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Apologies if my post doesn't have a direct question, I'm more interested in having a discussion.
For context, I'm a math undergraduate studying at a mid-tier university in the U.K.
I recently attended a panel talk on life in the quant industry (mostly UK quants), and whenever the question of education came up, the panel largely agreed that employers aren't much fussed about your specialist knowledge - i.e. if you're a smart Oxbridge undergraduate they don't care what you studied, as long as it demonstrates you'll be able to learn whatever's necessary on the job.
However, I did notice that those in the panel who had a math background tended to be on the applied side (quantum mechanics, fluid dynamics etc.). I personally have been going through a struggle because although I have a place secured for an MFE program in September, I am becoming somewhat depressed by the idea that my 'career' as a pure mathematician is coming to an end. I've taken courses relevant for quant work, but also courses on functional analysis and topology, which I've really been enjoying.
In the U.K, university course structures are quite rigid; for example, in the second year of my three year degree I had no elective modules, I was given a compulsory list to sit by the department, as is fairly standard. The result of this is that the knowledge of a mathematics graduate is quite varied - what I learn in three years a Cambridge undergraduate might have learned in their first 1.5-2 years.
I have an internalised battle as to whether I should defer my MFE and transfer into integrated masters program, essentially meaning in September I would study math for a fourth year as part of my degree, where I would probably take courses on algebraic topology, Galois theory etc., and then after move to focus on financial mathematics in an MSc. It seems likely to me, however, that this would make little impact career-wise, as well as cost an extra year's worth of tuition - but I can't help but worry I will regret ending my formal pursuit of pure mathematics if I don't.
There are multiple alternatives, namely
i) self-study alongside work, for enjoyment,
ii) enrol in a pure math master's program after some years in the industry.
However, both these options have their problems.
Can anyone else share similar experiences they've had? Does anyone regret not pursuing their favourite discipline? How difficult is it to resume high-level study after taking a prolonged period out of university?
For context, I'm a math undergraduate studying at a mid-tier university in the U.K.
I recently attended a panel talk on life in the quant industry (mostly UK quants), and whenever the question of education came up, the panel largely agreed that employers aren't much fussed about your specialist knowledge - i.e. if you're a smart Oxbridge undergraduate they don't care what you studied, as long as it demonstrates you'll be able to learn whatever's necessary on the job.
However, I did notice that those in the panel who had a math background tended to be on the applied side (quantum mechanics, fluid dynamics etc.). I personally have been going through a struggle because although I have a place secured for an MFE program in September, I am becoming somewhat depressed by the idea that my 'career' as a pure mathematician is coming to an end. I've taken courses relevant for quant work, but also courses on functional analysis and topology, which I've really been enjoying.
In the U.K, university course structures are quite rigid; for example, in the second year of my three year degree I had no elective modules, I was given a compulsory list to sit by the department, as is fairly standard. The result of this is that the knowledge of a mathematics graduate is quite varied - what I learn in three years a Cambridge undergraduate might have learned in their first 1.5-2 years.
I have an internalised battle as to whether I should defer my MFE and transfer into integrated masters program, essentially meaning in September I would study math for a fourth year as part of my degree, where I would probably take courses on algebraic topology, Galois theory etc., and then after move to focus on financial mathematics in an MSc. It seems likely to me, however, that this would make little impact career-wise, as well as cost an extra year's worth of tuition - but I can't help but worry I will regret ending my formal pursuit of pure mathematics if I don't.
There are multiple alternatives, namely
i) self-study alongside work, for enjoyment,
ii) enrol in a pure math master's program after some years in the industry.
However, both these options have their problems.
Can anyone else share similar experiences they've had? Does anyone regret not pursuing their favourite discipline? How difficult is it to resume high-level study after taking a prolonged period out of university?
