gtwoney

Hello,

I am an international student attending a university in Indiana.
I am junior now, and will start taking major classes at Fall 2013.

My major is finance, and I would like to be trader or work in a field related to investments like stocks market (not necessarily investment banking).
I would also like to work as a consultant too.

After the undergraduate degree, I might extend my study one more year to get the MS in Information Systems.

I have two types of question.

First, to pair up with MS in Information Systems, what would be an ideal undergraduate major be? Majors in my business school includes Accounting, business economics, finance, management, marketing, operation management, supply chain, information and process management, etc.

Second, to be a trader, does finance undergrad major with ms in information systems sound like a good match? Or business economics+MS in Information Systems sounds good too?

Than you for your consideration!

GoalsOriented

If your career goal is in Finance, it would be a complete waste of time and money to get a MS in Information Systems. MIS/IS has nothing to do with a Finance career and will not help you in starting one. The only thing you should consider majoring in is Accounting or Finance (or both). Mathematics and Computer Science electives will also be very helpful just to get the attention of recruiters. And do not forget school prestige - if you do not already go to a top school, you should attempt to transfer eventually.

gtwoney

Thank you for your advice. Yes you are right I was confused with the term MS in Information Systems. I've decided to do Finance and Accounting double major. I am attending Kelley and I don't know if this business school will have the prestige, but since I am junior already transfer won't happen to me. I've been surfing through the web and found out that to be a trader, I don't even have to be a Finance major or even a business major (shocked to me). As you mentioned about mathematics and computer science electives, would minor in either fields with majoring in Finance sounds a good combination? And also, in terms of math, what would recruiters want? So far I have taken finite mathematics, business calculus I, and business statistics. Thanks

GoalsOriented

Kelley definitely is not a low-ranked school, though I have no idea on the specifics of its Finance-related recruitment. As for mathematics, it is not about specific useful courses, it is more about how difficult the math is and were you able to learn it. However, I know they would prefer you to have Calculus 1-2 (or 3, if your school divides it in 3) and not just Business Calculus. As for any further details, I am not sure - I do not have much knowledge of the Finance industry. You might try the Wall Street Oasis forums.