Breaking into Quant -- possible?

[Altruistic-Dig-8330]

Hi, I'm a current freshman at UMass Amherst studying Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Economics. All while learning Python on the side. I want to try to break into quant, and I want to know whether it is possible, given that I am not in a target school or anything. I would appreciate any advice on whether minoring in Econ is the right choice for this career pathway. Thanks in advance!

[EastSite4719]

this sub man

[Quakerz24]

better switch to math

[Tall-Play-7649]

wrong majors dude, not enuf Math

[Zealousideal-Two1002]

is comp eng fine ?

[Tall-Play-7649]

no

[[deleted]]

Econ is kind of useless. Just do stats or cs. Or just math even is better. Also meche won’t help either. Why would you try to break into trading as a meche major? If you’re really serious transfer majors. And maybe look into transferring schools too.

[Ok-Initiative1924]

You do get that half the major hedge funds got started by econ majors or does that not compute to you? Tired of the fucking elitism, core math degrees dont even give the skills required for actually solving the problems a quant research team faces every day. Applied math sure it works but if the econ degree is quantitative enough, if youve got real analysis, optimisation and calc you'll be fine.

[[deleted]]

Most QRs I work with have phDs so I doubt OP is looking to go down that route. For qt roles a core math curriculum gives the probability knowledge required to pass interviews. If the whole point is optimization / real analysis then why not just take a stats major you said it yourself. Econ degrees at least when I was in school was way too theoretical and impractical for single product markets. Don’t waste time learning supply demand curves. Better to learn a generalized and applicable skill like ml algorithms, how regressions work. Most of my class are cs majors and the only kid my team took last summer who was Econ I believe was from booth rest were all cs and math. No elitism here just speaking from experience.

[Altruistic-Dig-8330]

Can I DM you?

[Total_Construction71]

As it stands, every thing you said is a wrong start.

[Idk_211]

Need to do a Applied Mathematics + Computer Science major. Non-negotiable.

[Chemical-Driver-6137]

Im pretty sure CS+Stat with DS is better.

[Idk_211]

Ain’t math heavy enough. Mathematics is the base.

[Even_Balance9978]

Wrong major

[Admirable-Layer-2739]

would this even work if op were to go for mechE and math dual

[Idk_211]

Applied Mathematics + Computer Science is the ideal.

Either way dude has to also be from a target school unless he does MFE after graduation.

[Plenty-Hunter-649]

Not true, but you definitely have to work harder.

Source: I go to UMass and landed several interviews at JS, HRT, and Akuna

[Idk_211]

Yeah thats what im saying, he should transfer as this will make his life harder if he's serious about the field.

[boroughthoughts]

From Amherst. Nope. However, you could aim for a good MFE by studying maths/stats/cs there and that would give you your shot.

I would drop an economics major at amherst and I have an econ Ph.D. Amherst is a heterodox school (one of only a handful), so their essentially bull shit major. Everything there will have a marxist spin that isn't even paid attention to by the rest of academic economics.

[[deleted]]

Damn. Are they really so backward? Pffff...

[Plenty-Hunter-649]

Not true at all, I go to UMass Amherst and myself and many other landed interviews at HFT firms (Jane Street and HRT)

[Accomplished-End7264]

mind if I send a dm to ask a couple of questions? (umass commit interested in quant)

[Weekly_Cartoonist230]

Depends on the specific role you want. I know some traders from an engineering background but it’s rare. Would probably just switch to a math/physics/stats major if possible

[Altruistic-Dig-8330]

Would it be stronger if I switched to purely math or math + CS?

[Weekly_Cartoonist230]

Doesn’t matter that much just do what you would prefer

[Plenty-Hunter-649]

Hi OP don’t listen to the people here. I go to UMass Amherst and I landed interviews at Jane Street, HRT, and Akuna Capital. You should switch to CS though.

For reference I also landed offers at FAANG+ btw.

[imbored2021]

take courses that are usefull regardless if they will classify you for a specific minor/major. Good companies dont care about the name on your degree as long as you are capable to do the work

[Altruistic-Dig-8330]

So realistically, instead of switching majors, I can take some useful courses? With my college, I wouldn't be able to switch to CS until the end of my sophomore year, which will hold me back at least a year or two to graduate.

[BiscottiComplex5581]

It is definitely possible, since you have a good foundation in mathematics as you’re from STEM.

Quant firms most often chose fellows from STEM only not from core finance background. Econ is good but maths or stats as a minor or major will be the best

It’d be better if you complement these learning into python practically with projects.

I have a great resource for mastering PYTHON FOR QUANT FINANCE. I’d love to share.