Julie Fraiture

New challenge

My major is in Life Science & Technology and I wanted to broaden my knowledge, know more about the Financial world and expand my mathematical skills. After my fulltime board year, I was looking for a new challenge. Since the minor Finance is known to be challenging in programming and mathematical skills, this seemed like the best choice, and it proved to be.

Courses

I really liked the fact that programming courses are a big part of the minor Finance, in for example the courses ‘Monte Carlo Methods’ and ‘Time Series’. Also, I liked the courses involving fundamental mathematics, like ‘Option Valuation Methods’ and ‘Introduction to Mathematical Finance’. The fact that these ‘technical’ courses were alternated with more ‘soft’ courses about the management of risk and the trading of assets, made it diverse and fun.

Guest lectures

The minor is set up very well and the teachers are great. The courses are very diverse and multiple guest lectures and events were organized in which employees from the financial world talked about their experiences.

Future

Did the minor meet my expectations? Yes, it did! It was indeed challenging and hard work because of the multiple assignments, but it was very rewarding. Well, I’m not sure if I would be able to trade stocks now, but I do know the underlying mechanisms. Now I’m back at Life Science & Technology and I already experience the benefits from following the minor Finance. In mathematics, I’m sharper and I’m beyond my fellow students in programming skills. Furthermore, I think knowledge of the financial world is beneficial for whichever profession or career prospect.