better univeristy = better trading job ?

40Deuce · Aug 28, 2003

I'm pretty sure IIT (IL Institute of Technology) and Kent State now have disciplines in the Financial Markets/ trading as they have received endowments to set up "simulated" trading rooms.
But as others have stated . . . trading is a craft you must learn in the real markets

electron · Aug 28, 2003

Quote from The Answer:

School's for losers. Did Mike Tyson go to college. F**k no.
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Sure, the dumb did not go to college. If he did he would probably know how to manage his money. He made over $300 M in his career and is now considering filing for bankruptcy. If this guy is not an idiot then I don't know who is.

sammybea · Aug 28, 2003

Quote from will_jay:

hey everyone,
just discovered this crazy site, tons of information I'm sure to spend much time looking over.
I'm in my last year of high school and I wanted to get into trading as a full time job, not just as sum side hobby. Soon I will be applying to universities and I'm wondering if a more reputable school like Ivey or Queens would get me a better job in a major firm/company or would I expect the same level of employment straight out of university from a less known school.

I know that no university can teach you successful trading, it's all up to your own knowledge and experience, but im just curious because if i can expect the same job from two very different schools, ill have to think twice b4 deciding.

thanx.
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Nobody can deny that an ivy league university like Harvard or Columbia will open up more far more trading positions for you at distinguished firms. Thats not to disregard a state school, or community college. People who don't have drive will generally fail in any case. But def get into an ivy league if you can. I wish i had the chance.

TM_Direct · Aug 29, 2003

BS!!!!!!!!

I went to state school, my wife went to ivy league school....I make 100 times more money then she does.....of course she's a stay at home mom now,

facultus · Aug 29, 2003

You can trade and go to school at the same time:eek:

A good college degree will make it easier for doors to open for you and if you find trading is not working out you have a Plan B.

For me, I was too bored and too impatient to finish school and I found that some doors need to be created by me with a sledgehammer.

c_verm · Oct 13, 2003

I wanted to be a full time trader when I was 18. I still when to school and got my degree in business administration which gave me a great job when I finished school. This job provided me with everything I needed to become a full time trader.

It allowed me to get a house
save up capital and take several daytrading, swing trading, ect.. courses on the side. I am not starting to trade full time and have never been so happy and excited!!

Thunderdog · Oct 13, 2003

Quote from def:

You'll certainly be able to find a prop firm to take you in. Perhaps you'll even do well but... if you have any ambitions to be a fund manager or work on an institutional trading desk you'll need an education. Besides, if you have the opportunity to go to a top school, why give up perhaps the best 4 years of your life. You can always switch from a "real/corporate" job to trading at many of the prop firms. However, it isn't so easy the other way around.
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Sound advice.

acrary · Oct 13, 2003

If you have the chance to choose a school, take a look at a firms college recruiting schedule to see what schools they visit. I was at a IB and we looked at 1st year MBA students from great schools for summer internships on trading desks. If it worked out, we tried to lock up a deal before they finished their second year of school.

Here's the recruiting calendar from Goldman. Make a note of the schools they'll be visiting.

http://www.gs.com/careers/recruiting_process/calendar/americas.html

ramora · Oct 13, 2003

Go to the best school you can get into.

You can now trade the European and Asian markets almost as easily as you can trade the US markets. One good advantage to trading is that it can fit your schedule if you are in school. Use all of your extra time to paper-trade, then swing trade, then trade shorter time frames.

At the end of 4 years plan on having your degree plus several years of part time trading experience.

I had dinner with a few friends last week. Two of the guys skipped college to become programmers and did extremely well until they hit their 30's. Although they were programming when they were 16 and 17 years old, and among the best coders I have met, they are now having a difficult time finding good positions. A 4 year degree is like a High School diploma was 20 years ago.

There is a real 'regret' to not having a college degree, and very little regret to working hard in school, trading part-time, and still achieving your goals.

Just my opinion....

ramora