Profile Review. HELP!

[nnoble]

I am seeking advice on my current qualifications / education. I would like to know how I am currently positioned to get into a top program.

I am currently an undergrad junior at a small non-target US university. I am a Mathematics and Finance double major with a 3.95 GPA (I am also doing my math major at 2x speed, idk if this is of any value, but I have to cause I started it the end of my sophomore year) I have also taken a python class and a C++ class, and have also done some python certifications. I have good extra-curriculars (currently founding quant finance club, board member of investment club, board member of econ/fin society, in some honor society's etc.). My weaknesses are in my experience. I haven't had any internships yet, however I am grinding to find a somewhat relevant one for this summer. If that doesn't work out I will do machine learning research applied to neuroscience with a professor with the goal to get published. In addition I am currently working on a research paper regarding implied volatility which may or may not get published (too early to tell).

I will gladly accept and advice on my current profile and any general advice regarding internships or research is welcome. Thank you.

 

[Tigga]

If you can't get any internship, try to do a relevant project with one of the professors at school. Do something practical, using real financial data, write production level code, publish your result on github, LinkedIn for better reach.
Here is something to get you started Projects

Overall, you get a pretty good profile and if you stay active here, asking question and learning everyday, you will be in a better position than most applicants a year from now.
Follow what @MikeLawrence has done since he became a member here.

 

[nnoble]

Thank you for the advice. I forgot to ask in my post but, I've been told both to take GRE's and not to. I am from the US, should I take them?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Some programs require it, some have it as optional. If you apply to a program that requires it, then just take it.

 

[MikeLawrence]

Overall, you get a pretty good profile and if you stay active here, asking question and learning everyday, you will be in a better position than most applicants a year from now.
Follow what @MikeLawrence has done since he became a member here.

I'm honored you'd point me out as an example, your account is almost as old as @Andy Nguyen's. I wonder, were you in his batch at Baruch?

Thank you for the advice. I forgot to ask in my post but, I've been told both to take GRE's and not to. I am from the US, should I take them?

I agree with what Andy said. Don't bother if it's not required.

@nnoble, what year are you? I suggest looking into the QN C++ course offered on this site. I don't know how your school works, but I've spoken with a couple friends at my university and others and must tell you that it covers more C++ than is taught in the first year or two (or more) of most degrees. Also, how are your skills in numerical mathematics? You seem quite well prepared academically with your research, but you haven't mentioned what relevant skills you have. If you don't get work and you haven't already covered the material, I suggest you look into @Daniel Duffy's courses at datasim.nl. I took two this last summer and they are great- very condensed and practical with implementation in C++ and Python. I haven't finished yet, but I got a good way through.

Feel free to dm me to ask questions. I'm at a slightly large non-target school in the US.

 

[nnoble]

I'm honored you'd point me out as an example, your account is almost as old as @Andy Nguyen's. I wonder, were you in his batch at Baruch?


I agree with what Andy said. Don't bother if it's not required.

@nnoble, what year are you? I suggest looking into the QN C++ course offered on this site. I don't know how your school works, but I've spoken with a couple friends at my university and others and must tell you that it covers more C++ than is taught in the first year or two (or more) of most degrees. Also, how are your skills in numerical mathematics? You seem quite well prepared academically with your research, but you haven't mentioned what relevant skills you have. If you don't get work and you haven't already covered the material, I suggest you look into @Daniel Duffy's courses at datasim.nl. I took two this last summer and they are great- very condensed and practical with implementation in C++ and Python. I haven't finished yet, but I got a good way through.

Feel free to dm me to ask questions. I'm at a slightly large non-target school in the US.

Hey Mike, thank you for the response. I am currently a junior. I plan on taking the QN C++ course next semester as I will have more time outside of classes. As for my numerical mathematics skills, they are currently not that great. I started studying math basically from scratch around eight months ago (I started my math major at the end of my sophomore year). So, I am only up to calc 3, and I am also taking discrete math. Next semester I am taking linear algebra, differential equations, applied statistics, and a machine learning course. My skills are kind of basic right now, to be honest, because I really didn't know any coding/math until last year. I will look into those courses, thank you!

 

[Tigga]

I'm honored you'd point me out as an example, your account is almost as old as @Andy Nguyen's. I wonder, were you in his batch at Baruch?

I joined in 2006 searching for info on MFE programs at the time. Not his classmate but we spent lot of time socializing online and offline with other QuantNet members who went to various MFE programs in NYC. Back then, NYU Tandon program was in a different university and was called Polytech.