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  1. Attilio Meucci - 2010 Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management

    Any idea if this course will ever be available in other cities? I'm just curious. I plan to attend it in August, unless they're planning on one in Chicago.
  2. The rise of Python!

    I'm not sure if these Python courses are any good, but I'll post them anyway: http://www.enthought.com/training/open-courses.php I believe I first heard about this company through Quantnet. I was considering taking the quant one, but I was relocated (there was a session in NYC summer 2009).
  3. The rise of Python!

    I'm a big proponent of Python, and I've seen it used in some really cool applications. Alain mentioned all of the big-ticket advantages. I'll add the open source aspect of it, because I like being able to look into the code to see how things are implemented...usually a great way to get a more...
  4. MSc Finance -Illinois Tech (IIT)

    I am planning to apply to IIT's Math Finance program for the fall. It's main draw is the location (downtown Chicago) and the fact that the U Chicago program is one year full time only. The IIT course structure seems fairly strong, with enough elective choices to help you specialize if you...
  5. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    I honestly have no idea. Any ranking is very subjective, and I wouldn't consider the courses at the 11-15 schools "bad". What makes a program weak or strong is its job placement record, just like any MBA or other professional graduate program. I would imagine the benefit to going to school in...
  6. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    It doesn't matter, really. You have a good background and anyone here will tell you to simply apply and see where it gets you. Or contact the directors of some of the programs, introduce yourself, and ask them about your background. They can give you a much better indication of your chances...
  7. Pre-trade market impact models

    Thanks all for the info. This is a great start.
  8. Pre-trade market impact models

    Can anyone recommend any interesting reading (research papers, books) that have good coverage on pre-trade market impact models? I did not find any relevant posts (though I did try a search).
  9. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    All schools are different. It certainly won't hurt your chances. Esp passing CFA level 3...that shows a lot of committment.
  10. FE programs - not in the limelight

    As for your question on weather derivatives...it seems like this is a growing area, often working in conjunction with gas/power traders. In fact, many energy desks employ meteorogists now. I'm not sure what sort of classes they would offer for this specialization, but it seems pretty cool.
  11. Resume Advice

    Just have a copy in each format. But I think most jobs will prefer 'doc' or some other text format, so they can scan them and look for keywords.
  12. Career Dilemma

    If you are not good at math, and you have no programming experience, it would probably require a lot of work to get up to speed for an FE program. Not that learning Japanese is easy, it just seems like--given the current circumstances--you'll maximize your chances of getting employment by...
  13. FE and Work Experience

    I agree with bigbadwolf. If you have a job now, count yourself lucky. You can use your time now to catch up on some pre-reqs at a local school (or online), brush up on your multivariable calculus, etc.
  14. Series Exams

    It may show interest but the belief is you need to be sponsored by a company in order to take it: How do I receive sponsorship from a member firm...? I agree that any certification you can take "shows interest". Whether or not they turn out to be a waste of time is the real question. But...
  15. A new use for calculus

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080727/sc_livescience/wormsdocalculustofindfood;_ylt=AnMrCAXbtsxB5GAPByc1Ip6s0NUE I found this interesting...for anyone who ever told us we'd never use calculus in the real world...
  16. Series Exams

    If you want to get into quant work, I don't think it helps. I looked at the material for Series 7 before and it looked so easy compared to CFA, grad classes, etc. Plus, I thought you needed company sponsorship to do it anyway.
  17. New Quantnet members say hi

    You are not too old to start anything, but with "less than mediocre" analytical skills perhaps you should look for other areas. Most good jobs in investment banking or investment management require top-notch analytical skills. That is why there has been an influx of mathematicians, computer...
  18. Where can I find information on online education degree programs?

