31yo MSc in Finance - Help me land a MFE Program (and later a Quant role)

[Filcor]

Hi, as mentioned in the title, I'm 31 years old, currently living in Milan. I have an MSc in Finance and 8 years of work experience. I started as a portfolio analyst at a Swiss asset manager in Milan, then for personal reasons moved into wealth management, and I'm currently working in the Capital Markets industry at a Big4.

When I started my degree, I dreamed of landing a trading/quant role, but being really naive, I wasn't fully aware of the path I needed to follow. As I mentioned, my career took a different direction. Now, 8 years after graduation, I want to correct course. I'm more mature and self-aware, and I want to take the first step by getting into a good MFE program in the EU/UK.

Can you help me determine the best path forward? I know I'll need to take courses even before applying for an MFE, but I would appreciate a sort of todo list. During my MSc, I completed math and probability courses (also econometrics). Below is a brief summary of the topics. Needless to say, I'm a bit (if not a lot) rusty on these topics, AND my grades weren't top-notch (as I said, young and stupid).

MATH:

• Calculus of Several Variables: Functions, Limits, Continuity, Differentiability
• Implicit Function Theorem and Applications
• Static Optimization: Constrained and Unconstrained Problems
• Linear Algebra: Matrices, Linear Operators, Change of Basis
• Spectral Theory: Eigenvalues, Eigenvectors, Matrix Diagonalization
• Linear and Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
• Applications in Economics: Solow Growth Model, Utility Maximization
• Applications in Finance: Portfolio Optimization, Asset Pricing Models
• Mathematical Modeling: Population Dynamics, Market Evolution, Conflict Models

PROBABILITY:

• Measure Theory Foundations: Events, Sigma-Fields, Probability Axioms
• Conditional Probability and Independence
• Random Variables and Distribution Functions
• Integration with Respect to Probability Measures
• Generating Functions and Characteristic Functions
• Sums of Independent Random Variables
• Multivariate Distributions and Gaussian Random Vectors
• Convergence Types of Random Variables and Weak Convergence
• Limit Theorems: Laws of Large Numbers, Central Limit Theorem
• Conditional Expectation
• Martingale Theory and Stopping Times

 

[Andy Nguyen]

First step is to identify the programs you want to apply to. In UK, the top ones are Imperial, Oxford, UCL, Warwick.
There is ETH/ZTH which is low cost, top program.
The biggest job market for quant in Europe is London so you may want to focus on that.
Use the tracker to find members who apply to those programs and network with them.
@kryy is based on Europe.

You need to refresh you math and programming. Give yourself at least a year to prepare. We have plenty of working professionals here who are going through the same process.
Take a look at posts by @grxthy and @Leggoo MFE who have a blueprint of steps they took.

 

[Filcor]

Thank you very much for your quick answer. I will look into what you've suggested.

My main concern is this: How can I demonstrate that my competences in math and probability are stronger than what my university grades suggest? Since I won't be pursuing another full degree, what's the best way to prove my improved knowledge after a year of dedicated study? Is it sufficient to mention this in my application and then demonstrate it during an interview (if granted one), or is there a more objective way to showcase my progress?

I've read a post from @grxthy ant its plan. He's, like other users, taking pre-MFE courses offered by Baruch. For me this isn't an option since I live in Europe, and although the courses are online, they're synchronous with a time difference that makes attendance impossible. Do you know of any similar structured pre-MFE programs that would be suitable for Europeans?

Regarding programs, I'm looking at the ETH Quantitative Finance program (though I've read it's very theoretical and lacks practical applications, especially programming). I've also considered Imperial and have heard good things about the Master in Quantitative Finance at EUR. Do you have any thoughts on the EUR program?

Sorry if these are basic questions, but addressing the gap between my past performance and current abilities is my primary concern.

Again, thank you very much for your time.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Taking classes and performing well is the way to demonstrate your current ability vis a vis past grades.
@Leggoo MFE did the same thing to overcome his 2.98 GPA.
There may be other online options that provide recorded video and more friendly to your working hours. I don't know any of them personally. Coursera and other free options are rather basic and will not be considered by most programs.
This is just for math. You also need to take C++ and Python courses as well.

Master in Quantitative Finance at EUR (Erasmus University Rotterdam) has good name. It can be a good choice if you want to work in the Netherlands.

 

[Filcor]

Yes, I see. I will try to look into the possibility of taking single university courses here in Milan, possibly at Politecnico, to focus on improving my math skills. I've found I can take up to 4 single courses per year - I think that should be enough to cover math, statistics and probability.

Yes, I haven't forgotten about programming. I would say I'm advanced in Python, but have never touched C++. I didn't ask for advice on that since I've seen that those courses are available asynchronously, so I'll simply go with that option.

Working in the Netherlands would be a very good option for me.

If you have any other advice that I haven't thought of, please feel free to add to this post.

Thanks again