How much math/highest level of math do you need for the real world?

College Majors Business Majors
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<p>How much math/highest level of math do you need for the real world? By real world, I mean the corporate/finance world… </p>

<p>I want to work as some sort of financial analyst or actuary or investment banker some day. I deciding if I should major in Math or if I should just major Statistics (at my college, statistics major are also math minors).</p>

<p>I’m also majoring in Economics, so basically what I’m saying is </p>

<p>Econ. + Math vs. Econ. + Stats (+Math Minor) </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>Why don’t you major in accounting + stats(+math minor).</p>

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<p>Econ requires more math than most people ever need in business. Actuaries need more as everything they do is based on stats/math. A little algebra and basic stats will get you by in most jobs other than some math specialists doing complex trading models. The average IBer does not really understand how they work either.</p>

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<p>I think statistics is much more useful to pair in with economics.</p>

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<p>OP is talking about the real world though. I’d say being able to multiply and divide in your head accurately and quickly would make you a god.</p>

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<p>onhcetum, where are you in your studies?</p>

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<p>Going on soph year in the fall</p>

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<p>Here are a couple of link which discuss math/stat for economists.
[Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Advice for Aspiring Economists](<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/05/advice-for-aspiring-economists.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Advice for Aspiring Economists)
[Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Why Aspiring Economists Need Math](<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/09/why-aspiring-economists-need-math.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Why Aspiring Economists Need Math)</p>

<p>AsTrans brought up a good point with accounting which would go well with the fields you mentioned. For investment banking, econ and finance also go well.</p>

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<p>Alright thanks for the replies and links everyone. </p>

<p>I know a handful of people who told me they wish they doubled in Stats + Econ/Finance rather than Math though… so I’m still relatively undecided.</p>

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<p>The beautiful part is no matter which direction you decide to go, your first couple of years are the same Calc 1 to 3, Diff EQ, Linear Algerbra, and Mathematical Statistics/Probability theory. At the same time you will be taking Econ classes and you will be able to decide which direction to go. You are definitely thinking in the right direction.</p>