<p>I've got a question that can hopefully be solved by you knowledgeable CCers. Does anyone know whether a bachelor's degree in financial engineering is a wise choice for someone who wants to go into i-banking, consulting, p/e, or hedge funds later down the road and whether those types of firms actively recruit there? </p>
<p>I'm looking specifically at Columbia's undergraduate program which seems really interesting. Any insights would be extremely useful.</p>
<p>Also Princeton's Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) program seems similar or is applying for an economics major a better choice?</p>
<p>I hate to bump, but common guys I really need some help here. It turns out that Fall 2008 is the first year that columbia offers financial engineering to undergraduates. Is it a bit risky to be one of the first to take such course???</p>
<p>I saw your first post and waited for someone to answer because my son is thinking exactly the same. He is a freshman at SEAS/Columbia. One view is do applied math with minor in OR/Econ, more options especially if you do financial engr and then end up hating it. On the other hand, I spoke to a prof in IEOR a few days back and he said once upon a time there was a difference in quality of students taking applied math and those taking IEOR; at that time, quality was poorer in IEOR but in last decade or so nearly all depts have very bright students so why not go directly to what you want to do. That is if you want to do financial engr.</p>
<p>Are you in SEAS? It is to be noted that columbia's financial engr is perhaps the top program in the country. I don't know if Wharton has one at undergrad level or UC Berkeley. The Princeton degree is not in financial engr. So, if you like it you won't be out of a job.</p>
<p>By the way, it was available in 2006 (for class of 08) therefore does not start now, has already accepted students.</p>
<p>Princeton probably has the best/most notable undergraduate degree in ORFE, but Columbia is right up there. FE really gets to the heart of what traders do on Wall Street because you learn how to model uncertainty. IMO, this manifests itself most as a trader or hedger because you will be creating models that help identify anomalies that exist within the stock market so that you can take advantage of these inefficiencies. I think an FE major will prepare you in a way that gives you a better grasp on financial instruments, which is important because the most beneficial anomalies are uncovered where the market is less transparent (think derivatives --- a type of financial instrument). </p>
<p>With that said, there are two other points to make. An economics major at an Ivy League caliber school will have no problem recouping any knowledge deficiency he/she may have relating to finance. Also, as an analyst you probably won't be making any unbelievable financial model for a BB firm so, obviously, some of the techniques learned in an FE major won't be in full use your first couple of years on the job. However, if you really enjoy learning about financial instruments and everything that goes along with analyzing them then FE is a good major to look into. You will also get a satisfactory economics background so that shouldn't be a worry.</p>
<p>redsox, you seem to know so much, please help me out. What are the pros and cons of 1) majoring in applied math/ minor econ 2) major in OR 3) major in FE 4) major in applied physics. I have made this somewhat simplistic but please speak to the embedded issues, as in most versatile major if one changes one's mind, most applications to other fields, most contributory to one's cognitive development, etc. Thanks.</p>
<p>I actually have some questions about graduate MFE degrees.</p>
<ol>
<li> Does the undergrad major matter a whole lot? Right now i'm in biomedical engineering, so, ceterus paribus, will a math, CS, or EE major have an advantage over me in both admissions and future job prospects (assuming I want to do consulting or hedging)?</li>
<li> Will this degree be a lot better than just an undergrad degree, for getting a job at a top consulting firm (or something of similar nature), which would then set me up for a good MBA?</li>
</ol>
<p>MFE will give you an advantage over any undergrad major. This said, it depends on your school. Target school undergrad would have more opportunities over U No Name MFE. Target school undergrad will have equal chances with target school MFE since the employer is not paying more and also not giving too many responsibilities with attendant risks. Target school undergrad + target grad would be best. For MBA programs, undergrad GPA, work experience, GRE, GMAT score would be determining factors with MFE giving you a tipping factor.</p>
<p>CS and biomed from target, say MIT would be equal, with CS having perhaps, perhaps slight edge. High biomed GPA will override low EE/CS GPA. Biomed with CS and math courses will obliterate advantages of others.</p>
<p>Take math courses, some CS, stats/stochastic, econ/finance.</p>
<p>Do not make the serious mistake of overlooking how vital interview is in i-banking. Read a good book on manners, dress well, speak well, practise presentations, sit straight, read up on all current issues, know the industry, know target company inside out, do research and impress interviewer and it will trump all other factors.</p>
<p>@ramaswami Actually I am still a hs senior who is applying for university. </p>
<p>The question still remains though, will a columbia undergrad in in financial engineering be recruited by top firms such as goldman sachs because columbia doesn't have an undergrad business school (so would recruiters still come just for financial engineers??).</p>
<p>atomicbomb, this is a very easy question to answer. The program was created and is run by Emmanuel Derman, a former GS vice president. It was designed specifically to meet the market needs of Wall Street firms. It started in fall 2006, no new grads yet but I am told the 20 students in the program will be snapped up. Most Columbia OR grads find jobs in finance and consulting. In fact, Wall St. recruits at Columbia heavily, overall, and in SEAS.</p>
<p>I am not sure though if it is a good thing to graduate and major in FE as undergrad. What if you hate finance? Why not undergrad major in applied math with minor in finance or major in econ with minor in OR etc etc?</p>
<p>But for you first thing has to be getting in. Hope you are applying ED, this year is going to be very difficult as you know.</p>
<p>They don't come for JUST financial engineers. If you're at an ivy with no business program, you can pretty much study whatever you want, preferably economics and/or math but humanities is okay too.</p>
<p>don't forget that big investment banks don't only recruit people who're majoring in finance/or or who go to schools with undergrad business schools. as long as you're getting enough quant skills, and by this i mean lots, and if you go to an ivy or equivalent, majors won't really matter.</p>
<p>ignited, what do you mean by enough quant skills or lots? My S wants to study applied math with econ minor, (at an Ivy), is that what you mean (although I hope he won't go into business).</p>