<p>I'm currently a computer science major planning out my future. After interning at Bloomberg LP, I have my eyes set on working as a software engineer in NYC, the finance capital. I also just happen to have a strong interest in finance. </p>
<p>Bloomberg LP has a position known as quantitative analyst. I'm not sure if they hire many though as they do for engineers. Would a MFE somehow be beneficial for me? What do you think? Should I work as a software engineer and progress up to senior level, or get an MFE and work as a quant?</p>
<p>Which pathway is better and will pay more?</p>
<p>Almost forgot to mention: I’m googling information about the MFE degree and it seems that most posts are from 2006-2009. I’m not finding much from recent years. This tells me that the degree isn’t in demand anymore. Can anyone enlighten me about this?</p>
<p>I highly recommend you look around on quantnet.com for any questions related to this topic. They are very helpful and informative. After doing your research, if you are still serious about pursuing financial engineering you should load up on as many upper-level math and stats courses as you can. </p>
<p>I can’t tell you which pathway is better. They are both good careers and it’s up to you decide which interests you more. However, I can tell you that the work isn’t as glamorous as it seems and only a select few quants make a 7-figure salary. Also, the top quants are almost always PhDs in Math, Physics, CS, or Engineering.</p>
<p>The longer you work as a software engineer the more you will be labeled as an IT guy, which could hurt in getting some front office jobs. I wouldn’t recommend working up to senior level software engineer and then getting an MFE.</p>
<p>Quants are the smartest guys I’ve even been around. Honestly, they could be the brightest group of people in the world… Sure, some quants have made 7 or 8 or even 9 and 10 figure salaries. But some make 80k starting off and the turnover is quite high (why keep you around when you’re not making the company much money?)… Do you really want to lose out on a TON of tuition + opportunity cost when it’s very likely you’ll be making 80k?</p>
<p>I don’t think getting an MFE is worth it. Even from a school like Princeton or Carnegie Mellon… Really, most people who are successful in this field are Princeton/MIT/Stanford/Harvard Ph.d’s (in Math, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Comp Science)… </p>
<p>If you can get into one of those ph.d programs, give it a shot. But software engineering is a good gig…</p>
<p>When I heard about the profession, I was really interested in it. Then i realized that people like <a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harris_Simons[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harris_Simons</a> become successful quants. People like me do not.</p>
<p>So what should I complement my CS major with in order to get maximum pay potential?</p>
<p>An internship or research. A double major will not increase your pay. If you want extra courses take extra math, statistics, or masters CS classes.</p>