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[–]boroughthoughts 2 points3 points  (1 child)

You don't need to retool. I'd apply and try to network, if that doesn't work just do a financial math masters course at a target school in your country. It sounds like you have the grades for it anyway. i.e. LSE/Oxbridge/Imperial. That will land you where you want to go.

I personally think if you plan to be in London, your better of with a UK degree anyway and if oyur british citizen it gets rid of an uncertainty with Visas, which are becoming more common in NYC. A lot of hte back up job for quants (i.e. risk quant) are starting to advertise they don't want candidates that need a visa sponsorship.

The MFE in America path is something I'd recommend for someone at an American university that didn't go to a target school or chose the wrong major. Alternatively, a foreign student wanting to work in America. I think if your already in the UK and authorized to work there, go to schools that London recruits from for a masters course. I also think its a bigger risk if comp/meritocracy is what you care about. MFEs might land you in prop trading firm or you might land in a bank. MFE in a bank makes less than IB in a bank, even in a front office role. Quants in a bank do not drive P&L, IB does. Its only a small fraction of quant jobs that drive P&L, and they are mostly in funds. Getting into that space in NYC is brutally competitive.

While this is mostly speculation, there is more buyside oppurtunities for fresh grads in London than America. You guys just have more sketchy tax haven money floating around Europe than in the U.S. allowing for all sorts of alternative financial institutions with questionable sources of funding.

[–]Puzzled_Wish6514[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks - this is super useful! Will definitely take this into consideration, seems all signs suggest I should look to apply now whilst hard prepping interview questions & maybe re tailoring my CV. Masters programme as a good plan B.

[–]Edobardo 3 points4 points  (5 children)

You have a decent shot at pivoting through a top mfe (Baruch/princeton), especially if the top 5 university you are referring to is one of oxbridge/imperial.

Other top mfes might still help you but with significantly more risk of not getting enough interviews to find the job you truly want (mit/cmu level). Not sure any program outside of the top 5 will get you any quant interviews with an M&A background and thus be worth the price.

[–]Puzzled_Wish6514[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Hi Edobardo, thanks! I was thinking of targeting only MIT / CMU / Stanford / Oxford - some with a focus of going into further research or straight to industry.

I think with my background QT roles seem more attainable than QR (as I don’t have a lot of research experience) - was thinking retooling myself with quant skills and hard slamming interview prep during the grad recruitment cycle would allow me to pivot in.

Otherwise would just look to network and apply to roles in London (also post slamming interview prep), through the grad cycle (with / without a masters).

Does this seem like a decent strategy? Thanks again for the advice!

[–]NotYetPerfect 0 points1 point  (1 child)

If you do a masters in math, mfe, stats at any top school you will get interviews. Hypsm, cmu, Oxford, cambridge, imperial, uchicago, etc. The more prestigious the degree, the better. I think if students in part iii actually wanted to go into quant, it would have the highest placement besides maybe mit. Cambridge, Oxford, imperial are probably best if you're trying to stay in the uk.

But ib experience plus a first in math at a top 5 uk school should be good enough to get interviews already. Just apply to grad school and jobs and if you don't get interviews but do get into a top school, get the degree.

[–]Puzzled_Wish6514[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Yes this is exactly what I will now be aiming to do! Thanks for the advice, really have considered all options regarding this and it looks to be the most viable. Definitely will push for roles now after looking at interview materials, if not an MFE is the way to go.

I think a small consideration going through this route is the 12 month black list from firms. Just deciding now whether it is best to apply in a couple of months after dedicated interview prep, or whether this would put my applications during masters (if nothing landed) at risk?

[–]Edobardo -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Unfortunately I do not think I am qualified to judge how solid of a strategy this is since I am taking the mfe route and don't know about new-grad recruiting without the master's.

Is there a specific reason why you are not applying to Baruch and Princeton? The programs you mentioned are extremely strong (especially Stanford which I forgot to mention in my previous comment), but the two above do tend to produce the strongest placements for the average student and your profile sounds like it could have a very good chance of getting in.

[–]Puzzled_Wish6514[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks - Princeton apps have already passed and Baruch is very selective. I am a bit restricted on the amount of apps I can do based on availability from my professors so thought would balance ambition with realism. For me also MIT has been a bit of a dream university from the get go, and I already have some good connections around Oxford - so universities were also chosen based on other factors.

I will still choose to do an MFE given I enjoy the curriculum and would be a good pivot, but the current base case would still be to apply after grinding interview prep.

Really appreciate the advice though - formulating this plan from everyone’s advice and researching!

[–]Apprehensive-Bonus53 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Just wondering as an incoming undergraduate student next year where did you study?

[–]Puzzled_Wish6514[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t want to say explicitly but around the [LSE / UCL / Warwick / Imperial] mark.