    This is forum for quants, financial developers, etc. But there are a lot of schools offering distance learning. Not sure about specific degrees but just google "online learning masters education" and start digging. One it found was U Illinois with 3 MS in education programs online.
  19. About Finance Certifications and improving my profile

    Note that the CFA is a 3-year test. Regardless, I think there are other ways to improve your candidacy. Personally, I'd take some financial math classes as a non-credit student to get some more exposure to the subject matter. Not only is it beneficial for you, but it shows graduate admissions...
  20. Are you in the Stevens FE program? -Mike

    Are you in the Stevens FE program? -Mike
  21. Average salaries for quants

    I'm sure there is a long-term need for financiers with mathematics and programming skills, though the academic focus will evolve over time. If you want to talk about salary injustice, think of the best, most influential elementary school teacher you had growing up. Think of how much he/she...
  22. Resume Help

    Get rid of the "TV Shows" section, and you should be embarrassed for including "The Apprentice" and "Mad Money". If there was further elaboration on the biking and exercising--ie "compete in multiple 5k races each year" or "training for a sprint triathlon"--you'd be better off. Otherwise, you...
  23. Job or MFE out of undergrad if you want to be a quant...

    Personally, I'd rather land a job first and let my employer cover part (or all) of my tuition. There are a few reasons for this. First, a good employer will cover 60-80% of your graduate tuition, meaning you would owe $10k-$20k instead of $50k (plus interest, assuming you get student loans)...
  24. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    There's no harm in applying. If you don't get in, wait a year but take a few more classes on your own to strenghthen your candidacy. Then re-apply. I'm not on an admissions board but I'd think they'd like to see a rejected candidate work hard to improve. It shows they have dedication, focus...
  25. PhD in Pure Maths

    A guy I worked with at my last job--he was a senior quant and brilliant--had his PhD in mathematics with an emphasis on algebraic geometry, whatever the heck that is. He said it wasn't relevant to his financial work but the research and analysis skills he gained in his doctoral program enabled...
  26. How would being an under grad for 7 years affect me when applying to MFE programs?

    I think what people are saying is that--based on your own description--you do not seem to have the kind of focus required to study the type of mathematics required in a graduate-level program. Its one thing to make the jump from comm college to Rutgers. On a side note, good for you. Whatever...
  27. Education Advice - NYU Advanced Certificate in Financial Mathematics

    NYU has a certificate program (you can take 8 classes) or you can apply as a non-degree student (you can take 4 classes). Both have pretty low acceptance rates, though obviously not as low as their real program. Regardless, you can then take their Algo Trading class, assuming you fill the...
  28. Lookup Value With Multiple Conditions in Excel

    Andy, Take a look at this link: http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/sum-if.htm Using SUMPRODUCT has helped me in the past with your exact issue. -Mike
  29. Portfolio management

    An advanced degree in finance/economics/mathematics, an MBA, a CFA...these are all reasonable paths to a career in portfolio management. An MFE works too, especially if you are interested in more actively managed funds. But as Alain noted, there aren't many openings for PM's without...
  30. How do you define "quant"?

    Check out this thread: A career in Quantitative Finance: Where do you fit in? - QuantNetwork - Financial Engineering Forum
  31. Average salaries for quants

    MidasCFA--I think the point is that many people enter the FE programs thinking there is some sort of guarantee for $500k jobs, and that is obviously not the case. For many people, getting a $90k-$100k base salary is quite a step-up after completing the program, and it is probably the main...
  32. Question about database and Bloomberg

    There is plenty of sample .NET code that gets installed with the Bloomberg API. If you have it installed, check under "C:\blp\API\dotnet\v1.4.2.0\Samples\WinForm\C#"...it will show you how to make a request by security and more.
  33. New York vs New Jersey

    chrisd makes some excellent points. I take the train from Hamilton everyday and from that station to Penn Station is exactly one hour (from Princeton Junction its about 53 minutes). Co-workers that live half the distance to NYC have train rides that are sometimes longer. The Northeast...
  34. New York vs New Jersey

    One other thing to consider about the NJ Transit stations...some of them have 5-10 year waiting lists for parking. That's why its better to live walking distance to one, if you can.
  35. New York vs New Jersey

    I think it depends on what sort of lifestyle he's looking for. If he's moving a family to the area, then the schooling options are probably better in north or mid Jersey. Housing is expensive and property taxes are high--especially if you want to live near a NJ Transit station. Plus, you're...
  36. COMPARE CMU pitts vs Cornell

