Can a Graduate Degree from Oxford U help me get a salaried position in trading?

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Quote from FreedomPhighter:



thanks. It is unfortunate that anyone would want to set me up for a fall....I thought this forum was supposed to be a place where everyone contributes their knowledge and answers peoples enquiries. Maybe I am wrong....

I completely agree with you...but remember everyone in the world is not here to fit into your perfect plan of how you would like things to be.

It's just the way life is. Deal with it.
 
Quote from Ditch:



Ok, but why not spend all that time, money and effort on learning to trade in stead of a obtaining a degree in a theoretical study, that will only give you marginal benefits in terms of becoming a successfull, self-employed trader. Trading is a mental game, it's all about controlling your emotions, that's the kind of skill you need to develop.

Maybe you didn't read my previous posts but I believe I stated that I am torn between trading and academia. I believe that an MsC at Oxford will quench my intellectual curiosity for the time being and also help me be a better trader (I have heard that it takes much discipline to write the final MsC dissertation which is required for my degree). I am going to Oxford so that I can sharpen my analytical skills and indulge in mathematical proof. Clearly, I'd have gone to Harvard Business School if I believed that a higher degree could actually prepare me for securities trading. So I am going to Oxford for fun, I guess you could say (in other words, not so that I can land a high paying job.....though I hope Oxford's reputation will help me in that area as well).

Thanks
 
Quote from FreedomPhighter:



thanks. It is unfortunate that anyone would want to set me up for a fall....I thought this forum was supposed to be a place where everyone contributes their knowledge and answers peoples enquiries. Maybe I am wrong....

I suppose that comment justifies some clarification.

What I meant was during the period of starting a job, if you get one.

You have shown a prima donna attitude toward those in this thread who have given you feedback you didn't like. You commented that "good thing this isn't a professional communication venue, now isnt it", when in fact you had just exchanged posts with someone (Don Bright) who could help you.

"for a fall" doesnt mean setting you up for real damage, I just mean peers letting an arrogant peer's lack of observance of social rules trip them up in front of higher ups - it's pretty common in the post-college "freshman" world.
 
Quote from FreedomPhighter:



Maybe you didn't read my previous posts but I believe I stated that I am torn between trading and academia. I believe that an MsC at Oxford will quench my intellectual curiosity for the time being and also help me be a better trader (I have heard that it takes much discipline to write the final MsC dissertation which is required for my degree). I am going to Oxford so that I can sharpen my analytical skills and indulge in mathematical proof. Clearly, I'd have gone to Harvard Business School if I believed that a higher degree could actually prepare me for securities trading. So I am going to Oxford for fun, I guess you could say (in other words, not so that I can land a high paying job.....though I hope Oxford's reputation will help me in that area as well).

Thanks

Your motives for obtaining a math degree ar clear, but what attracts you to trading then?
 
Quote from Htrader:



Its unlikely you will be able to find a salary post in a prop firm, most of the firms require you to post capital, as opposed to receiving it.

However, I'll assume that you have a very good GPA and other credentials which allowed you to get into oxford. If you are truly knowledgable in programming and high-level mathematics I'm sure you could apply to the Sales and Trading divisions of major investment banks and get a decent offer. These banks also hire alot of programmers from top schools to write their trading software.

Like other people have already mentioned, the recruiting/career counseling department at oxford should be more than an adequate resource.

I have an honours degree in mathematics, and a degree in computer science from NYU. My gpa wasn't as high as the typical Oxfordian's gpa but high enough to get me in. I don't want to be a programmer........I want to be a trader. If it is difficult to find a salaried job in trading after I graduate from Oxford, maybe I'll apply to Harvard business school.....that should surely help me wouldn't you say (assuming, of course, that I were to get in).
 
Quote from gotta_trade:



I completely agree with you...but remember everyone in the world is not here to fit into your perfect plan of how you would like things to be.

It's just the way life is. Deal with it.


You are right about that. I will try to serve this forum in a way that fits into my perfect plan. If everyone did that, I think this forum would be a better place (at least better than the way it is now with people making negative comments instead of meaningful ones)...
 
Quote from Don Bright:


"Salaried" jobs are pretty tought to find, and who really wants to have a "job" when you can have the opportunity to be a successful trader.


LMAO -- sorry Don, but that was just way too much party line on that one...
 
Quote from swtrader:



I suppose that comment justifies some clarification.

What I meant was during the period of starting a job, if you get one.

You have shown a prima donna attitude toward those in this thread who have given you feedback you didn't like. You commented that "good thing this isn't a professional communication venue, now isnt it", when in fact you had just exchanged posts with someone (Don Bright) who could help you.

"for a fall" doesnt mean setting you up for real damage, I just mean peers letting an arrogant peer's lack of observance of social rules trip them up in front of higher ups - it's pretty common in the post-college "freshman" world.

Thanks for the reply. You are right. Some of the feedback I received I didn't like and will not tolerate (for example, a comment stating that I deserve an ass kicking?.....if someone would like to say that to me I would prefer it to be a face to face confrontation rather than a "you cant see me so I can say whatever the hell I want to you" attitude). This is not a professional communication venue so the rules that would otherwise apply don't. I can get into detail here and express my emotions because this is not an interveiw but rather a place which promotes the free exchange of ideas (unfortunately, the moderators place no limits on just how "free" the exchange can be as we've seen negative and meaningless responses remain posted). There is no question in my mind whatsoever about whether I will secure a full time high paying job. The only question I have is whether I will be able to secure a full time high paying job in trading.

I am not arrogant.
 
Quote from Ditch:



Your motives for obtaining a math degree ar clear, but what attracts you to trading then?

I believe I would be very good at trading. Sometimes I look at a stock's behaviour and just know where it is headed. When the stock does what I expected I kick myself for not having the money to actually captalize on the opportunity. When this happens consistently I know I should be a trader. A couple of months ago, I completely gave up looking at my charts because it was painful to see so many opportunities I was unable to capitalize on. For example I'll see that a sector is weak so I'll be short on the sector and every stock in the sector will continue to plummet. Or I'll see that all stocks in a particular sector are rallying on a particular day except for one or two. Upon noticing that there is no news holding those particular stocks down I conclude that those stocks will follow the herd shortly so I'd proceed to go long (in my mind, of course as I am low on capital reserves) and what do you know, my hunch turns out to have been correct. I feel as if I was meant to be a trader. I know I will be successful in trading when provided with the opportunity. I need a salary based position, however.

Thanks
 
Further schooling will not necessarily help you with finding work:

If you are on a free ride at Oxford then do it if your intellectual curiosity is peaked: the extra work dreaming up ways to construct algorithms and developing techniques for proof will only sharpen your mind.

On the other hand if you are paying a dime for the experience I would think twice about it ....... Universities are not the best way into well paying jobs. If you are truly brilliant AND market this within the university then it may lead to open doors ..... Oxford is no different than other academic institutions and also operates on the fallacy of the lottery, and offers limited assistance outside of academic placement - for which you need a phD.
 
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