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Typical Major dicussion advice

From a quant perspective, comp sci would be more relevant unless it's HFT you want to focus on, and there comp eng might be more the thing. In either case, you want to build solid coding skills. If comp sci, you want to also take the algo and data structures course/s. If comp eng, assembly language and the base digital structures on which everything else is built. Not sure how good of a fit this is with math, though.
 
I understand the need ofbgetting things done now; but if i am going to commit to a degree path focused around quant work i want to do everything i can for the right credentials.

I realistically want to put myself in the right position to their ideal candidate; it will also help put me in the right mindset for the field and where i want to be in it.
 
Colben,

First congrats on asking for advice while still in High school (I assume so because you're choosing majors); looks like you're getting a head start. So funny enough I was in the position as you back in high school and was admitted to both CS and ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering) majors as undergrad. I chose ECE because it was more broad and I thought I could learn about both computer software and computer hardware whereas I saw CS as a specialization of ECE.

That said, since I work in finance now, if I could go back, I probably would have pursued a CS degree. The CS classes I took were immensely interesting and I had a lot fun programming some of the assignments (we wrote compression programs, chess algorithms, these experiences I've never forgotten). Plus, studying computer science in depth teaches you to think differently, for example being able to present a problem and end goal to a computer is not the same as presenting a problem to a human. I think this critical thinking and problem solving could be used much more in any field, just not in finance. Of course, in ECE you have a much wider knowledge base (I learned about computer architecture, signal processing, and circuits); all the technical details I learned from the electrical engineering part, I have mostly forgotten sadly. Still with the ECE degree I did get a lot of breadth.

Good luck with your studies in any case; to be honest, I wouldn't try to do a double-major. You could simply pick the major you find most interesting and then use your own time in college to pursue projects, like starting businesses or a part-time job as a campus tour guide (being able to present and make people like you is a great skill).

...by the way, do you feel comfortable revealing which university you're going? there might be others who are alumni..
 
Im actually transferring after my associates. I took it slow to find out what i really wanted and obamacare and i didnt get a long to well back in 2010. I have been bouncing around from engineering, astronomy, and bank auditing; when i came across this i kinda felt itd be a new pace. I dont wanna say it but ive kinda half assed the others and its really put me off from the fields so i want to be able to focus and do this right. Being a transfer i can get a good start on both degrees and a plus being computer engineering requires a lot of math classes id need for the math major compared to CE.

Ill be attending the university of nebraska in lincoln, i will pretty much have free tuition so i cant complain.
 
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-goldman-sachs-2014-4 . Maybe this will be a start. I think that the US will be the last place to kill hft and europe probably the first (France and Germany don't really like it). Nonetheless, quants will always be in demand. Risk Management is becoming more important. Check the salaries for CROs at major places. Things are still strange after 2008 but quants are the future.
 
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