Finance programs- crypto, complex trading algorithms, etc

[Anonymous]

My sophomore is really into crypto, complex algorithms, etc. he spends lots of time researching and tracking these things and I think he would enjoy a college where he can dig into this more with like-minded professors and students. He is a good student and will likely test well but I am looking for ideas of schools to look at for him outside the Wharton/ MIT/Stanford type places that are a lottery for anyone. We are in VA if that matters but willing to look anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Shit send him to Vegas for four years if he likes to gamble.

[Anonymous]

But why not a lottery school? Crypto investing is basically a lottery already.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you think he's interested in CREATING these financial instruments or trading/investing?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he wants to be a quant. Math is a better major for that than finance. Illinois and St. Olaf probably have the strongest undergraduate math programs that are reasonably accessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shit send him to Vegas for four years if he likes to gamble.

+1 on Vegas

[Anonymous]

I would focus on majors like finance, business and or data science. Those are the types of things that if you want to work for like a big financial analysis or consulting company like a BCG, Goldman or whatever, that’s a great Bachelors to have.

[Anonymous]

Places where the nerdy Quant guys are applying from my kid’s school:

Carnegie Mellon
Caltech
Harvey mudd

In VA, especially if you want to pay less than 70-80k, the top Virginia schools are generally a bargain for these majors. UVA, WM, Vatech and GMU all have great business, data science and similar programs.

[Anonymous]

The question for you is:

What is your budget? Are you full pay?
How far away do you want to send them?
What job do they ultimately want to have?

[Anonymous]

OP here- thanks for the ideas. He would hate being a math major. He is really most motivated when digging into areas of specific interest and precalc is fine but he’s not loving it. We could be full pay but would prefer not to be. I don’t see him enjoying Wall Street. He would likely be happier in a quirkier environment.

[Anonymous]

Wants to do financial engineering but doesn't like math or wall street? Has he thought this through?

Anyway, is advise getting into the best CS, applied math or even physics program he can get into. Ignore gimmicky specialized majors at questionable schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like he wants to be a quant. Math is a better major for that than finance. Illinois and St. Olaf probably have the strongest undergraduate math programs that are reasonably accessible.

+1

[Anonymous]

Maybe Finance with a minor in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- thanks for the ideas. He would hate being a math major. He is really most motivated when digging into areas of specific interest and precalc is fine but he’s not loving it. We could be full pay but would prefer not to be. I don’t see him enjoying Wall Street. He would likely be happier in a quirkier environment.

He’ll need way more than pre-calc for this and he’d better start loving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore is really into crypto, complex algorithms, etc. he spends lots of time researching and tracking these things and I think he would enjoy a college where he can dig into this more with like-minded professors and students. He is a good student and will likely test well but I am looking for ideas of schools to look at for him outside the Wharton/ MIT/Stanford type places that are a lottery for anyone. We are in VA if that matters but willing to look anywhere.

FWIW, the Wall STreet Journal named UVA top public undergrad for finance last year.