u/Few-Ear2658

I started Chartered Accountancy (ICAP Pakistan) about 4–5 months ago. Recently, I found out about finance careers like quantitative research and trading, which really interest me.

From what I understand, these jobs mostly hire from top universities like Oxford, MIT, etc. My grades are not strong enough for those, and I also can’t afford them.

So I started looking for other realistic options and found TU Munich (TUM) for a Bachelor’s in Mathematics. From what I’ve seen, it has a good reputation, and some quants do come from there. I would also probably need to learn German.

I also want to know if a BSc Mathematics from TUM is actually a good path into quant finance roles.

Now I’m confused and looking for advice from people in this field or studying at TUM / working in quant finance.

Should I try to get into TUM for a Math degree and aim for a quant career, or continue with CA?

If I continue CA, it’s a stable path with decent income in my country after a few years, but honestly I don’t enjoy it much—it feels boring to me.

I know quant is very competitive and basically involves competing with very strong math students. I also don’t fully know how realistic it is for someone from TUM to get into quant roles.

Another concern is financial stability during studies. If I go for this path, I might not earn anything for years and would depend on my family.

So I’m really confused between:

• a stable professional qualification (CA)
• or a risky but more interesting path (math → quant finance)

Any advice would be appreciated.

I am 20 years old and recently started the Chartered Accountant qualification in Pakistan. It is a respected career path here, with decent pay and good prospects. However, I have realized that I have little interest in spending my life as an accountant. I chose it mainly because it seemed like one of the best available options.

My real interest lies in financial markets, particularly in quantitative research and trading. I learned that to be accepted by major firms in this field, having a strong STEM degree from a top university is a big advantage. That made me consider pursuing a Math undergraduate program at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

The challenge is that my Grade 12 (high school) marks are not strong, and I don’t know how the application process works. I wonder whether Waterloo would accept me, and if there are tests like the SAT that could help me demonstrate my ability. I also saw that Waterloo offers a Math co-op program, which could give me valuable work experience and possibly lead to opportunities at quant firms during or after the program.

My plan is to prepare for any required tests, apply to Waterloo’s Math undergraduate program, join the co-op track, and then pursue internships or jobs in Canada or the USA with quant firms. I know this is a big decision, with risks: I might not be admitted, or I might complete the degree but still struggle to get into quant roles. On the other hand, continuing Chartered Accountancy here would give me a stable and respected career.

Still, I am willing to put in the effort because quantitative finance is the field I am truly interested in. I am seeking advice on whether I should pursue this path.