General Quant Education

[babinu]

Hi Every one,

I have done my graduation in computer science and am currently employed as a software engineer in D.E.Shaw Hyderabad India.

I have active interest in math (especially in number theory) and had been selected among the top 50 in Math Olympiad in India in 2004.

I am considering the choice pursuing higher education in math and working as a quant. I have the following questions.

1. Which is better ... a Phd in math or computer science or a MS in Financial Engineering (provided by universities like Baruch ?) . From whatever I saw programs like MSFE look more focussed on getting a quant job.

Let me know if there are any particular links for this also ?

Thanks
Babinu

 

[Joy Pathak]

Where did you do your Comp Sci degree from? I would suggest you getting an MFE degree. You have good experience and that will suffice to get a decent quant position.

 

[babinu]

Hi Joy,

>>Where did you do your Comp Sci degree from? I would suggest you getting an MFE degree. You have good experience and that will suffice to get a decent quant position.

Thanks a lot for your prompt reply. I did my computer science from National Institute of Technology Calicut (which is a decent college in India if you haven't heard of it ) and I have been working as a software engineer in D.E.Shaw for the past one and a half years.

Thanks
Babinu

 

[roni]

Where did you do your Comp Sci degree from? I would suggest you getting an MFE degree. You have good experience and that will suffice to get a decent quant position.

Joy,

Doesn't it depend on which quant position ? as far as I know, if you want to be a research quant (is this how they are called ?), you need a PhD, don't you ?

 

[Joy Pathak]

Joy,

Doesn't it depend on which quant position ? as far as I know, if you want to be a research quant (is this how they are called ?), you need a PhD, don't you ?

Yes. That is a requirement for research related positions.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

I am considering the choice pursuing higher education in math and working as a quant. I have the following questions.

1. Which is better ... a Phd in math or computer science or a MS in Financial Engineering (provided by universities like Baruch ?) . From whatever I saw programs like MSFE look more focussed on getting a quant job.

You obviously have an aptitude for math, just by the fact that you work for DE Shaw.

What do you envision a "quant" doing differently from what you are currently doing at DES?
Why don't you take a lunch break and talk to one of the quants working there in DES. If you are in their India office, email the ones in US. They should be able to tell you what kind of education you need to do what they do, provided that you know and like what they do.

Here is a link for your reading pleasure
How to Get a Quant Job - Advice from Wall Street Executives

 

[babinu]

>>What do you envision a "quant" doing differently from what you are currently doing at DES?

Currently I write parsers for data feeds that come from various exchanges like NYSE, ARCA, ISE etc.

According to my knowledge, a quant does a more mathematical job that is deciding the trading models and implementing the trading algorithms.

Since the quant job is more mathematical I prefer it.

Also one more thing

>>if you want to be a research quant (is this how they are called ?), you need a PhD, don't you ?

Joy/Roni/Andy,

I do not really understand the full differentiation between the quants , can you throw some light here . Also it would be good if you can give what is the recommended education for each of them as well.

As far as I know , this is it..

Entry level quant ----------------- MS in FE or so
Research quant ----------------- Phd (in which subject ?)

Thanks
Babinu

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Master reading list for quants, MFE students

Look for pdf guides under the Free section, one starter guide is "What do quants do" by Mark Joshi