Quant Mathematics Track

[JimmyJimbo]

Hello! I am a freshman at the University of Michigan interested in quant finance. I'm very interested in pursuing a degree in mathematics, and I was wondering if I could get some guidance. What mathematics track is most suited for a quant finance career? Financial mathematics seems pretty fitting, but some of the mathematical science tracks, such as probabilistic methods, also look good. (http://www.lsa.umich.edu/math/under...grams/infinmajorprograms/mathematicalsciences) (http://www.lsa.umich.edu/math/under...rograms/mathematicsoffinanceandriskmanagement)
Thanks!

 

[Ole Bueker]

Just make a side by side comparison of the courses offered in both tracks.
Looking at the curriculum of the probabilistic methods track, it seems to be more stats-heavy than Financial mathematics track. Also, the Financial mathematics track will also teach you a high-level computer language - if you want to get the same in the probabilistic methods track, you would need to get a dual major in Informatics.

Personally, there doesn't seem to be too much of a difference between the two tracks - the probabilistic methods one looks to be more general (so would give you more options if you decide not to pursue a quant career).

A dual major in mathematics and informatics is arguably the most-employable degree.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

IMO doing a fundamental degree in Maths (good mix of pure, applied and numerical) is good.

And learning C/C++ first (_not_ Java) during undergrad will do no harm at all.

 

[JimmyJimbo]

Just make a side by side comparison of the courses offered in both tracks.
Looking at the curriculum of the probabilistic methods track, it seems to be more stats-heavy than Financial mathematics track. Also, the Financial mathematics track will also teach you a high-level computer language - if you want to get the same in the probabilistic methods track, you would need to get a dual major in Informatics.

Personally, there doesn't seem to be too much of a difference between the two tracks - the probabilistic methods one looks to be more general (so would give you more options if you decide not to pursue a quant career).

A dual major in mathematics and informatics is arguably the most-employable degree.

Thanks for replying! Actually, for any math track at my university you have to take computer programming as a prerequisite, so the difference in computer programming experience in either track is negligible.