brain_wash_your_face Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Coming from somebody that uses “orthogonal” to > mean unrelated to…haha. No, but it is really > not so bad. Pretty necessary to understand > calculus in 3d. Hehe, it’s a perfect cromulent usage of the term: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthogonality#Statistics.2C_econometrics.2C_and_economics YMMV, but I don’t remember multivariable/vector calculus requiring any LA. I think in many colleges they can be taken contemporaneously.
DD, I plan to start in mid-November…have some other books I want to read before I look at these again. Been doing Power 90 for the past 2-3 months as I’ve been training a few women who were out of shape and were afraid to jump right into P90X. I plan to begin P90X with them in mid-October.
MP - you are totally living the life!!! hahah cromulent, I have to look that word up. “Real World Applications: Like cleave—which means both “to bring together” and “to separate”—cromulent is its own opposite, meaning both respectable and not respectable at all. If you have a hard time remembering this definition, think about cleavage; how two breasts are separate, yet as one. In fact, go ahead and think about cleavage right now. As a matter of fact, think about cleavage as a solution to any problem. Then, fail Calculus.” what a great word! More here http://www.scribd.com/doc/361411/Simpsons-From-Cromulent-to-Craptacular
Thanks for the information. I have similar situation and background like bsc2010. I am interested in the Methods in Finance from Columbia University. I am taking prerequisites now up to intro to differential equations and linear algebra. It will at least take another year before I can complete all courses . However, the intro in differential equation is not exactly calc 4. Do I need to take any math class beyond that? I am not a math whiz but I am decent with math and I enjoy math. How’s the workload? Are you competing with full-time students while you have to meet the demand of your jobs? How are you going to manage them without significantly deteriorate the grade and job performance. Is the Method in Finance helps you to get into the field you like or you are already in the field and it just enhance your career. I took a 4-Credit C++class from Rutgers University. It was very tough but I did manage to do quite well in the class with EE or CE engineering students. I’ve been using Excel and Access VBA for about 10 years. (using in non-financial application and more like process re-engineering and automation) and I don’t see Columbia has any programming class like the equivalence of CMU, Hass or Baruch. I do like math and programming. I am considering quant programming as an entry point than compete as for pure quant job. But Columbia still get a better name and I don’t have the financial resources to do a full-time program like Hass’s MFE. What’s your thoughts on that? What about the Certificate in FE from CVN?Thanks.
Hi Philip - I think that the certificate can be a good way to start your masters degree. With so many people holding masters in financial math or financial engineering, I don’t think there’s a lot of value in a certificate if you want to compete with these people. A degree communicates commitment and so on… that said, it’s more about your experience and knowledge when it comes time to getting the job. A Columbia degree will get you in for the interview, but it’s up to you to land the job, of course. Columbia does have programming courses, they are non credit. Java, PhP, C++ and Matlab. I recommend you take the Matlab course at least since you already have the C++ from Rutgers. That’s great that you have already done this and were able to keep up with the EE/CE students! I didn’t get to do any C++ at Columbia, but still it’s good to know. Matlab was heavily used however. The math is heavy. You’ll also have to know a lot of probability and statistics, but you’ll build a foundation in the entry level classes you take there. Your courses in linear algebra and differential equations will also help. By the way, I also use Excel/VBA extensively and this will help in your career too. No you are not competing against full time students but against the other part time students, I don’t think they put the part time and full time students in the same grading pool. This is because sometimes the full time students have group projects and so on that the part time students do not have (and would not be able to do since they are from all over the globe), though, I did take one class where I competed against full time students - it was a database design course mainly taken by CS majors and I was at a disadvantage taking the course part time and consequently having to do the group project on my own. I got a 96 on this project but got a B+ in the course, because the full time students who worked in groups pushed the class average to 98! 
On the other hand, I had a distinct advantage over many of them since I had real world experience that often helped a lot. So it’s hard to say. There was some other class I took where the part time students did not have to submit homework while the full time students did. I think that puts the part time students at a disadvantage since in my case I learn by doing and the feedback from being graded is valuable. That class was the exception however, I don’t remember any other classes like this. Yes I was already in the field, kind of, but due to the economy I had to take some jobs after 9/11 that led me away from the quant field and I really didn’t know how or if I’d ever get to go back. I am very glad that I did the degree, and I don’t think I’d have my current job without it - I just started a new job as a senior quant, and feel that the Columbia degree gave me real credibility and not only that, I am actually applying what I learned there on an almost daily basis! For example, things I’ve been given to look into in my first week are familiar as I’ve taken courses on them and have lots of resources to tap as a result. Here’s something you (and bsc) can do in the meantime, and this will help - you mentioned Baruch. There’s a guy at Bloomberg who teaches in the quant program at Baruch, and he just gave an intensive one week quant bootcamp. You can pick up his book and follow his syllabus on your own. He writes from a very practical point of view. You won’t necessarily understand everything, but you don’t need to at this point … see what you can pick up. http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/math/arpm/course.html Good luck!
