Advice Required - What to do?

Singh87 · Post by **Singh87** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:08 pm

Hey everyone... I came across this forum today, and have definitely found it useful so far! I am about to embark on my university education in Autumn 2007, but I am beginning to doubt whether I am choosing the best possible options for me if I wish to pursue a career in Trading or a Quant position.

At the moment, I am currently due to start Computer Science and Business at The University of Warwick. My inital plan was to pursue this to a MSc/PhD level. However, Loughborough University have also introduced a Financial Mathematics degree around about 1/2 years ago, which seems quite interesting. However, I understand Investment Banks don't usually recruit from Loughborough University for Front Office positions. Thirdly, an option open to me is also Actuarial Science at Cass Business School, City University. It's an intersting course, however, I often hear mixed reviews about Cass, so again not sure.

No matter what I do at undegrad, I looking to back it up with a Masters, and possibly a PhD aswell. If I do Actuarial Science or Financial Mathematics, I would either look to do an MSc in Financial Mathematics or something along the lines of Economics & Finance or Financial Engineering, from institutions like Warwick, LSE and Haas Berkely respectively. I would just like to find out what you guys will think will be the best route for me to take if I am interested in trading and quant positions, but I am not sure what I want to go into entirely. If Banking fails for me, I would be more than happy to pursue a degree in the Actuarial Field.

Sorry for the long post, but all advice would be very very very much appreciated!! Thank you.

Singh87 · Post by **Singh87** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:29 pm

112 views but no response - come on guys, I would really appreciate some advice and help!

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:53 pm

Study hard at a good school (like Warwick). Learn something about the world. Get internships at investment banks and hedge funds so that you can see for yourself what happens and whether you want to be part of it. Use the phorum search to read the 1037 or so other threads with similar questions. Phk Loughborough.

tripitaka · Post by **tripitaka** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:09 pm

1) sleep around. This is key to your time at university. Less pressing concerns such as what to do with the rest of your life should take second place to this.

2) follow the markets from a fairly broad perspective; consider investing any money you have, or perhaps run some sort of paper portfolio; generally otherwise see if you like phynance.

3) what johnny says.

jungle · Post by **jungle** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:14 pm

See Pok's post on [url=/Show%20Post.aspx?PostIDKey=95591]this thread[/url].

Singh87 · Post by **Singh87** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:36 pm

Johnny, thanks for your reply. I understand similar questions have been asked before, but I feel the idea of comparing Computer Science vs Actuarial Science vs Financial Mathematics hasn't been discussed before. Also, the problem I am having is; shall I choose a good school, like Warwick to study Computer Science, or an average school like Loughborough to study a good course like Financial Mathematics.

Tripitake, lol, thanks for your input.

Jungle, the reason I post on this forum rather than Global Derivaties is that I don't want advice from students who are second guessing, but rather from people in the industry who actually know.

I appreciate this topic has been done to death by some people, however, I could really do with some specific advice to my situation. Thanks so far guys!!

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:01 pm

[i]"Also, the problem I am having is; shall I choose a good school, like Warwick to study Computer Science, or an average school like Loughborough to study a good course like Financial Mathematics."[/i]

I wrote something pretty specific in reply to your question. Here it is again:

"Choose a good school (like Warwick). Phk Loughborough."

Singh87 · Post by **Singh87** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:02 pm

Lol, but you said choose a good school like Warwick, and also said pick Loughborough? Lol, did you want me to do both degrees? But seriously, which ONE (:p) would you pick?

FDAXHunter · Post by **FDAXHunter** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:07 pm

He didn't say pick. Read it again.

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:07 pm

I'll translate for you:

Phk = Phuck = Fuck not pick