Advice on Skill and Tools Please

[George So]

Hello there everyone. First all, thank you for providing such a resourceful community to new quants wannabes such as myself. I want to solicit input from all the experienced quants on this website. I have an Electrical Engineering undergrad and MBA Finance background. I am looking to start my MFE program this fall. My goal is to work as a trader after my MFE.

I want to take this period before the program to beef up and round out my skill set. I understand C++ is the language of choice in the quant industry so that is a must. I know SAS and Excel pretty well. Should I pick up any additional language and stat packages (such as MATLAB)? What other tools should I familiarize myself with?

George :prayer:

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Don't you have to take refresher courses offered at your MFE program?
C++ is a given. Hit it to Boost/quantlib level.
Write Excel add-in using C++
Tune up VBA skills (SQL ADO, Access, Bloomberg API)
Matlab is after thought. I don't know any trader who uses Matlab daily. Most are Excel/Bloomberg jokey. If you want to become quant trader, then an ability to work with massive, live datafeeds is important.

I don't fall under experienced quant category but the points are from my experience.

 

[George So]

Thanks

Thanks Andy for the input. I do have to take 3 pre-program courses. One C++ and two math (stat and calc).

 

[cofibreak]

Anyone used these risk tools ?

KMV Risk Frontier (Moody's) or Kamakura?

I found product info on google, but comments based on real-life user experience would be most welcome. Thx.

 

[Ancientmtk]

What about Fidessa? Someone that i know is suggesting that I learn this tool, but I can't find much info on it.