2008, 02:10 PM

Double in financial math and computer science

is what i'm aiming for but its gonna take me at least 5 years

Does anyone think that I should just minor in CS and move onto grad school as soon as i can
or spend some more time in undergrad to get a degree in CS
The reason I am asking this is because i heard that minor degrees achieved in undergrad are really insignificant and largely ignored by employers

I go to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor by the way

keitheelee

08-04-2008, 04:50 AM

Doubled in Applied math and Econ.

Is it true that MFE programs tend to look for students with more theoretical background (ie math or statistics) than a technical background (ie computer science or engineering)?

I was reading the financial engineering programs' descriptions of UCL and Imperial College. Both state that the programs are for students with quantitative and theoretic background who want to sharpen their technical skills.

IlyaKEightSix

08-04-2008, 07:32 AM

Info Systems Engineering with all of the finance courses a finance major would have to take (but not the business core so I can't get the double degree).

1 year left (taking all the finance and more grad courses (financial modeling and advanced numerical methods hopefully if I don't get kicked for being undergrad)).

GPA's garbage though...3.23 cumulative ATM.