#Engineering or Mathematics

121 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

stark pine
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Currently struggling to choose between computer/AI engineering or mathematics for my university course. Below I will try to include as much information as possible which might be useful to helping you see my situation. I hope to study in the UK aiming for oxbridge and imperial, don't know if my extra curricular is gonna cut it but it's always nice to dream.

End Goal
Work in the financial sector in a quant firm or a hedge fund, work until 40 or 45 and then leave. I have a strong passion for the theory involved ( and obv the money ) but not a lot for its application in the financial markets.

IGCSE Predicted/Mock Grades
Mathematics : A* ( Strongest raw marks at 99% )
Physics : A*
Chemistry : A*
Computer Science : A*
English: A*
Business: A*
Design and Technology: A
Global Perspectives: A*
Additional Mathematics: A* ( Through past paper in exam condition as self studied, will take in ON2026 )

AS/A Level Choices
Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry + Planning to do an EPQ

Extra Curricular

  • Economics World Cup Finalist, contributed in analysing data and making decisions by the usage of quantitative methods ( Quite a new and not yet prestigious competition but an oxford econ professor as well as people at investment banks like goldman sachs are involved )
  • Credible regional mathematical olympaid ( Gold medalist )
  • Thousands of hours on different study level airframes ( maybe not relevant )
  • other irrelevant stuff like WSC and etc

Any extra advice on super curriculars to pursue or any advice in general is highly appreciated.

left marlin
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If yes what position do they hold?

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If no, then you need to see how much passion do you have for the application of theory in financial markets, it's very interesting to me

stark pine
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So we are pretty much starting over at 0 in terms of connections. But from what I know, if it's not in banking and a more sciency role in finance connections doesn't matter as much.

stark pine
left marlin
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Getting work in the UK is difficult

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If you don't mind travelling for work then it's good

left marlin
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You're going into a high competition long hours tiring work field

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If you don't have the passion life is going to get very difficult

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There are so many roles where you can get money and you have more passion in

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For your end goal get a major in applied mathematics

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minor in CS/physics

left marlin
stark pine
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my application will fail to get into any top US universities

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Academically, def but they focus too much on extra curriculars for me to have a chance

left marlin
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its fine you're still good, best degree for quant/hedge fund is applied mathematics and and statistics and minor in computer science

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You should develop your soft skills as well

stark pine
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or pick up an extra igcse subject like statistics

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( i am still in yr10 but i am early entry in 9 subjects for igcse ))

left marlin
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Drop 1, and don't do EPQ, if CS is easier for you than chemistry in A levels than switch

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With the extra time go out and do something to build up a personality, you can go to more events and competitions, do things you're interested in and never tried before

stark pine
# left marlin You don't need 9 subjects

I want to stay on the safe side for igcse because I am not confident I can secure A* for every subject which is what I need to be on par with an average oxbridge offer holder ( 8 A*s )

stark pine
digital yoke
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if u do it on something niche in what u wanna go into

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its rlly good to do

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a lot of people who dont do an EPQ end up doing a project of a similar size anyway

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might asw get a qualification for it

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chemistry is useless here asw

digital yoke
digital yoke
left marlin
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I thought it was

digital yoke
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from a shit uni its legit impossible

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from like oxbridge imperial lse

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its acc not too bad

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some courses have an almost 100 percent employment rate

digital yoke
left marlin
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Only known one person

digital yoke
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the large majority do a 1 year Msc after or even have phds for some firms

left marlin
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that's insane send me

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Postgrad course?

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100 percent in what time period?

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Employement rate being that high in quant for a postgrad course is insane unless it's within a large timeframe

digital yoke
# left marlin 100 percent in what time period?

https://www.cmu.edu/mscf/ this one is 100 percent within 3 months got a job offer 51 percent went into quant. other 49 all went into high finance or data science https://www.cmu.edu/mscf/careers/employment-reports/2025-mscf-employment-report.pdf

MSCF - Master of Science in Computational Finance - Carnegie Mellon...

computational finance, quantitative finance, program, degree, masters, master of science, MS, mscf, masters of science in computational finance, master of science in computational finance

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but they are also both thought to have 98 percent+ employment rates

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its js like yea you CAN get into quant immediately postgrad but your chances are next to none they target courses like these and phd students

left marlin
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And the scholarship is good enough to continue studying postgrad instead of needing to work after undergrad for funding

digital yoke
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directly competing with EVERYBODY else in the course for it

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wouldn't bank on it

left marlin
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Absurd

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Not absurd with external scholarship

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@digital yoke Are you considering going into this field?

digital yoke
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they have decent savings from their job

digital yoke
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im considering a postgrad degree to get into finance after

left marlin
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Anyways doesn't matter that much

stark pine
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What it occurs to me is that geting into a good uni is like half the battle

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If you get into a uni course like maths at cambridge where these firms actively try to recruit from

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it would be much easier and I have seen many people get springweeks at top firms in their 1st year of uni

digital yoke
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if u go to a good uni companies come to you

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go to a shit one u legit get autorejected by their application systems

stark pine
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I know GCSE in the UK gets contextualised for your school but I am not really sure about inernational candidates.

digital yoke
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it doesn't even get contextualised that much

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they use it to flag students who could potentially be from disadvantaged backgrounds

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u have to meet other criteria as well

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for them to be less judgemental about your gcses

digital yoke
stark pine
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for oxbridge

digital yoke
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u have 2 more years right? (your a level years)

stark pine
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3

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I am early entry

digital yoke
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yea

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your extras are already better than most ppl

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the same age as u

stark pine
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i feel like i need to get into more recognised comps to strengthen the extras

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bc the maths olympaid ofc I got number 1 but it is a regional one in a region with only 1.2 million people not country or international comp

digital yoke
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all u need now is like

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some work experience

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maybe a research paper/project

digital yoke
stark pine
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atm I am attempting the UKMT intermediate maths challenge next year

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and trying to learn options trading

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those 2 will begin prep after my igcse

digital yoke
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you'll do well in it

stark pine
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the competitors are all in gcse/igcse

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while I will be an a level student

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since i did igcse early

digital yoke
stark pine
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wait let me give you gusy rep

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thx @digital yoke@left marlin

slow saffronBOT
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Gave +1 Rep to @left marlin (9)