Hey DoubleDip. Many thanks for your advices. I know that guy. I am thinking of taking something similar in Risk Management from him next year after I complete Calc III, Intro to differential equations and linear algebra. What’s your thoughts on CQF from 7City?
CQF - I think it’s really expensive, and not sure it has real traction in NY. I’ve never met anyone who has it. I think a university degree + experience >>> any certificate. Though it is probably a great option for people who don’t have access to universities with quant programs. So you are at Baruch? If you take this guy’s course, you can probably end up working at Bloomberg if you do well in it.
No, I am not at Baruch. I have a full-time job with a consulting firm. I am thinking of take this program next year - Attilio Meucci’s Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management six-day bootcamp. Actually, it is the link you posted above.
I completed the CQF and I’m in NYC; I believe NY has the second highest alumni next to London. I don’t buy the argument of degree vs. designation in terms of content; the recruitment office is uni specific and there can be an argument for that (and you better go to Carnegie Mellon for an MFE then…). Why is everyone completing the CFA program rather than an Ms in Finance??? CFA is just a certificate…
> Why is everyone completing the CFA program rather > than an Ms in Finance??? CFA is just a > certificate… Cheap in terms of both time and money.
Keys, I didn’t mean to imply that there’s no value in the CQF at all. I know the program is tough and you learned a lot of great things and should be proud of the achievement. CFA is not just a certificate, it’s far more than that, and some people do have MBAs/MFE and getting the CFA too. I just personally had never met anyone with the CQF in NY. I stand corrected.
thanks for all your input guys. my added issue is tha i am not locatd in US and then the chances that the online degree turns out to be less useful (from carer point of view) are more. people alreasdy tell me that i am overqualified with an MBA and CFA and should get experience instead of adding on MFE etc BUT my issue is that now with 4 years of exp. in backoffice, i am finding it difficult to break the mould. even for internal moves, they always ask for experience blah blah and ask what i do currently which offcourse is not very relevant to what they need. obviously i know what I have read and hence i do get good feedback that i know my stuff. the thing is the launching pad that i need and i have been able to get that till now.i thought this onlie degree might give me a chance…
Ocean Mist Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > DoubleDip -> Mad props to you. I looked at the > coursework and requirements. Linear algebra and > math stuffs that are geared towards engineers… I > would probably have an easier time getting a law > degree than getting this degree. I would guess > that getting the CFA is “easier” to understand > conceptually than the coursework? A contradictory statement from someone who claims to be a really smart chick who also is a stunning beauty. Now is yet to know if the hot part was also misleading.
thanks for all the input guys doubledip, i checked the guys website but dont know how to download the whole book? is it available from the website ? guys, i am getting very frustrated with passing time. just want to break out of this back-office shit. have tried internally externally. can anyone share his/her experience or kno someone who has done this. i have been working for 4 years and am 30 years old…
For differential equations, these are good books/resources Good online notes: http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/DE/DE.aspx Differential Equations by K.A. Stroud Ordinary Differential Equations by Morris Tenenbaum, Morris Tenenbaum
Inner Evil Voice Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > A contradictory statement from someone who claims > to be a really smart chick who also is a stunning > beauty. > > Now is yet to know if the hot part was also > misleading. Never claimed to be a really smart chick and definitely not stunning beauty. I was totally joking in the self-rate thread and rated myself 10 in humbleness. I did claim I had street cred. Not sure where you got the beauty part because I rate myself very low on this in comparison to my other attributes, such as being (somewhat) competent.
Re: Hiring Based on Looks new Posted by: SuperiorReturn (IP Logged) [hide posts from this user] Date: May 11, 2010 12:05AM >Are you implying that youre good looking? Posted by: Ocean Mist (IP Logged) [hide posts from this user] Date: May 11, 2010 12:08AM >Not implying - STATING. . . . > No, I am actually the anomaly. I don’t know how I > found myself in both environments. * * * But nevermind. We don’t judge here on AF. We’re family.
thanks for discussing the beauty rankings now coming back to the topics, double dip, please let me know how can I getthe book of the guy you recommended above. could not find it here http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/math/arpm/course.html thanks!
DoubleDip, I want to ask you the opinion on Baruch’s MFE program. I think they have a very good reputation and the quality of the program is very good.The only concern is that it is not an Ivy League school. For the method in Finance you took at Columbia, do they also provide career service like the full-time MFE program? I think this is also part of the premium you paid for Ivy League school. Do you think, Ivy and non-Ivy do make a difference in terms of getting quant jobs? Can I chat with you in a more private setting? Thanks.
Why does it matter if it’s an Ivy League school? MIT is not in the Ivy League. Neither is Stanford.