Does it make sense to Major in Mathematics?

College Majors
1

I’m planning on working in finance, but I also wanted to minor in mathematics since it’s so useful. However, I can only really afford to stay in college for 3 more years, and a finance major with a mathematics minor isn’t too possible for me in that time period. However, if I flip it and major in mathematics and minor in finance I should be able to finish.

Will doing this hurt me in the long run? Help me? Has anyone ever done anything like this?

Thanks!

2

If you can keep up the GPA, a math major is much, much, much more impressive than a finance major.

3

A math major might be more “impressive” but if you want to work in finance, I don’t see why it’s better than majoring in finance…

4

@annana Because most Wall street firms don’t care for the finance taught in undergraduate programs and feel that they can quickly train an employee in the relevant finance basics but they can’t fix a kid who is weak in Math or quantitative skills that quickly.

Also you can’t be really good in finance, specially quant finance if you are not really good in Math and Stats

5

@annana because I have a 3 year limit imposed on me, and I really want to learn advanced mathematics skills. The choices for me are either Finance major, no minor, or Mathematics major, Finance minor. If doing it that way won’t hurt my Finance prospects too much I’d much rather do that. Luckily, it seems like it not only won’t hurt them, but may make them better.

6

3 year limit?

7

Yeah, I have no realistic way to pay for college beyond that point.

8

You can definitely major in math, minor in finance, and then go work in finance.

Do an exercise: do an Indeed search for finance-related jobs and click on some ads that appeal to you. Look at their education requirements: what do they say? Most of the ones I see either don’t specify a major, say they want a quantitative major or say something like “BA in business, finance, accounting, or a related field.” A major in math with a minor in finance is definitely a related field. It’s the quant skills they’ll be looking for.

Particularly if you do an internship or two in finance you’ll be fine on the market.