    I think you spoke well for a lot of us, Alain. These past few months, with everyone getting their acceptance letters to schools, every other post is "where should I go?!?!!?". In fact, I personally have been logging on less because I was fed up with it. We're not picking on you directly, Feng...
  37. COMPARE BOSTON MA mathematical finance vs Rutgers MSMF vs USC MAMF

    I think if your goal is working somewhere other than Wall St, or a Wall St-type firm, then you'll do just fine going to any decent program. After all, its the knowledge you crave. Though, I'd find it a bit strange for someone to study financial engineering yet have no interest in working at a...
  38. COMPARE BOSTON MA mathematical finance vs Rutgers MSMF vs USC MAMF

    Boston U has a good hockey team, though I'm not sure how good they are this year. Boston College has great ice hockey (Frozen Four again this year), good football and usually decent basketball. My freshman year they beat #1 Notre Dame on the last game of the season, made it to the Sweet 16...
  39. COMPARE BOSTON MA mathematical finance vs Rutgers MSMF vs USC MAMF

    I don't know...I haven't graduated from all 3 yet.
  40. Opinion of Stevens

    It is true that Stevens has one of the highest-rated career placement offices in the country, but that does not always translate to all of their graduate programs. FE is a different beast. I've taken 2 FE classes at Stevens--as a supplement my existing career--and I've liked the classes so...
  41. DISCUSSION on second rated MFE programs

    I had asked them this question last year. The FT admission is more selective, because there are more applicants. They would not give me exact percentages, however.
  42. How to Break into Quantitative Finance Coming from a Non-technical Background

    My background was just like yours--I was a finance/econ major and my only math classes were calculus, statistics, and a basic physics class--all taken freshman year. Before I applied to MS programs--both FE and applied math--I retook calc I, II and then took multivariable calc and linear...
  43. DISCUSSION on second rated MFE programs

    No one is saying that education doesn't bring value to the workforce, and I think most people would agree that a PhD will have a much more rigorous mathematics background. And there are still a lot of companies out there who will only hire PhD's, and don't want anything to do with MFE's. I once...
  44. PhD in CS VS. Master in CS + Master in Finance

    Andy makes a good point in that the PhD does leave you with more options overall, especially if you want to go back to academia. Since you are talking about positions in either portfolio management OR algorithmic trading...well, I'm sure you know they are very, very different. I would highly...
  45. PhD in CS VS. Master in CS + Master in Finance

    Just out of curiosity, have you worked in finance before? If not, I would look for jobs or internships before committing to a PhD program or another MS program. I'm sure you'd hate to finish 47 years of school before realizing you don't like what you prepared yourself for.
  46. DISCUSSION on second rated MFE programs

    Seanny, that is some really good information. Thanks for sharing. Right off the bat, they seem to be placing little to no emphasis on programming, which I personally think is a big mistake. And I'm not sure how much it matters having top-notch finance faculty as opposed to top mathematics...
  47. Cornell FE Strength of Cornell placements

    I wasn't able to find that information on their website, perhaps you can post the link? As for the 70k, that definitely seems low. Kent State, for example, claims to have average salary of $65k (up to $150k with bonuses). I would expect that Cornell is higher, though not as high as programs...
  48. Part-time options

    You may also want to look at NYU's program. The benefit I see is that classes are offered after 5pm in two slots: 5:10-7:00 and then 7:10-8:50 (or something like that). That means some semesters you can take back-to-back classes and minimize your travel time. Most other programs offer classes...
  49. Advice needed regarding change of university

    You don't have to transfer to U Chicago to maybe take a course or two there...typically, if they offer non-degree acceptance, you can apply without a full application (ie maybe no essays or GRE scores). The course(s) you take there will then count towards your degree at IIT (with your advisors...
  50. Advice needed regarding change of university

    Perhaps U Chicago will allow you to apply as a non-degree student and take a few classes there? Then IIT would hopefully count them as credits towards electives. Just a thought. That way you stay on track to finish your degree, but you get the benefit of taking some electives that may...
  51. New Kid in Town

