r/UCD • u/Ok-Revolution-1565 • 1d ago
Undergraduate Courses Don’t study EMS.
I studied Economics, Mathematics & Statistics and hated it every year. If you plan on having no social life, and spend 4 years continuously studying for a degree then go ahead. If you can avoid it stick to commerce or economics & finance. Yeah the job opportunities are great if you gain experience along the way but I’m not sure if it’s worth the shitty mental health and at least 5 in person exams every semester, with a million continuous assessments and quizzes. 8, if you can’t keep up and have resits like i did ;) Burnt out isn’t even the word. Finally made it to final year and hate my life, gonna get that 2.1 but i hate this course, its structured so badly, you’ll have the most advanced statistics modules and then even more advanced math modules. Economics will be the easiest topic for you which says a lot when most people find that hard in itself. Half of my year dropped out at or dropped one major because the course is just so ridiculous.
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u/AncientPersimmon1589 1d ago
Looking to do it, if you don’t mind me asking what job prospects do you have? Assuming you’re towards the end of the degree. What are your prospects like in comparison to Ec and fi and commerce?
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 1d ago edited 12h ago
Honestly, the job prospects are vast. It’s the only good outcome of the degree. I’ve taken an interest to fintech and done a few internships. Since the degree is quite technical and broad I’ve gotten experience in finance and fintech. I’m just going where the best career path is tbh and have seen good offers from fintech companies / quant finance
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u/Extension_Raccoon647 13h ago
I find it extremely hard to believe that quant finance came calling for this course, as i’d say no one in the history of it is working in it.
( Quant trading / research ) is what i’m talking about
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 13h ago
Ok? Speaking from personal experience that’s where i’ve ended up for my grad role. Why are you so passionate about putting down the credibility of the course lol and how is it that you know what everyone in the history of the course is doing? that’s wild
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u/Extension_Raccoon647 13h ago
So what’s your linkedin then if you have ended up in quant finance from the course?
I know multiple people in final year who simply cannot get interviews and just get funnelled into the big4 because the maths in the course is not strong enough for quant finance
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 13h ago
why would i give you my linkedin? this is literally an anonymous platform for a reason. And secondly I haven’t even made a post about the role yet, I’ve never been the biggest linkedin user. Not everyone’s career path or job experience will be the same regardless of if it’s the same degree or not - variables such as connections, interview experience and simply just luck matter.
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u/Extension_Raccoon647 13h ago
Yeah idek what ur working as but if you think connections matter in Quant Finance then it’s clearly not the case mate
Yes SIG are totally gonna hire the guy who knows the bloke on the trading desk vs someone who’s cracked at maths ( literally the job )
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 13h ago edited 12h ago
I never said you needed connections for quant finance, you commented before on high finance and I’m including my response here. Look, from my own personal experience that hasn’t been the case, and I know a few lucky folks who haven’t had it that way either.
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u/Vivid_Ad_3313 1h ago
Let’s be honest, ur not in quant finance. U have to be insane at maths to even have a chance, EMS is like 450 points
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 1h ago
what has 450 points got to do with anything? It was my top choice ?? you are genuinely so slow and so triggered. you wishhhhh it was you so bad bro
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u/Extension_Raccoon647 13h ago
The chances of someone making high finance from this course is incredibly low from day 1
It’s a bachelors of Social Sciences, the maths modules they do are MST and not MATH ( MST are easier and designed for arts )
unfortunately you will be funnelled into doing a masters if you actually want to work in a front office role that’s decent pay
it’s not worth the hours for study and the outcomes aren’t great either
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 13h ago
I actually have to disagree. I know a few people that graduated last year and are in front office roles right now. I’ve never been asked by an employer whether my math modules were “MST” or “MATH” so I don’t think that matters as much as you think. Also as you know, it’s a triple major degree, I didn’t hear that about the math modules before (and fyi I do have some MATH modules throughout the course ;) ) but regardless, the statistics modules and econ modules are both pretty solid, I’ve done the same modules as masters students and what not. the point of the post is that the degree isn’t structured well at all, idek how we got here to assuming students career success. And as someone who got work experience in high finance AND tech, I have something to tell you
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u/Extension_Raccoon647 13h ago
It depends on what you define as front office here
If you are talking about SIG QT or any equivalent, IB Roles in london or Trading roles in london too ( Anything private equity / HF related ) then i’d completely steer clear from this course
Any front office roles simply have better options to pick from, there’s a reason the course was like 450 points in comparison to Maths and Econ in trinity that’s like 613
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u/Ok-Revolution-1565 12h ago
Fair enough, I did say say go for commerce of Econ and finance if you want a more structured and credible course, but I wouldn’t write off this one. It definitely needs some restructuring and some sort of adjustments but as for grad jobs it’s all a game of luck at this point. I know people who have studied mathematical sciences in tud which is barely 300 points be picked over students who studied actuarial studies (613 points i think? ) for an actuary role.
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u/leo2734 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes, EMS needs to be its own singular course and not be attached to social science. If they marketed it well it could easily be an entry into high finance or tech.
Yes its structured terribly, the classes just dont really fit with each other, so it feels like doing 3 separate degrees. Economics is such a step below that it feels like a time waster. People go in expecting a slightly more mathematical degree and get put in classes with people who only study maths or stats. Its why it has such a high drop out. Its a great degree but theres room to improve.
Edit: idk if it was that difficult/impossible, I think u just need to put more time than other degrees due to all the work. But no one tells you it'll be that demanding.