<p>A major that had really caught my mind was Operations Research & Financial Engineering when I was cruising around the Princeton site a few months ago and was really interested in it. I was thrilled to see that Columbia offers this major as well. So tell me about the job placement for ORFE students, do they get a lot of job offers at investment banks?</p>
<p>Shouldn't you be doing something like economics?</p>
<p>vesalvay, investment banks don't require students to major in econ alone for them to be considered for a first year analyst position. From what ive read on ibankingoasis and such, people from any major can become analysts, although quantitative majors (and ivy league schools ^_^) seem to be preferred. Anyway, ILstudent, look at the video about careers on the IEOR website - <a href="http://www.ieor.columbia.edu/videos/Careers/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ieor.columbia.edu/videos/Careers/index.html</a> There are a couple other videos on there too.</p>
<p>I know there's no requirement, but isn't that usually the general path?</p>
<p>Well, economics i think can certainly be considered the one of main majors for those interested in finance-related jobs, just like biology can be considered a primary major for those interested in med school. This is because naturally those majors nicely prepare you for the job. That said, i would think that a "financial engineering" major would be just as well, if not better, prepared for ibanking than an econ major. In any case, ibanking is tough to get into even from target schools like columbia; heres to hopeful good old fashion ivy league grade inflation ;)</p>
<p>Actually, I watched those videos - sounds interesting... but I'm thinking a lot of the ORFE courses coincide with Econ ones? Not sure...</p>
<p>By the way, what CC course comes close to the types of things ORFE students do? The whole practical, problem-solving business is very interesting.</p>
<p>Answer: Major in Economics - Operations Research :D</p>
<p>Just use common sense to answer your question. Why would i-banks not want people with a quantitative and financial background?</p>
<p>it really depends what kind of position you want in an investment bank. ORFE would probably help less if you really want to get in, say, the M&A advisory group. but it would be a boost if you're aiming to be a quant trader.</p>
<p>but pearfire nailed a good point: a good background in a quantitative discipline and finance is a desirable trait overall in the financial world.</p>
<p>..there's another discussion as to how far an ORFE undergrad can climb the quant career ladder, however. most people who made it to the top are PhDs in the sciences..</p>
<p>do engineering...................</p>
<p>actually, do Math or CS.</p>
<p>While certainly effective as majors to prepare you for a front office M&A position, i dont think a BB firm would hold a math or CS major above an engineering major any day.</p>
<p>why not?</p>
<p>i think if we're talking about M&A.. Math, CS, Engineering majors are all at a level disadvantage (assuming that the students themselves all has minimal exposure to finance).</p>
<p>and a little sidetrack here, M&A is one group that probably value 'people skills' the most.. over your technical knowledge. just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>ORFE is a different breed, though, as it combines many finance elements in its curriculum.</p>
<p>Why would you suggest economics as a major when they clearly stated their desired major?</p>
<p>Just for the record, investment banking firms encourage people of any major to apply. That said, while i agree people skills are certainly important for M&A analysts, i think its reasonable to say that quantititive analysis skills are the primary skillset needed to do a first year analyst job well. Now, if we were talking S&T, yeah, then id say people skills are the first among the criteria. But lets just say that you are right, icebox4, and people skills are the most important skillset amongst banking recruiters; in that case i would think that engineering majors are at least, if not more, well equipped to excel given their training throughout college as "team-builders". In any case, i think we can both agree that the first and foremost requirement for ibanking is ivy pedigree. Go elitism ;)</p>
<p>mweeee elitism~</p>
<p>Lol!!
I thought orfe was an obscure curse word or sth... :D</p>