    Is there anything specific about it you liked or disliked? I'm only asking because a lot of people tend to ask questions about this program, but there are few Poly students/alumni, at least that I've seen, that contribute regularly to QuantNet.
  52. New Kid in Town

    How did you like the core courses at Poly? Just curious.
  53. Financial software development

    Just so you know, not wanting to develop in C# will greatly reduce the # of financial software opportunities available. That aside, yes--learn C++ if that's the language you want to program in. There is a list of good C++ books available on this site (look for any post by Andy, and click on...
  54. Weekend MFE program

    Absolutely none that I know of. Whereas MBA programs may be offered in the weekend "executive" format, MFE programs are still way too new.
  55. average gpa for masters programs?

    Also, if you've been out of school for a while, then your work experience may carry more weight.
  56. The Quintessential Quant

    Andy, I was going to post this article but see you already did. However, you forgot the best part... http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_34/b3998413.htm
  57. Summer 2008 Midtown Lunch/dinner thread

    One of these days I will...however, I've been home sick all week.
  58. Summer 2008 Midtown Lunch/dinner thread

    There's a place called Papillion on 54th between Madison and 5th--its usually not too crowded on Fridays. They have an upstairs and a downstairs, a huge selection of imported beers, and a nice waitressing crew. Plus, if you reserve ahead of time, you can book their pool table room for no extra...
  59. Financial accounting?

    Just out of curiosity, why are you taking Calc I and Calc II again? I did the same thing, but only because 10 years elapsed between college and starting an MSFE program.
  60. dilemma for universities to apply..help

    It seems like you're missing the point of Andy's response, so I'll try to answer your questions... I'm pretty sure you realize that no Baruch admissions person will actually respond to this. Look at their admissions stats, see how you compare, and realize that Baruch looks for more than just...
  61. Difference between MFin & Financial Engineering

    Generally, financial engineers look for quant jobs heavy in math and/or computer programming. They develop pricing models, trading strategies, etc and write software to test and implement them. They can be traders, portfolio managers, analysts, developers, etc. MS Finance is for financial...
  62. Rutgers MSMF mathematical finance in rutgers

    While those rankings are probably garbage anyway, did you know that Rutgers also has a Quantitative Finance program? It is slightly older than their Math Finance program. Andy had a good post on this recently....do a search for it on this site.
  63. Maybe a silly question: age issue for MFE

    I agree...if you can make them money, they won't care if they have to wheel you into work everyday and hook you up to a breathing machine.
  64. Maybe a silly question: age issue for MFE

    To put it into perspective...people typically retire when they are 65. If you finish the degree when you are 29, you have 36 more years of work, compared to the mere 6-8 years of experience prior to starting your FE program. Meaning you still have 80% of your work life ahead of you. So no, you...
  65. DISCUSSION on second rated MFE programs

    Rutgers also has two competing programs--the MS Math Finance from their Arts & Sciences school and the Quant Finance program in their business school. Once you get past the obviously elite programs like NYU, Baruch, CMU, etc, it is hard to differentiate between bad programs and programs that...
  66. A plan to train myself as a quant

    Are you familiar with the roles of each?
  67. A plan to train myself as a quant

    By "MIT math master", do you mean like the dude from "Good Will Hunting"? If so, then I say you could be a trader. I always imagined Matt Damon as a trader, where he keeps yelling "How 'bout them apples" into his turret.
  68. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    That makes perfect sense when you have these "blended" degrees that pull courses from various departments. If the program has the potential to be successful, then everyone wants a piece of the pie. Hey, that alone should prepare Rutgers MF and QF students for the real world!
  69. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    Rutgers Mathematical Finance Program Frequently Asked Questions Here's an explanation on the difference...
  70. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    Wow, why on earth would they have two separate programs? Is it common for schools to do this?
  71. "MFE program profile evaluation" master thread

