First Year Course Selection

[kjha]

Hey all,

This is my first post on the forum so I apologize in advance if there's anything that I'm doing incorrectly.

I'm currently a grade 12 student living in Toronto applying to Canadian universities. My current plan is to begin with mathematics and eventually go into one a Financial Engineering program. My question is if I'm planning to go into a Mathematical Finance Master's program like the one's listed on the rankings on this site, would it be better that my first year subject of major interest be one based solely on math (pure mathematics), or a mathematical finance major?

I've heard that the course-load that comes with choosing a subject of major interest first year in mathematical finance (Mathematical Applications in Economics and Finance, UofT St George for example) isn't nearly as difficult math-wise as something like Pure Mathematics (also at UofT). Would it be better to choose something purely mathematical for first year so I can keep options open later for a masters program or is it irrelevant this early on?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[mhy]

As long as your major is quantitative it should not matter that much. Do what you enjoy the most and supplement with financial math/finance/accounting courses. Check the admissions websites for MFE programs and make sure your major covers the prerequisite requirements.

 

[bigbadwolf]

I've heard that the course-load that comes with choosing a subject of major interest first year in mathematical finance (Mathematical Applications in Economics and Finance, UofT St George for example) isn't nearly as difficult math-wise as something like Pure Mathematics (also at UofT). Would it be better to choose something purely mathematical for first year so I can keep options open later for a masters program or is it irrelevant this early on?

It makes sense that the math finance option would be easier than the pure math option -- and that's precisely the reason why it wouldn't be the best choice. Opt for the pure math, and cut your teeth on the toughest courses you can handle. This will be your foundation. Breeze through the calc sequence, take diff eqs, calc-based probability, and linear algebra (in particular paying close attention to proof techniques, applications, and generalisations). These are the foothills. Then start the real climb -- real analysis, measure theory, stochastic processes, complex analysis, PDEs, theoretical numerical analysis.