Need help. Need advice. (no programming experience applicant)

[ChaoL]

I'll start a brief background about myself. I got dual MS degrees in Finance and Mathematics. (GPA=3.5). Passed CFA Level II. Working in family business financial position for 1 year.
I plan to apply some Quant programs Fall 2014, I'm preparing GRE coming in October.

Now, the only thing bothering me is that I did not take any programming course before. And I found most programs care applicants' programming experience much.

Is there any advice for me to improve my programming background?
Thanks very much!!

 

[mhy]

Taking a C++ course on this website or at some college might help.

 

[ChaoL]

Taking a C++ course on this website or at some college might help.

Thanks for your reply. I know there is C++ course, just not sure about its reputation and how helpful for application.

 

[Michael Thomas]

Hi Achilo,
A certified programming course on c++ is for sure must-have for a seriuos quant application and I think this is a good one. Since you have still some time left before application I would study myself with some books somewhat ahead before enrolling to this course because once you get started the clock is ticking. At the beginning maybe something on a higher level might be helpful, so that you catch the logic of programming and are able to put your ideas into pseudocode. Although I have programming experience in other languages, I am also new to C/C++. It has its peculiarities but after all it is another programming language with the core components like conditional operators, loops, arrays, etc. It is definitely fun around here, but you have to devote time to it.

Best and good luck from ES/Madrid, Michael