    All of the FE programs local to New York City have some presence on Wall Street (though, some more than others obviously). If your goal is to work as a quant in one of the top-tier firms, then you need to be really good and dazzle them in the interview. Going to Baruch, Rutgers, NYU, etc does...
  72. I want to ask a serious question

    This is common, and a lot of times there's nothing you can do about it. However, it wouldn't hurt to go to the head of the quant team and be like "Listen, I think if I could be a bit more involved in some of your discussions, I'd be able to be more proactive in creating solutions for you guys."...
  73. I want to ask a serious question

    Obviously, the person I'm referring to is somewhat of an anomoly in the tech world, as developers typically don't make that kind of money. She didn't have a CS or FE degree (in fact, in my career I've only met 2 people with FE degrees). I've either worked in technology or worked closely with...
  74. I want to ask a serious question

    I am a portfolio manager now. Originally I was developing portfolio management and trading applications. I worked for a prop desk as a developer and there was a lot of pressure sometimes, but it was also very exciting and interesting. But my original background was finance so that's where I...
  75. I want to ask a serious question

    From what I read, your earnings potential peaks between the ages of 45-55. Age may be a barrier to entry for many positions, including swimsuit modeling, but it should never slow you down. I had a manager who was 43 when he got his CFA, and another who got his MBA in his 50's. I myself hope...
  76. A plan to train myself as a quant

    Personally, I think you'd be better off getting more formal training in an FE program. While those books are probably all good, the FE programs also focus on applying what you learn to real-life trading situations, etc. Many FE programs are continuously modifying their curriculum to keep up with...
  77. A plan to train myself as a quant

    I see from your intro that you want to train yourself to be a quant. I have no idea how easy or difficult that is. Do you have any advanced degree in engineering or computer science or anything like that? Does your current job give you an opportunity to move to a more quant-oriented role? I...
  78. I want to ask a serious question

    Most developers don't share in the trading bonus pools. I worked as a developer on trading systems for a few years, then moved to portfolio management (though, I had a finance/econ background). Its obvious that you want to move to the business side, in which case an FE degree would certainly...
  79. I want to ask a serious question

    I'm 32, married, and have a 2 yr old, and I just started an FE program at Stevens. So we may be more similar than you think. I'm currently in the investment arena, so I'm really just looking at improving my own quant skills for my current job. Are you a developer for a financial company? What...
  80. I want to ask a serious question

    Get a second job paying $230k/yr. Just kidding. Yes, its possible I suppose. Its also possible to make $400k as programmer. But for both options, you have to be really good at what you do. FE grads do pretty well entry level but their compensatation beyond that depends on their skills. But don't...
  81. MBA + Quantitative Background == MFE?

    Not necessarily. A lot of business schools have professors who don't have PhD's but have lots of good industry experience. I really don't know if they do research at these institutions or if they just show up and teach classes. But I don't think you'd be shut out completely. Have you...
  82. On Line Courses on Financial Engineering

    The best thing to do is go to the websites of various programs--Baruch, NYU, Columbia, etc. They all post their curriculum and you can see how they differ. However, if you can ONLY do an online degree, you are pretty limited. Columbia has an online degree, I think. Stevens allows you to take...
  83. Employment prospects after 5 yrs

    Interesting list of colleges attended by Fortune 50 CEO's: Where the Fortune 50 CEOs Went to College - TIME Lots of state schools, as Andy mentioned in an earlier post.
  84. MBA + Quantitative Background == MFE?

    There is such a wide variety of quant jobs out there that I think an MBA + your EE degree would suffice for many. It really depends what you want.
  85. On Line Courses on Financial Engineering

    I'm in my second class there and so far its been good. The program itself is solid; unfortunately, its overshadowed by better-known programs in the NYC area--Baruch, NYU, Columbia. Here's my take: Pros- * A well-respected engineering school, esp in the NY/NJ area. * School is heavily...
  86. CFA vs Quantitative Finance

    Just out of curiousity, did you get your CFA after your masters?
  87. CFA vs Quantitative Finance

