What Major?

Quote from drailing33:

What major would all of you recommend for becoming an oil trader?
More...

Hard to say, some are engineers. T. Boone is a geologist from OSU.

Geologist with an MBA might get your foot in the door as a quant.
 
As far as what type of trader, one of the people at firms like Glencore, formerly Enron, BP, Shell, etc.

Would Mathematics just be the best for all?
 
Listen, honestly, I am a nuclear engineer by training and I hold several international patents for radiation shielding design.

If all there was to it was math, then every math major and physicist and engineer who could solve for an equation and develop a proof would be a trading genius - which is clearly not the case.
 
I understand that it does require more than just the numbers skills.

Would a petroleum engineer working for an oil company be able to transfer to trading within that firm? Does that sound reasonable?
 
Please make sure that you can pass the core engineering coursework before you start gaming out intercompany transfer scenarios - calculus, differential equations, and functions are your biggest consideration at the moment.
 
If you want a trader job then core should be:

- Mathematics
- Computer Programming (Java, C++)

Secondly (know something about):

- Economics

Lastly:

- Geology (for oil)

For fun:

- Psychology (or decision sciences)

The best way to answer this question is to find a job you like, such as oil trader, and see what skills the employer. What do you want to be? Hedge Exxon Mobil's portfolio? Execute trades for a small hedge fund? Market make in crude oil futures options?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top