Education · 1 of 5

The path

Quant is three jobs: researcher, trader and developer. The path depends on which.

1. 1

   High school

   Grade 12

   The most advanced math you can take, plus programming. Math contests help a lot.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Math, statistics, computer science, physics or engineering, at a school trading firms recruit from.

3. 3

   Internships

   1 to 2 summers

   Firms hire most new staff from summer interns. Applications open about a year ahead.

4. 4

   Master's or PhD, for researchers

   1 to 6 years

   Many research roles want a PhD in a quantitative field. Traders and developers often start after a bachelor's.

5. 5

   First quant job

   1 to 2 years

   Months of training, then your own models or trades under close watch.