• C++ Programming for Financial Engineering
    Highly recommended by thousands of MFE students. Covers essential C++ topics with applications to financial engineering. Learn more Join!
    Python for Finance with Intro to Data Science
    Gain practical understanding of Python to read, understand, and write professional Python code for your first day on the job. Learn more Join!
    An Intuition-Based Options Primer for FE
    Ideal for entry level positions interviews and graduate studies, specializing in options trading arbitrage and options valuation models. Learn more Join!

Does the prestige of the university for untaken pre-requisite classes matter?

Joined
12/31/21
Messages
2
Points
11
I did computer science undergraduate but now want to pursue finance so I have not taken most of the pre-req classes.

I am currently interning and preparing for GRE's so I don't think I have time for scheduled classes and found that Roger William University's Distance Calculus had graded courses but allowed you to go at your own pace. link: Multivariable Calculus Online Course for Credit - Distance Calculus

I asked CMU and they said because it is accredited they will accept the credits but I personally think it's a little sus. Has anyone taken these classes and been accepted to a quant program?

Also, does a Harvard online class hold more weight than let's say a community college for admissions?

Appreciate the help!
 
Neither of the two courses provides a reference to a physical book. Why is this?
 
In my days the above Calculus III would be desribed as Mathematical Methods 231. Useful course but it is not hard analysis and I don't see it used much. Just saying. Other maths for say ML is needed.
 
Last edited:
Vector calculus is needed for electrodynamics and fluid mechanics. I don't see it much used in finance
In my days the above Calculus III would be desribed as Mathematical Methods 231. Useful course but it is not hard analysis and I don't see it used much. Just saying. Other maths for say ML is needed.
Calculus III/Vector Calculus is typically a formal prerequesite to take more advanced mathematics courses (e.g. probability, stochastic procrsses, PDE, etc.) in university. This isn't to say that the material is necessary in order to learn the material of the upper division courses, however, the OP may wish to take such couses prior to enrolling in an MFE in which case having taken Calculus III/Vector Calculus would be useful.
 
Calculus III/Vector Calculus

Has the title changed on the fly? :LOL:

It's Vector Calculus/Vector Analysis. Anyways, what's in a name?

BTW in which courses do people learn real and complex analysis?
 
Last edited:
Calculus III/Vector Calculus

Has the title changed on the fly? :LOL:

It's Vector Calculus/Vector Analysis. Anyways, what's in a name?

BTW in which courses do people learn real and complex analysis?
At least in the U.S. vector calculus is usually taught during the last 3-4 weeks of a calculus 3 course. Advanced calculus will typically be more devoted to vector calculus, however, in my mind, calculus 3 is about the calculus of real-valued functions defined on R^2 and R^3 and the calculus of vector-valued (again with focus on R^2 and R^3) functions. Thus, calculus 3 is multivariable calculus (f:R^n —> R) and vector calculus (f:R^n—>R^m). There’s not much in a name, but it is important to know what course titles correspond to in terms of material covered.

Real analysis and complex analysis are typically taught in courses titled real analysis and complex analysis. Simple as that.
 
Last edited:
Out of curiosity ... are names like Calculus (1 to n) and their contents standardised in the States?
 
Back
Top