- Headline
- Intimate Classes/ Amazing Classmates/ Passionate Professors/ Relevant Curriculum/ Prime Location
I am a May 2023 Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business Master of Science in Quantitative Finance graduate. I attended Fordham from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022, receiving a full-time offer to an asset management firm in portfolio construction at the beginning of Fall 2022 after a Summer 2022 internship. I was able to finish classes in December 2022 and begin working in January 2023.
Each and every day, something I learned at Fordham has been called upon during the execution of my projects. From my Simulation Applications and Computational Finance classes with Professor Balsera and Professor Sheng to my Portfolio Theory course with Professor Macqueen and Fund Strategy and Performance course with Professor Tong, everything has been of use. I consistently reference my class notes and slides and have even found myself reusing code from previous notebooks. The cohorts are small, and the professors are extremely passionate about what they teach and care about us as students. Professor Sheng is the program director and still makes herself accessible and works to connect the dots for us. The professors have vast networks and ensure that if you are doing the work, asking questions, and communicating your goals, they will put you in the right places. We have a Research Seminar course where Professor Sheng invites colleagues from the street to discuss what they are doing at their firms and their perspective on the industry's current state in general. For me, this is something that genuinely illustrates the quality of the professors because, first and foremost, the industry is small; therefore, you must have a good name on the street, meaning you have built good relationships over time, to have past friends and colleagues be willing to take the time to come and speak with us. From there, the professors have no problem taking things even further and introducing you to the speakers if they are doing something in line with your interests. This further illustrates the weight of the professors' names and the power of their recommendations. I have been in a situation where a director at my current employer spoke of the high quality of work of my Interest Rate Derivatives professor, Professor Ren-Raw Chen. The professors are willing to put you in the direction you want, but you must be willing to do the work and express yourself. I witnessed classmates receive internships right out of research seminars, leading them to full-time offers.
When reviewing QuantNet before I started my program, it felt like many prospective students expected schools to find them a job directly. Fordham is more grassroots and relationship based. Fordham has a vast alumni network, and job and internship opportunities are constantly floated around the cohort. Still, you are your biggest advocate when it comes to your job search. The Career Development Center is working to better understand the needs of the Quantitative Finance student, but again, at Fordham, the professors pay close attention to the students. They listen to what you are looking for, review your work, and notice your strengths and participation; it is a relationship, and communication is a must. When you show what you can do, come to class, talk with the professors, express your interests, ask engaging questions, be humble, and be hungry, they will help guide you to where you want to go. Remember, this is graduate school, and you are an adult. If you are applying for a specialization like this, you should already have a plan. Go in applying for summer internships; you must know this from the beginning because classes start in September, which is already late for many internship applications. Remember, the internship is vital to a smooth transition into a full-time role post-graduation. Then pay much attention in your first-semester research seminars, figure out what is happening on Wall Street, and figure out how what you like relates. Then start looking at what courses interest you, figure out what you are passionate about, and put all your effort into knowing about this. After that, begin expressing these interests to your professors, start trying to attend events that involve these interests, and network.
Another great thing about the program is that the Lincoln Center is in Midtown, and the SQA (Society of Quantitative Analysts) has events right in our auditorium. Fordham sets you up for success. Perform well in your classes, discuss your interests with the professors, and attend events; something will mold together. Always be engaged and curious; I can assure you Fordham will help you reach your goals. My classmates are quantitative analysts at bulge bracket banks, traders at market-making firms, and quantitative researchers at crypto hedge funds. Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I am generally busy with work, but I will try to get back to you.
- Recommendation
- Yes, I would recommend this program to a friend
- Students Quality
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5.00 star(s)
- Courses/Instructors
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5.00 star(s)
- Career Services
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4.00 star(s)
