Second Year Math Options

[JustStarted]

Im currently need to choose 2 out of Linear Algebra 2, Statistics, and Analysis 2 for my next year. I want to be a quant in the future and maybe to a master in quant finance or something related but every time I talk to someone in my uni about what to choose they either say you can pick up stats when you want to easily and analysis and linear algebra are much more useful and impressive to have for a masters however statistics opens up machine learning in year 3 so im very conflicted. Does anyone on here with more experience have any guidance on what to choose?

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Numerical Analysis as well.
C++, Python at some stage.

 

[Paul Lopez]

What do you like?

 

[JustStarted]

What do you like

i like metric spaces and stats more but apparently linear algebra and analysis is better for a masters

 

[JustStarted]

i like metric spaces and stats more but apparently linear algebra and analysis is better for a masters

 

[Paul Lopez]

i like metric spaces and stats more but apparently linear algebra and analysis is better for a masters

What do you like about stats?

 

[weab]

What is taught in each class?

 

[JustStarted]

What do you like about stats

my favorite part is when we end up doing stuff like linear regression and confidence intervals, so we end up making conclusions that include uncertainty within them and we can actually quantify and measure the uncertainty to know to what degree we can trust our solution. That was pretty fun

 

[JustStarted]

What is taught in each class?

Ill be putting in what looks like the biggest or important topics in each one from notes and problem sheets

Linear Algebra has groups and abelian groups, rings, Direct sums and quotient spaces, permutation groups, bilinear and quadratic forms, abelian groups, polynomials and linear operators

Stats has likelihood functions, asymptotic distributions, theory on mles, beysian inference

Analysis 2 has metric spaces and continuity, limit points, open and closed sets, contraction mapping theorem and compact and connected sets

 

[weab]

Ill be putting in what looks like the biggest or important topics in each one from notes and problem sheets

Linear Algebra has groups and abelian groups, rings, Direct sums and quotient spaces, permutation groups, bilinear and quadratic forms, abelian groups, polynomials and linear operators

Stats has likelihood functions, asymptotic distributions, theory on mles, beysian inference

Analysis 2 has metric spaces and continuity, limit points, open and closed sets, contraction mapping theorem and compact and connected sets

Here's my advice on what to think about.

Machine learning and Statistics is big especially for buy side quant research so realistically if you want to have the best chance at getting into that area it is extremely helpful to pick statistics and then machine learning. If you end up going to a masters and try to pick it up statistics and machine learning there, you won't have the knowledge in time to compete for research internships. But you can always just try for an easier internship and apply again for full time.

On the other hand you may never have the chance to take some of these fundamental math courses again (at least in a official school setting). Algebra and Analysis are great core classes for building mathematical maturity which basically allow you to take any graduate level courses. Your linear algebra 2 is basically an abstract algebra course. However in terms usefulness for getting a quant job, neither are particularly necessary.

If you want to do statistics then machine learning, I would pick Analysis 2 over algebra since 1. you said you like analysis more 2. it could be more relevant to possible future graduate classes. But if you have never had an abstract algebra class, it could also be nice to get a taste of that.

 

[JustStarted]

Here's my advice on what to think about.

Machine learning and Statistics is big especially for buy side quant research so realistically if you want to have the best chance at getting into that area it is extremely helpful to pick statistics and then machine learning. If you end up going to a masters and try to pick it up statistics and machine learning there, you won't have the knowledge in time to compete for research internships. But you can always just try for an easier internship and apply again for full time.

On the other hand you may never have the chance to take some of these fundamental math courses again (at least in a official school setting). Algebra and Analysis are great core classes for building mathematical maturity which basically allow you to take any graduate level courses. Your linear algebra 2 is basically an abstract algebra course. However in terms usefulness for getting a quant job, neither are particularly necessary.

If you want to do statistics then machine learning, I would pick Analysis 2 over algebra since 1. you said you like analysis more 2. it could be more relevant to possible future graduate classes. But if you have never had an abstract algebra class, it could also be nice to get a taste of that.

I know i didnt respond last time i read it because it getting close to like 11 but i ended up going for analysis and stats (and we have to take multivariable calculus) like you suggested and for my block two i did PDEs and probability and programming, thankyou for you response it helped a lot i dont think i'll mind missing linear algebra as im already gonna do more analysis which i like more and got my highest mark in it in first year so it should be fine. I never even thought about internships during my masters yet or anything so it helped to put that in.
Thankyou for the quick helpful response!

 

[weab]

I know i didnt respond last time i read it because it getting close to like 11 but i ended up going for analysis and stats (and we have to take multivariable calculus) like you suggested and for my block two i did PDEs and probability and programming, thankyou for you response it helped a lot i dont think i'll mind missing linear algebra as im already gonna do more analysis which i like more and got my highest mark in it in first year so it should be fine. I never even thought about internships during my masters yet or anything so it helped to put that in.
Thankyou for the quick helpful response!

No problem. Good luck!