4 ms·

Really appreciate the insights here - I'd love to get your advice on my own situation I've already done a pure math (+business) undergrad from a mid-tier unive

• graycat 11y ago
  > I've already done a pure math (+business) undergrad from a mid-tier university and have been working as a product manager at a financial services company for 3yrs post undergrad. I've been thinking of getting a PhD in an engineering sub-discipline, but not sure how to go about doing it especially since I have no research experience. It would appear that you might pursue something in "financial engineering". Since you are in the financial industry, you might ask around and grow a network: E.g., ask person A; maybe can get them to suggest person B; tell person B that person A recommended them and ask person B; etc. I.e., apply social networking techniques. E.g., try to get to some people who can outline some of what James Simons did. If you can, talk to Simons. Similarly for various quants and people who create algorithms and code for automatic trading. Look into the programs in financial engineering at Princeton (E. Cinlar), NYU (M. Avellaneda), Columbia (I. Karatzas), and CMU (S. Shreve). If you want to get into some other field of engineering, then gather some information, meet some people and get some input, and start to pick some fields or one field. > (i) spend 1 year doing research with a professor nearby then apply (I live close to a major research university) Maybe. If you can find a good situation and like it, maybe, sure. I have been suggesting that you start with your own problem and make some progress on it, maybe with a little advice (once I got just three words), and maybe then consider a professor as a official or unofficial mentor or dissertation adviser. > (ii) apply now and hopefully my work experience can cover for research experience For a graduate program, in most fields, you are not expected to have experience in research. So don't have to "cover for research experience". > (iii) Rethink the whole PhD thing and get a professional degree like an MBA (did well on GMAT) And, with that MBA, what will you do with it? Consulting? Try to work your way up as a C-level guy? Try to do portfolio management or be a venture capitalist? I'm a former MBA prof -- typically an MBA is not very technical, but, now, especially with some much in computing, being technical can be seen as an advantage. Or, maybe the flip side is, soon all the work that the techies can do will be done and what will be left is the non-technical work. Your guess. As far as I can see, still need to hustle and/or be lucky to have a good career. Also, an MBA is expensive while a Ph.D. often costs $0.00 for tuition and might provide a stipend. > (iv) Just continue to learn on the side and try to use my skills for opportunities That can be a short-term approach that can lead to a degree later. If you sense that your background is not good enough to go for a degree, then, sure. A major cause of my success in grad school is the math I studied independently between my Bachelor's and my Ph.D. program. In particular, for a Ph.D., will likely have to pass qualifying exams, and you will want to have enough preparation for a path to do that. > How did you narrow your interests before applying for a PhD? I attacked some practical problems with applied math and computing. I did this, first, in work in US national security around DC. > Is it possible to get a masters level pure math education through self study? I've taken until PhD level measure theory. IIRC at one time the Web site of the math department at Princeton said that the graduate courses were introductions to research by experts in their fields, that no courses were offered for preparation for the qualifying exams, and that students were expected to prepare via independent study. For this, you will need a good undergraduate background. There is some question how much a student or anyone should attempt via independent study. As a researcher, a lot of independent study is usually just part of the work, but there are seminars, etc. that can help. Mostly I did well with independent study, but once in statistics I picked a poor book and wasted some time. And, for some subjects, I did get and really needed the good, mature overview of a good course -- else there are too many places along the way where can waste time, get stuck, or go off on a tangent. Also it can be good to be around good researchers and learn their attitudes and approaches: E.g., often researchers go through new material surprisingly quickly and, really, without the thorough mastery often implied as important or even essential in high school and undergraduate school. E.g., in research, for some new material are trying to make use of it, not get a high score on some GRE exams.
  • imranq 11y ago
    Wow, thank you so much for the comprehensive response! This is the reason I love HN. Will definitely take this advice to heart and apply it today. Thanks!
• GFK_of_xmaspast 11y ago
  > I've been thinking of getting a PhD in an engineering sub-discipline, but not sure how to go about doing it especially since I have no research experience. .... (I live close to a major research university) If you know the discipline you want to study, email someone like the Director of Graduate Studies in the department in question. If you don't know the discipline, email someone in either the Graduate School or the College of Engineering, or both, depending on how you school's organized.