- Joined
- 5/24/14
- Messages
- 2
- Points
- 11
Hi guys, I'm writing for some advice regarding graduate school programs.
Until recently I've been waltzing through undergrad changing my majors every few semesters, starting from neuroscience/math with the former being switched out until I've finally settled on applied physics/math. The problem is that despite wandering through a myriad of sciences and even some economics and literature I never struck against something that I really want to do, that is, I am fascinated by the knowledge I have obtained but I can't see myself specializing in a set field as this requires a certain "tunnel vision" in order to truly become an expert in a small area therein. This changed as I became aware of quantitative finance (in my school there is sadly a "dumb business student" stereotype that had entrained a prejudiced aversion to finance in me). Somehow it holds my attention simply because it is, as far as I can tell, the science of making good financial decisions, or equivalently how to reduce risk, or make money -- I would not enjoy a career that culminated in some new plastic or such but rather one which dealt more on the macro scale if you will.
I am sure that I want to pursue a PhD before heading to Wall St. or some equivalent place for personal reasons. Then it seems natural to look at something like FinMath at FSU or ORFE at Princeton etc. (no MFE or other masters)
The problem seems to be the following:
I am reasonably sure that I could get into a PhD program at FSU or some other lower caste school, but then as far as I've read I will be dead in the water in terms of a career on the street. On the other hand I think the chances of getting into a top10/ivy school for a quant finance related phd (ORFE, applied math, whatever), which it seems is the only way to go aside from an MFE or equivalent if you want to land in New York, are basically close to zero.
Am I wrong in thinking this, and if not how could I resolve this problem?
Perhaps a little info to help:
GPA: above 3.9 for now, hopefully will catch summa cum laude on diploma (entering senior year)
Clubs: Brazilian jiu-jitsu president for a year (so what)
EC: BJJ as above, boxing, founded company based on some thing I invented (all unrelated to quant finance, the latter requiring mostly physics intuition and the ability to sweet talk investors)
Math/physics Olympiads? Nope
Internships? Nope.
Honors? #1 in math for my year at uni this year, but we are not that well ranked in math anyway, and I see CV's of accepted students with things like Phi Beta Kappa etc....
Thanks
Until recently I've been waltzing through undergrad changing my majors every few semesters, starting from neuroscience/math with the former being switched out until I've finally settled on applied physics/math. The problem is that despite wandering through a myriad of sciences and even some economics and literature I never struck against something that I really want to do, that is, I am fascinated by the knowledge I have obtained but I can't see myself specializing in a set field as this requires a certain "tunnel vision" in order to truly become an expert in a small area therein. This changed as I became aware of quantitative finance (in my school there is sadly a "dumb business student" stereotype that had entrained a prejudiced aversion to finance in me). Somehow it holds my attention simply because it is, as far as I can tell, the science of making good financial decisions, or equivalently how to reduce risk, or make money -- I would not enjoy a career that culminated in some new plastic or such but rather one which dealt more on the macro scale if you will.
I am sure that I want to pursue a PhD before heading to Wall St. or some equivalent place for personal reasons. Then it seems natural to look at something like FinMath at FSU or ORFE at Princeton etc. (no MFE or other masters)
The problem seems to be the following:
I am reasonably sure that I could get into a PhD program at FSU or some other lower caste school, but then as far as I've read I will be dead in the water in terms of a career on the street. On the other hand I think the chances of getting into a top10/ivy school for a quant finance related phd (ORFE, applied math, whatever), which it seems is the only way to go aside from an MFE or equivalent if you want to land in New York, are basically close to zero.
Am I wrong in thinking this, and if not how could I resolve this problem?
Perhaps a little info to help:
GPA: above 3.9 for now, hopefully will catch summa cum laude on diploma (entering senior year)
Clubs: Brazilian jiu-jitsu president for a year (so what)
EC: BJJ as above, boxing, founded company based on some thing I invented (all unrelated to quant finance, the latter requiring mostly physics intuition and the ability to sweet talk investors)
Math/physics Olympiads? Nope
Internships? Nope.
Honors? #1 in math for my year at uni this year, but we are not that well ranked in math anyway, and I see CV's of accepted students with things like Phi Beta Kappa etc....
Thanks