Hello,I am about to go back to school (part time) to pursue Financial Engineering degree.My BS was in Engineering and I worked as an Engineer for several yeas.Currently, I work for an Investment Bank in a support role. I've realised it is getting next to impossible to move up to an active trading role.My primary interest is in Derivatives. Somone sugested that I would have a better chance with different bank however, as we all know it isn't pretty out there. I am 29 years old and would like to get the FE degree...... any word of advice/comments will be appreciated.Thanks.

Yes, you can hope that come tomorrow, you won't be eating scraps out of a garbage can like a raccoon.Emotionally, it can be devastating to people to feel they are helpless to accomplish something, even something so simple as getting the lid off a jar. The normal human process is to try plan a, then plan b, then plan c, where at each step a person is kept busy knowing he is working closer towards some purpose. So what you want to know is that, by doing you homework problems or whatever is involved in getting the degree, you will be working towards some purpose.To that I would say, if you aren't at least curious about what's in those books - if you haven't been dipping into them in your spare time - then you will not be properly motivated, you will be filled with doubt, and you will feel helpless. And as a result of this attitude, you will do poorly.So, what is it really that you want in life? What makes you tick? And then, what is the means to the means to the means to the end, that will supervise your activites down to the last spare minute of the day and fill you with energy?Here's a tip: I bet you haven't asked every trader in your organization, face-to-face, this same question you are posing here. In fact I bet when the bell rings, you go your way and they go theirs, and there is an insuperable wall separating you. Even if you get the degree, you still won't be able to accomplish anything without connecting to these people in your workplace, and becoming human begins occupying a space in one another's hearts.You can be a trader even in a support role, if your particular job is the only thing separating you from the traders. Do what they do. Act like they act. Wear what they wear. Learn what they know, and then you can lie about your degree, and nobody will ever check MP

Thanks for the colorful reply. Appreciate it.My desire to enter the "dragon pit" isn't superficial... though I don't have a formal business/finance degree, I have learnt various instruments on my own. Derivatives is what gets me going, no matter which way I look there is Derivs in Equity,FX, Interest Rates and in Fixed Income.When I open Derivs book( not so much on math rather on Trading Strategy) ... I feel like a kid with lots of toys to play with <<Here's a tip: I bet you haven't asked every trader in your organization, face-to-face, this same question you are posing here. In fact I bet when the bell rings, you go your way and they go theirs, and there is an insuperable wall separating you>>I agree with that assessment 100%. Although I have made personal contacts with traders and business managers. I admit I can do far better. Perhaps I am bit apprehensive, but my ultimate goal is to learn and earn within Derivs. world.

I think you should stalk some of the traders who work at your place. THAT will get their attention!

It's plain to see, we can't change you, efiL4zaggiN MP

I was actually hoping someone would accuse me of being racist or something... I'm surprised anyone on this messageboard knows of NWA, I was hoping that I was the only "badboy" of quant finance.

You may be a "bad boy," and you may be "of quant finance."But I haven't seen any evidence of either.MP

...and you never will...E4Z

I should stalk "MobPsycho" -- he/she is a shadow casting over me.just kidding --as there is a saying if one's work harder, he/she get luckier.So I shall take that route instead of having a mug shot posted on the "National Enquirer" or the NY Post.