- Joined
- 5/10/13
- Messages
- 28
- Points
- 113
Hello,
I am currently a PhD candidate majoring in computational chemistry in a university ranking about 50 in US, and expected to graduate by April 2015.
My current GPA is 3.8, and have programming experience in Python, C++, Matlab, FORTRAN, JAVA, R, shell scripting and parallel computing. I would like to switch to the area of quantitative finance after my PhD, and have made the following plans for the coming 1.5 years:
Coursework:
taken/taking: data structures, ODE, statistical methods, statistical mechanics.
to take:
in math: PDE, numerical methods, stochastic calculus.
in stat: intermediate probability, time series analysis.
in programming: algorithm, database.
in finance: corporate finance, econometrics.
Certificates:
C++ certificate in FE.
CFA level 1 and 2.
I am also planning to do an internship in financial area next summer.
My questions are:
1) Should I stick to my plans or should I take some other courses?
2) would an experience of participating in a large software development be a plus, in the aspect of programming? (considering that my current research only involves coding some small programs.) If so, I may try to switch to another research project which need more intense programming in C++.
3) Is an MFE degree necessary after my PhD to find a job giving my background? or I could start job seeking just by preparing the interview questions as a fresh graduate?
I really appreciate your time reading and giving valuable advice!!
Best,
Xun
I am currently a PhD candidate majoring in computational chemistry in a university ranking about 50 in US, and expected to graduate by April 2015.
My current GPA is 3.8, and have programming experience in Python, C++, Matlab, FORTRAN, JAVA, R, shell scripting and parallel computing. I would like to switch to the area of quantitative finance after my PhD, and have made the following plans for the coming 1.5 years:
Coursework:
taken/taking: data structures, ODE, statistical methods, statistical mechanics.
to take:
in math: PDE, numerical methods, stochastic calculus.
in stat: intermediate probability, time series analysis.
in programming: algorithm, database.
in finance: corporate finance, econometrics.
Certificates:
C++ certificate in FE.
CFA level 1 and 2.
I am also planning to do an internship in financial area next summer.
My questions are:
1) Should I stick to my plans or should I take some other courses?
2) would an experience of participating in a large software development be a plus, in the aspect of programming? (considering that my current research only involves coding some small programs.) If so, I may try to switch to another research project which need more intense programming in C++.
3) Is an MFE degree necessary after my PhD to find a job giving my background? or I could start job seeking just by preparing the interview questions as a fresh graduate?
I really appreciate your time reading and giving valuable advice!!
Best,
Xun
