<p>I'm interested in applied mathematics, and mathematical finance specifically. I would appreciate it if someone could suggest colleges that have a strong quantitative finance program.</p>
<p>Princeton has a highly regarded financial engineering program.</p>
<p>[College</a> Confidential Site Search Results - College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/search_results.htm?q=quantitative+finance&sa=Google+Search&userInput=&sitesearch=collegeconfidential.com&cx=013579521852154800353%3Avvp1k6kluvq&cof=FORID%3A9]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/search_results.htm?q=quantitative+finance&sa=Google+Search&userInput=&sitesearch=collegeconfidential.com&cx=013579521852154800353%3Avvp1k6kluvq&cof=FORID%3A9)</p>
<p>^
I did not know you could do that! This was my first post.</p>
<p>Regardless, none of the results said much about options for undergraduates. Would it be better for me to become a math major, as opposed to a finance major?</p>
<p>Look into the finance programs at Carnegie Mellon and MIT. They seem to offer a specialty like that.</p>
<p>Any STEM major would probably be a decent foundation.</p>
<p>A major in finance is totally different, have you looked into what that involves?</p>
<p>USC has a minor in it</p>
<p>I think Rice may have something like that not sure</p>
<p>Waterloo in Canada probably fits what you want the most. They probably have the most complete program at the undergrad level.
<a href=“http://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/MATH-Actuarial-Science-Mathematical-Finance[/url]”>http://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/MATH-Actuarial-Science-Mathematical-Finance</a></p>
<p>Most math-fin programs in the US are graduate programs. You have to be careful with those few undergrad programs in the US that call themselves such. Look at the curriculum and compare them to that of Waterloo’s and you’ll find they pale in comparison, despite the apparently fancy name.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you to take a look at my alma mater, Northwestern. It doesn’t have math-fin program but it’s one of those that offer something closer to it. Google MMSS and Kellogg certificate on their website. The Kellogg cert actually consists of grad-level courses. In the past 2 years, the program has sent teams to compete in Rotman International Trading Competition and they placed 4th last year & 7th this year against mostly MS/PhD students in math-fin. It also has a management science department where you can take a course in financial engineering.</p>
<p>What about Columbia, UPenn, or Carnegie Mellon (as someone above pointed out)? </p>
<p>What would be the ideal college for majoring in math? [digression]</p>
<p>I’m really interested in financial engineering as well and I’m also applying to colleges this year. I was struggling to decide where to apply as well, but I talked to one of my friends who’s a professional financial engineer. He studied Electrical Engineering as an undergrad and earned a masters in financial engineering at an Ivy league. </p>
<p>According to him, there aren’t many opportunities to study financial engineering at the undergraduate level. You can however pursue internships in the field by studying computer science and finance, computer science and applied math (with a finance concentration), or applied math and finance. Although degrees in financial engineering are mainly mathematical, banks expect quantitative analysts to have a strong programming background. I’m planning to study computer science and finance myself. I would however be willing to do the other two options if the university I attend has no business program. </p>
<p>Anyway, here are some programs I’ve found so far for financial engineering or a close alternative. </p>
<p>Columbia - ORFE
Princeton - ORFE
Carnegie Mellon - Computational Finance
UMichigan - Applied Mathematics with a financial math concentration
Brown - Applied Mathematics and Economics with a financial math concentration
Johns Hopkins - Applied Mathematics with a financial math concentration</p>
<p>Let me know if you find any others.</p>