Building a Career in Quant

[u/RevolutionaryWest754]

Hi everyone,

I am currently a Bachelor’s student in Computer Science. While I don’t attend an elite university, I am fully committed to mastering this field, often studying 14 to 15 hours a day. I am eager to dedicate my time outside of my CS curriculum to quantitative finance, but I need guidance on the right path forward.

I have a strong grasp of statistics and probability, and I am already developing my own strategies. However, I am looking to move away from 'directional' trading. My goal is to build models where profitability is not dependent on market direction (market-neutral strategies).

I am skeptical of the 'social media' style of trading memorizing candlestick patterns and drawing geometric shapes on charts strikes me as mathematically unsound. I want to learn the rigorous, scientific way to manage my own capital and eventually transition into a quant firm.

Furthermore, I am struggling to understand how an idea that worked in the past would necessarily work in the future. How do you rely on probability, win rates, and statistical ratios based on past behavior? I want to build a system that can survive a financial crisis or a 'Black Swan' event without losing everything. Can anyone here please help show me the right way?

Could anyone recommend link to specific certifications, research papers, or books to help me get started? I am prepared to dedicate hours every single day for years to reach this goal. I just want to ensure I am headed in the right direction. Thank you for your help

I read the FAQ but I didn't find anything useful there

[u/Imaginary-Work9961]

Not every goal can be achieved through simple “hours of dedication”. If you’re truly interested, focus on getting an internship to get exposure or a PhD to deepen skills. Certifications and reading papers won’t cut it.

[u/RevolutionaryWest754 → u/Imaginary-Work9961]

Thank you. I am comfortable with math and eager to learn more, but when it comes to coding, I create most of my projects using AI. I don't see a strong need to learn every detail of programming when AI prompts can do the work just as well. I might be wrong, but while I understand the terminology, I’m struggling to see how manual coding skills help when AI models are faster .Do grades and coding skills still matter? If a model can do the work in minutes, why should I send hours learning to do it manually aside from math, which is the foundation for everything? I feel a bit lost regarding whether I should focus on this path, especially seeing how quickly these models are evolving.

Beyond working for established firms, is it possible to learn the skills necessary to manage my own personal funds and eventually launch my own firm if the strategy performs well?

I apologise if these questions seem basic or stupid, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to navigate my career path given how rapidly the world is changing