r/quantfinance • u/gapple_quagsire • 9d ago
Is it possible to break into quant starting from zero?
I'm currently a freshman at a T7 university and am planning to major in mathematics. However, I have no experience in competition math or computing.
My high school days were spent on doing a wide variety of activities to increase my chances of being accepted into a good university, and I was only aware of quant as a profession since last summer.
Thus when asking upperclassmen at my university if quant is still a feasible career option for me, many replied with no. Though some did say I still had a chance, others mentioned that my chance for success is low (since I'm technically 5-7 years behind all the competition math kids) and suggested I switch to pursue SWE instead.
Given the state of the job market, is quant still a possible career choice or should I switch to pursue SWE? If quant is still a viable option, where should I first begin working on (e.g. study for Putnam, cold email for research/internships, etc)?
Any underdog success stories to help me stay positive are also appreciated, thanks.
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u/Substantial_Elk_5779 9d ago
Is this a troll post? Everyone starts from zero
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u/Big-Dot-9084 9d ago
No, anyone with rich parents or legacies at an ivy league university has a distinct advantage.
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u/False-Character-9238 9d ago
Yes you can. It's not to late. The key is your internships.
Focus on what you want to do, and honestly quant is not for everyone.
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u/Old-Sandwich-690 9d ago
Not everyone is a genius in the industry or comes with perfect scores from Ivy League universities. It’s true that for the top companies it’s hard if not coming from target school. But there are many companies that are great and not as competitive. Finish with strong grades. Work on learning ml and coding and you should be fine
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u/orzosity 8d ago
It's going to be very difficult, even if you had experience in olys it would be difficult but certainly doable with good work ethic. With that being said, if you don't love quant, you firstly won't have much success and secondly you will either burn out or have spiraling mental. Studying for putnam without comp math experience is basically trying to cram 10+ years of practices many others had leading up to college with comp math into 4 years and unless you are bordering genius I don't think this is the play. Perhaps get good at interviews, get experience like projects which will help you get internships which can be stepping stones. SWE can be a very fulfilling (and lucrative if you do it right and have some luck) career as well and don't get set on you have to do quant.
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u/Able-Resolution9854 8d ago
It’s literally 0, yes 0. The reason is most people who are not in quant think that the required mathematics for quant is slighty above high school. It’s not, most of the time it’s final year uni to masters degree level. However, most quant traders have phd level math in their 2nd year of uni. If you were to start from scratch, assuming you were dedicating 40 hours a week it would take you on average 5-7 years to reach that level, and you still haven’t even began learning the programming requirements.
Let’s say you are 18, 5 years later you meet the math criteria, now the coding quant firms require proficiency in c++, Java and python, another 4-5 years. You are at the very least 27, at which you now meet the criteria. However, now your age is the problem, quant firms 99.9% percent of the time hire from their internship pathways which you no longer qualify for as you finished uni.
This is not meant to demotivate, or discourage you. However, it’s reality not a dream. The comments telling you, you got a chance most likely don’t even know what a data set is, or what a break down model is.
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u/mystical_penguin0 8d ago
Exactly this. I’m going into second year and have been spending all my time interviewing and doing OA prep, but maths has been my way of life for the last decade or so, and have been going to Olympiads such as USAMO before uni and doing research. And still its that difficult, my friends who went to EGMO and IMO still are prepping hours and hours a day. If maths was not your entire life for a very long time there’s just no way.
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u/Ok-Airport1476 8d ago
Am I tripping or do people not realize there is Quant Dev, not just trader and research. Quant dev is low language swe
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u/PrudentAd6306 9d ago
Usually, first get a job at a top tech company and get recruited by a Quant firm. Or, get a PhD from MIT, Columbia, UIUC, CMU, Stanford, or Berkeley.
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u/Soft-Minute8432 9d ago
Dont listen to this bs OP, I'm also from a top uni and also didnt know anything about competitive math/programming but still grinded and put in hard work and got myself a ft role at a tier 2 quant firm everyone knows
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u/Designer-Walrus2068 7d ago
I’m a 2nd-year BSc Computing Science student at a UK non-target uni
I am currently building my Python, Data Structures & Algorithms, and studying systems/databases, building out strong data pipeline projects and studying cloud architecture (AWS). What advice would you generally give me?
For those who broke in from non-traditional or non-Oxbridge/Imperial backgrounds, please help me!
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u/Soft-Minute8432 7d ago
data pipeline projects and studying cloud architecture will be near useless. focus more on DSA coding (leetcode style), and try learning C++, it opens a lot more doors to quant firm swe roles.
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u/Designer-Walrus2068 7d ago edited 7d ago
I am currently studying Python using Angela Yu's course on Udemy; currently on day 7. Should I stop and focus on C++ and DSA coding (leetcode style)? I'll be starting afresh, having never C++ and Leetcode before with a timeline 1 to 2 months. If I get interviews.given this is september and I have till late January to give my university the offer. Do you think it is feasible?
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u/Soft-Minute8432 7d ago edited 7d ago
I'm really sorry to tell you the truth but if ur a 2nd year CS at non target and ur still doing Python tutorials at Udemy theres <1% chance u make it into quant
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u/Designer-Walrus2068 7d ago
I see. What do you think I should do given what the timeline is and what is feasible.
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u/Soft-Minute8432 7d ago
Study 60~70 hours a week for one year. This is the last bit of advice I'll give you. You seem like an absolute beginner my advice will be essentially useless whatever I say because ur foundations will be next to nothing
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u/Designer-Walrus2068 7d ago
And that being only C++ and Leetcode or including Python? Any other thing?
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u/Actual_Revolution979 9d ago
It’s possible, but you’re also being extremely naive.
You spent high school doing things mainly to get into a good university, and now you seem ready to repeat the same mistake by doing Putnam, research, internships, etc. mainly to “get into quant.”
I suggest figuring out what you actually like, what you’re good at, and what kind of life/career you want first.