Doing PhD while working as a quant

Az · February 24th, 2002, 7:12 pm

Hi, everybody.
Just a plain question:
Do you think it si possible to work as a quant (on the very first stage) and study for PhD at the same time.I think I have a chance to get an offer from a well known financial institution, but I'm only finishing my MSc and I'm willing to pursue my studies. What do people usually do in this case; I suppose that many of you here had the same problem some time ago.
Thanks you very much in advance.

mghiggins · February 24th, 2002, 9:09 pm

I think it'd be tough. I know three or four people who had all but finished their PhDs - just writing the thesis, basically - and started working. Only one of them actually finished the PhD, and it took him three years.

So doing the whole thing from scratch while working would be very difficult. Especially given the hours you have to work as a quant.

Omar · February 24th, 2002, 10:58 pm

I fully agree with MGHiggins. Don't even think about it. The well known financial institution will require your full undivided attention. But so does a meaningful PhD. Of course, you can always write a piece of garbage of a thesis by stretching things over 10 years, but what's the point?