By Charlie (Yihan) Yin,
“No matter what, I’ll never work in a math or data-related job because they’re just not cool.” That’s what I swore to the moon when I was 10 years old, but eight years later, I proved myself wrong. I discovered that’s not true at all.
Fast forward to three years ago when I received my offer from the University of Washington. I was excited because Seattle is my dream city, and it was thrilling to be able to study and live there. During my first year, I explored a range of subjects, from economics and finance to arts, computer science, and applied mathematics. I was searching for my niche, and after a year of exploration, I realized I wanted to combine math and finance. Fortunately, UW offers a major called Computational Finance and Risk Management (CFRM) under the Applied Mathematics department. So, at the start of my second year, I applied and enrolled in Economics and CFRM.
So far, I’ve taken several fantastic CFRM courses. My favorites include CFRM 415 - Introduction to Financial Markets, CFRM 421 - Machine Learning for Finance, and CFRM 425 - R Programming for Quantitative Finance. Despite its introductory title, CFRM 415 delved deeply into the financial markets, covering everything from market mechanics to security valuation. With machine learning becoming increasingly crucial, CFRM 421 taught us various algorithms and their applications in finance. For our final project, my group used historical data from the Dow Jones Index to build a forecasting model. CFRM 425 was my first CFRM course, and it was a challenge due to my lack of prior coding and finance knowledge. However, with the support of my instructor, I succeeded and learned valuable skills that have significantly helped with job applications and my current internship. We explored different regression models and their financial applications, including multi-factor regression models widely used in the industry.
At school, I’ve been involved in the University of Washington Investment Banking Accelerator and Business Impact Group. My CFRM background has helped me stand out and contribute effectively. Last summer, as a business analyst in the Business Impact Group, my team worked on a market expansion project for a local tech company. My data-oriented approach and analytical skills provided a comprehensive analysis. I also organized a company tour for the Technology and Business Association to Russell Investments, the asset management company where I’m currently interning. Additionally, I’m a member of CIRCLE (Center for International Relations & Cultural Leadership Exchange), where I’ve made many friends and helped international students connect.
This summer, I interned with the Fixed Income team at Russell Investments, applying the knowledge and skills from my CFRM courses to real projects and contributing to the team. This experience has solidified my interest in asset management, particularly in fixed income portfolio analysis. Next quarter, I’ll join the University of Washington Investment Group to gain further experience in portfolio analysis and will take CFRM Fixed Income Analytics and Credit Risk Analysis courses over the next two quarters. I can’t wait to start my senior year! Additionally, I received the return offer and will be joining Russell Investments as a full-time associate after I graduate, and this would be hard to achieve without my background in CFRM.
Choosing CFRM was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My time here has not only helped me find my preferred career path but also introduced me to amazing advisors, professors, and classmates who have been incredibly supportive. This journey has been one of the most important and unforgettable experiences of my life.