What kind of undergraduate program would a high school student want to become a quant?

[DavidM]

Hello,

I'm a High School junior right now, and an aspiring quant. What kind of undergraduate program would I want in order to eventually qualify into a good MFE program and, eventually, a career? I know the skills needed are C++ knowledge, advanced mathematics, etc. but what would I want to major in? Mathematics, physics, computer science, business, finance, economics...? What are some of the top schools that I should be aiming for? Also, I know I'm only a high school student, and we're known for being unsure and changing our minds often, so what kind of "exit plan" could I take if I end up wanting to completely do something else?

Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[goodstudent]

You would want to major in something like math, cs, engineering, or physics. Out of these four, I guess it depends on the school, or just pick the one you love the most.

If you want a good exit, do engineering or get a double major with finance or economics. So if you don't get a quant job you'll still be set for a normal finance job or an IT job. Don't do other business majors like marketing, accounting, or management.

But that just my opinion. Good luck.

 

[Connor]

If I had to do it all again, I would double major in math and computer science and then minor in economics/finance if I had the time. Then I would go on and do MFE.

School-wise, the best one you can get in. MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, etc.

I don't think you would have a problem getting a job outside of quant finance with Math/CS, but you could do engineering (above was just I would do). Either way I would recommend a finance class or two to get the basics and to show an interest in finance on your transcript. (Also a good way to make sure you are interested in finance!)