<p>I have been thinking about this for such a long time. And yes, I know that I will figure out my minor in college. But my first semester course of Stat 101 or Math 114 is kind of dependent on what I currently want to do. Every day I change my plan and it is frustrating. Anyway, I won't get into the details but my question is...</p>
<p>Does a math minor really do anything for a finance concentrator in terms of recruiting and career placement? Any quant work would require more math than just the minor. And banking doesn't require math (but does having a math minor really give someone a boost?). If I wanted to go into trading, would not having the math minor be a big deal? How many people take Math 114 in Wharton?</p>
<p>Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm just worried that not getting a math minor kind of shuts me out of some options in terms of recruiting.</p>
<p>“Any quant work would require more math than just the minor”</p>
<p>ehh, not so sure about that. even in the later minor courses, you’re going into theoretical math/proofs that don’t really help with real-world applications (except perhaps in sharpening overall ability with numbers/proofs).</p>
<p>But the “once you get on campus” part is the problem. I guess I will go into the dilemma. If I take Stat 101 and then later decide I want to add a math minor, then I would not have taken Stat 430, 431 to count as cognates for the minor (reducing the number of electives I can take). If I take Math 114 and then decide I don’t really like it or need it, then I would start my stat a semester later and/or get a low grade if I don’t drop. What I just wrote isn’t really important. I just really care about the answer to my original question if anyone knows. Thanks!</p>
<p>“Does a math minor really do anything for a finance concentrator in terms of recruiting and career placement? Any quant work would require more math than just the minor. And banking doesn’t require math (but does having a math minor really give someone a boost?). If I wanted to go into trading, would not having the math minor be a big deal? How many people take Math 114 in Wharton?”</p>
<p>Most people I know in Wharton don’t take Math 114. If you’re interested in a math minor, go for it. If you’re not, don’t do it for resume purposes. You’re better off taking courses you want and getting better grades.</p>
<p>If you’re not sure about the math minor, take Math 114 first semester. It’ll count as a science course anyway. You can take Stat 101-102 and tack on Stat 430 as a Wharton elective (you need 3 to graduate). If you take the Stat 430-431 route (431 is a pretty easy course and I’d recommend taking 430 in the spring) you would only have to take 3 real math courses (114, 240, and probably 312). Having the multivariable calculus and linear algebra might make you a little better off for some finance positions, but you’d probably lose out on some of the more quantitative positions to M+T applicants.</p>
<p>Thanks. Does anyone know if the math minor or few upper level stat courses would really open up any finance jobs that wouldn’t be available to me otherwise?</p>
<p>the more finance-y whartonites can correct me on this, but i don’t believe the math minor opens up many more jobs, per se - but it looks good to show an even stronger quant background than perhaps many of your competitors might have</p>
<p>What I have decided to do is sign up for math114 for first semester and stat102 because of my ap credit in stat. If i hate math114 and decide to not continue in math, I will probably apply it towards an economics minor since it is needed for that. I would only do that if you enjoy economics though… Let me know what you decide.</p>
<p>Hah Cougar. Glad to see I’m not the only one. The only difference is that I didn’t take stat in high school. I really don’t know what I’m doing yet.</p>
<p>If anyone can confirm or deny what tenebrous said, please do so.</p>
<p>Actually I’ve thought of doing this too, but I dont want to add too many classes just for a math minor. It seems not too bad though…I didn’t know I can get stats to overlap and I think I can count one more towards the minor if I get credit for Physics C and take the corresponding lab. So that would leave only 3 extra classes? Sounds worth it…</p>
<p>Well you need a total of 7 credits. Math 104, 114, 240, and one more math course- probably linear algebra.</p>
<p>So now you need 3 more courses. You can take stat 430-431 in place of 101-102 but the courses are more theoretical and obviously harder, than 101-102. You then need one more course which can obviously be math or something from a list. That course can’t be physics ap credit.</p>
<p>I mean for me, I don’t know if the 3 math courses (114+) in addition to the harder stat courses are worth it. My GPA will probably be a little lower and I would have to work harder. I want to get involved on campus so I really don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>Cougar, you got AP credit for Stat, talk to the department about using your AP credit to start in 431 (i know one person who did this). Stat 430 is a killer, but 431 isn’t that hard. For your math minor you might have to take one more course, but chances are it’s easier than Stat 430.</p>
<p>Oh yeah. Cougar, I just wanted to say thatat this second (which is even subject to change later tonight), I’m probably just taking Stat 101 because I don’t think that the math minor would be worth it when you factor in the amount of time spent on the work and probably a slightly lower GPA.</p>
<p>in general, i don’t see a math minor as a major help in getting jobs. the biggest positive is just being more comfortable with numbers, IMO. compared to whartonites who don’t do it, you may have a slight edge, but i don’t think it would be a deciding factor, especially if the non-minor student does well in upper-level finance courses. and of course, a math minor is nothing compared to what M+T students go through (which i am not in!). i would suggest doing a minor only if it will not be a huge burden to you. If you come in taking at least Math 114 first semester and have gotten A’s in your last few math classes, it shouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>to venkat: do you think it is really a good idea to take stat 430/431 instead of 101/102? i have ap stat credit and am planning on taking 102 mainly because stat 430/431 seem a little bit TOO theoretical and don’t go into business applications – true?</p>
<p>I took 430-431 so I have no idea how applied 101-102 are. I really enjoyed 430. It was probably the toughest course I’ve taken so far at Penn. It requires some very strong problem solving skills and the only people who take the course are M+T, JWS, math majors, and engineers. That’s not an easy group to compete with for a curve. I feel it really shapes the way you think about probability though, and if you have the ability to take the course, you really should give it a go. I doubt it will help with recruitment, but it seems more worhtwhile. Stat 431 isn’t so bad. It moves faster than 101-102 but material wise it isn’t terribly difficult. That makes getting a good grade somewhat hard because it has the same students as stat 430 (basically some of the smartest, most hardworking kids at Penn). It’s not the material that affects your grade so much as the curve. You might end up with a B+ when you probably would have gotten an A in 101-102.</p>
<p>“I really enjoyed 430. It was probably the toughest course I’ve taken so far at Penn.”
…and…
“You might end up with a B+ when you probably would have gotten an A in 101-102.”</p>
<p>Thank you for confirming my current decision lol.</p>