I'm an incoming Quant Trader - AMA

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Answered above but Maths at Cambridge. But a very quantitative degree at a top uni is the common background (also masters/PhDs very common)

Is it common to not have as many extracurriculars?

Reply 121

_.cmcguire._

Original post by Forshooey

Happy to answer any questions about my background and the application process and can guide prospective applicants to various good resources.

Do you reckon it'd be worth doing a MSc in Financial Mathematics if I do a BSc in Computer Science if I want to go into quant finance?

Reply 122

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Crackerdom333

Hey I know this is quite an old thread but I'm really interested in what you have to say. I feel like you're the only person who's conveying an optimistic opinion on opportunity and succeeding. I'm an international student, at least I'm classified as such when the bills are due. Because of that, and because I had no mentors to direct me in finding scholarships to attend top unis (which in fact I have been offered places at but couldn't afford the egregious fees). I am starting uni this September at a very low ranking Uni, and unrightfully so. I am a math maniac, I ******* love it. I have self-studied advanced level mathematics & physcs to my hearts content, and have read many books on finance and econ.
How can I show to employers, early on, that I deserve the role more than an oxbrige/imperial student? Especially when competing for internships. I'd really appreciate the help!

It’s difficult. Top financial services firms are egregiously over subscribed and hyper saturated.

Your best bet is doing a **** tonne of the virtual internships before you get to university, once at university join the financial society, and something else like a sport or volunteering. Apply like a mad man for all the spring weeks (but also make sure your CV & cover letters are polished).

Hope you get a couple spring week and try to use them to put yourself in a good spot for internships. Simultaneously go to all networking events, take on leadership roles, try and win things like academic prizes or other noteworthy accomplishments that set you apart.

If you get an internship it’s on you to do well and convert into a full time role.

It’s important to note quantitative research/traders are highly unique roles with very different skills to the rest of banking and finance so youll also need to be doing the hackview & coding games and challenges. If you have anything like a mathematical olympiad that will go down well on a CV. Also with quants specifically they are far more likely to come from a PhD background then the conventional IB/s&t routes so potentially try and do a relevant financial mathematics research program at Oxbridge or Imperial

Reply 123

Crackerdom333

How would it be best to present a vast amount of virtual internships on my CV? Should I pick one or two to showcase, using the rest as mere training/give myself something to talk about during behavioral interviews?

Reply 124

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Crackerdom333

Pick a sensible amount depends what else you have on your cv… perhaps top 3/4 most relevant/ best for the cv for every application. For example if you apply for a company which offers a virtual internship I would always have that presented firmly at the most prominent position followed by internships which most closely match the exact role you are applying for.

Reply 125

9832

Original post by username4218074

Hi, I'm in year 13 and have just applied to university with A*A*A*A* predictions - i'm doing maths bio chem and an epq for a levels and i've been interested in working in a hedge fund as a trader for a little while now; i've been particularly interested in citadel. I've had my interview for cambridge and imperial so fingers crossed i get in but i've applied for medicine; when choosing my a levels i wanted to do IB so degree choice wasn't too important so i haven't taken fmaths. Is there any role in quant funds like 2sigma and citadel for trading that I can still apply for without a numerical degree or will i need to reapply to uni next year whilst doing a-level further maths?

why apply to read medicine if you want to be a trader in the City...?

Reply 126

Forshooey

Original post by ladyfrom237

What is the salary progression like? It should depend on the firm and your performance, but what would be a realistic amount to make based on different levels of experience, even if stated in loose-ish ranges?
Edit: I'm also curious about the base/premium division, which I guess is not the easiest thing to quantify, but again, based on realistic expectations, how is total compensation divided now and how, if at all, does it change as you progress?

Massively firm and person dependent. Mine has been middle of the range of peers and been roughly 200->500->700 but it also depends on firm, firm performance as well as individual performance