How to become a wealthy Investment Banker?

So much IB talk on this forum, but why so little discussion of quantitative analysis? Is it because it requires a great deal more mathematical/computational skills than IB, making IB seem like an 'easier' option? I'm just curious because quants receive very good salaries as well, but no one seems to speak about wanting to be one.

Hey, this is unrelated but how hard it to make bank via making a top selling app?

I mean say I created something equivalent of flappy bird which was extremely popular for a short period of time, would I be looking at a couple of grand or millions?

Would you say that only graduates from top places have a chance? I'm studying computer science at RHUL from the autumn, but I am also continuing my study of mathematics beyond my current 'Further Maths' level of understanding (partial differentiation, linear algebra, theoretical statistics), so that I can hopefully get onto a good masters course in the field.

I guess I am asking whether you think that if I get a BSc at RHUL, and a MSc at a higher-ranked place (possibly Oxford), if I would have a realistic chance of getting into an 'algorithmic trading' position. I'm hoping that quant recruitment focuses a little more on skills and ability than having studied XYZ, just so long as it was at a good university, as is the case for IB.

University prestige matters a lot, RHUL isn't good but having a MSc from Oxford will compensate.

A MSc puts you at a disadvantage compared to PhDs for the good jobs (e.g. not risk), but the Oxford alumni network might help you

Computer science can you typecast as a code-monkey unless you can convince people you know a lot about machine learning (impossible with just an undergrad degree, you would need a MSc in something like stats/ML for any decent algotrading job and again you would be competing with PhDs for the top jobs. But the Oxford name helps a lot, a MSc from there looks better than a PhD from Manchester or whatever)

University prestige matters a lot, RHUL isn't good but having a MSc from Oxford will compensate.

A MSc puts you at a disadvantage compared to PhDs for the good jobs (e.g. not risk), but the Oxford alumni network might help you

Computer science can you typecast as a code-monkey unless you can convince people you know a lot about machine learning (impossible with just an undergrad degree, you would need a MSc in something like stats/ML for any decent algotrading job and again you would be competing with PhDs for the top jobs. But the Oxford name helps a lot, a MSc from there looks better than a PhD from Manchester or whatever)

Not sure if I agree with your PhD comment.. Once it gets to that stage, the PhD brand name isn't as crucial (obviously has to be a decent research uni).

Doesnt really matter who works there, its just an undergrad degree. Intro machine learning is pretty much just intro machine learning anywhere.

Warwick would probably be better if your goal is to get into IB, the computer science department isn't top tier but people just assume that it must be good since the maths department is so great (Warwick is a weird university in that the quality off MORSE/economics and the b-school gives the whole university an aura of prestige even though the rest of the university isn't better than Edinburgh/Kings/etc)

It doesnt really matter where your undergrad is from if you have a top tier MSc though, and a first from RHUL will get you into a top MSc program.

Doesnt really matter who works there, its just an undergrad degree. Research != teaching.

Warwick would be better if your goal is to get into IB, the computer science department isn't top tier but people just assume that it must be good since the maths department is so great (Warwick is a weird university in that the quality off MORSE/economics and the b-school gives the whole university an aura of prestige even though the rest of the university isn't better than Edinburgh/Kings/etc)

This may be a daft question but is Imperial considered good for breaking into quant/trading?

Would you say that only graduates from top places have a chance? I'm studying computer science at RHUL from the autumn, but I am also continuing my study of mathematics beyond my current 'Further Maths' level of understanding (partial differentiation, linear algebra, theoretical statistics), so that I can hopefully get onto a good masters course in the field.

I guess I am asking whether you think that if I get a BSc at RHUL, and a MSc at a higher-ranked place (possibly Oxford), if I would have a realistic chance of getting into an 'algorithmic trading' position. I'm hoping that quant recruitment focuses a little more on skills and ability than having studied XYZ, just so long as it was at a good university, as is the case for IB.

I honestly do not care about IB; in fact, the main reason that I want to be a quant and get into finance at all is because you get to do mathematics and computing all day in a real-time environment whilst getting paid more than a lecturer . Though it is true that research is completely different matter to teaching, in the 3rd year at RHUL they have machine learning courses and elementary computational finance where you get to use support vector machines and benefit from the expertise of the people who invented them.

I know prestige matters, but I can't help but get the feeling that for my specific requirements, RHUL is a bit of rough diamond.

The problem is that in 90% quant jobs you won't be doing much/any maths, you will be a C++ monkey developing libraries and producing excel models for traders. The interesting quant jobs where you actually do things that might be classed as research are in algo trading, and tend to be ultra-competitive

Also while I said above that a CS degree might get you typecast as a code monkey that isn't necessarily bad - it means you won't get a good quant job but its not like working in IT (which you can do with an undergrad degree) or quant dev is a bad paying jobs as such, you will still be making £100-200k in mid-career (although you won't be doing math). Its just nowhere near IB, where you would expect to be in that range within 5 years or so.

Yes quant recruitment is much more focused on skills, go read quantnet its a good forum. You're very likely going to need to have a Phd and no a masters from oxford is not better then a Phd from manchester, someone with a Phd with have at least 4 more years in that field then you and will have done real research something, which is particularly important in quant trading. Quant start is also a good blog. This is specifically a good post

Say you wanted to get into trading, would a CS degree be seen as a 'negative' or would it not really effect anything?

The problem is that in 90% quant jobs you won't be doing much/any maths, you will be a C++ monkey developing libraries and producing excel models for traders. The interesting quant jobs where you actually do things that might be classed as research are in algo trading, and tend to be ultra-competitive

Also while I said above that a CS degree might get you typecast as a code monkey that isn't necessarily bad - it means you won't get a good quant job but its not like working in IT (which you can do with an undergrad degree) or quant dev is a bad paying jobs as such, you will still be making £100-200k in mid-career (although you won't be doing math). Its just nowhere near IB, where you would expect to be in that range within 5 years or so.

You make 100-200k in tech within 5 years quite easily if you're remotely decent anyway.

Doesn't further math already involve partial differentiation,linear algebra and stats? I wouldn't worry about being a quant when you're doing A levels. I thought I was the **** at maths in A levels and then suddenly you're studying real analysis, you have no idea what you're doing and now you actually enjoy differential equations and linear algebra because they still feel like maths.

Yes quant recruitment is much more focused on skills, go read quantnet its a good forum. You're very likely going to need to have a Phd and no a masters from oxford is not better then a Phd from manchester, someone with a Phd with have at least 4 more years in that field then you and will have done real research something, which is particularly important in quant trading. Quant start is also a good blog. This is specifically a good post

http://www.quantstart.com/articles/Why-a-Masters-in-Finance-Wont-Make-You-a-Quant-Trader

Yeah you could possibly go be a derivatives pricing quant or a risk quant with an MFE, but then again the top risk quant at the bulge bracket I worked at had his Phd from oxford in physics.

Again your in A levels, I thought I was going to be a quant when I was in A levels, wait till you actually know if your good at maths. I got 2.1 and firsts in all my maths and stats modules at LSE and there were kids so much smarter then me.

Also, I would like to say that I am aware that everything I have studied is essentially 'analysis', and that some people don't even regard it as mathematics proper. Having looked at some of the 'real' Maths, if you'll excuse the pun, I know that I can do it.