    Or you could just get it in 10 years ;)
  88. CFA vs Quantitative Finance

    Yeah. I think if you have the quant background in financial engineering, then that trumps any CFA designation.
  89. CFA vs Quantitative Finance

    I would either take a basic finance/econ class, or read a good book on the subject in your free time. There are plenty out there, and I'm sure you can search this site for recommendations. Somewhere out there are recommended finance reading lists for PhD's in math or physics. My personal...
  90. Overview of your current internship/full-time positions

    Check out this document that Andy (the site admin) posted, its a quick read on the FE industry and I think it will answer a lot of your questions. QuantNetwork - Financial Engineering Forum
  91. CFA vs Quantitative Finance

    I assume you mean CFA, in which case it really depends what you want to do. Since you're studying financial engineering, I assume you want to be a quant. In which case, the CFA may help but the FE knowledge will be your primary tool set. Since you're talking with a quant analyst who doesn't...
  92. On Line Courses on Financial Engineering

    Some regular brick-and-mortar programs also restrict their career services. For example, from NYU's website for Financial Mathematics regarding part-time students: "This can include taking 4 courses per term but the availability of resume advice and job placement assistance is restricted to...
  93. Phd in FE, Finance or Econ to seek a quant research job?

    An MS in Financial Engineering can certainly fetch a quant job--that is the goal of those programs. And you are correct--getting your CFA will show potential employers you not only understand finance/accounting/etc, but you are motivated to learn more. So it certainly won't hurt you. However...
  94. Phd in FE, Finance or Econ to seek a quant research job?

    I'm not sure about the PhD, but a CFA does not guarentee anything. I currently work in the portfolio management industry and when they screen applicants for fund manager jobs, the CFA is a "nice to have" but can easily be overridden with work experience, academic background, etc. I have a...
  95. Skill sets and proficiency

    I think most FE programs require some knowledge of C/C++/Java prior to starting--they don't necessarily teach it. What they teach is how to apply those programming skills in terms of pricing derivatives, etc. From what I've seen people don't graduate from FE programs as "developers" with...
  96. Retake GRE?

    I'm not an admissions person but 800 math/520 verbal is really good, and you probably don't need to retake it for your verbal score. Most admissions sites for FE programs only post the desired math score and, regardless, 520 is a pretty solid verbal score anyway. Besides, as a quant you'd be...
  97. online calculus-based probablity & statistics course

    Stevens Inst of Technology offers a webcampus course in calculus-based probability theory; its a pre-requisite for their financial engineering program. Its an online class but meets weekly, so its not self-study. It may be a good option for you. They typically "meet" at 7pm on some weeknight...
  98. and Python ??

    I've seen it used for real-time graphing applications (using Reuters data feeds, I believe). Though it was used by a stat-arb desk, it was just a research tool and not a trading tool. Had it been meant for trading, they would've built it in C/C++.
  99. and Python ??

    I do...I think its a very under-utilized language. Not only is it pretty powerful but it almost forces you to write neater code.
  100. Hi, career advice from posters requested.

    Wow, $500k after 2 years?? We should be asking you for advice! I would suggest a course in multivariable calculus and then probability theory. And a refresher book on C++ would probably suffice. Also, I think most FE programs require or prefer the GRE, rather than the GMAT, so you'll want to...
  101. Employment prospects after 5 yrs

    I couldn't agree with Andy more. Your education will help you get a foot in the door; beyond that, its totally up to you. If you're interested in FE and want a good job after the program, then look at who recruits at that particular school. I don't go to Baruch but from what I can tell most...
  102. Employment prospects after 5 yrs

    From reading your post, I'd say an FE degree is not for you. If you "sort of" like finance and hate computer programming, then I think an MBA is better. An MBA would even allow you to stay in your current industry; it may open up more doors for higher-level positions within your company. It...
  103. On Line Courses on Financial Engineering

    I've taken a few courses at the Stevens Inst of Technology WebCampus, and must say I was impressed. The classes, though online, still meet every week at a preset time, for about 2 hours. The instructor talks and writes on a whiteboard, asks questions, and students participate actively. I've...
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