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Khushi Pathak, MFin ’25, was confident in pursuing a career in mathematics while earning two degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology, but it was a class in financial mathematics and a couple of internships in quantitative research and platform engineering that inspired her to enroll in the Master of Finance degree program at MIT Sloan.
“The MIT Sloan MFin program offers the perfect combination of rigor and flexibility for me to explore different avenues in finance, and it will give me a strong skillset to pursue a career in quantitative finance,” said Pathak, who grew up in Mumbai, India.
Also important to Pathak? A school with a global reputation and a strong alumni network. “The MFin program ticked all my boxes,” she said. “The coursework is challenging and exposes me to a lot of intricacies behind financial markets … and I’ve made great connections with other students at the Institute.”
Pathak opted to complete her degree in 18 months, which will allowed her to intern in the quantitative finance department at BNP Paribas in New York in the summer, as well as take additional courses, or use the additional time to write a thesis. She’s on track to graduate in February 2025.
A Day with Khushi Pathak
9:00 a.m.
I start my day by getting coffee at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. I live in Tang Hall, a graduate residence hall on the southwest end of campus so I take a shuttle each morning which drops me off right outside the Trust Center. Stopping here for coffee is especially important on this Tuesday since it’s my longest day on campus. Coffee at this point in the semester is more for sustenance than satisfaction – we’re very busy this time of year!
9:30 a.m.
I’m talking with Joann Shi, SB ’25, my classmate in Advanced Analytics of Finance, which is about to start at 10 a.m. Since we’re on the same team for our final class project, Joann and I discuss this and our homework.
10:15 a.m.
Professor Hui Chen teaches Advanced Analytics of Finance. It’s a great course about multivariate statistics and how we’ll apply what we learn. Professor Chen teaches methods to improve a model’s flexibility. I enjoy this course because it feels like an extension of my undergraduate courses. I’m in my natural element when it comes to math.
11:45 a.m.
I’m headed to a lunch event. With so many student clubs and associations at MIT Sloan, there’s always an event with something new to learn and a free lunch to grab. Around campus, there are so many opportunities to learn about people and sectors I would have never known about otherwise.
1:00 p.m.
Aruja Khanna, MFin ’25, and I are walking towards our next class, Options and Futures Markets. We are both from Mumbai, India, and are really close friends. The MFin class is a highly diverse group of people from around the world, and we all know each other well due to the comparatively small class size and group projects that encourage collaboration.
1:05 p.m.
Professor Deborah Lucas takes the first few moments of the Options and Futures class to chat with students while we settle in. I enjoy this class because we study not only the concepts behind options and futures, but also real-life incidents. Professor Lucas often shares recent news stories related to what we have recently learned. She is so inspiring because she is such an expert in her field, yet she’s extremely humble and friendly with her students.
2:00 p.m.
Today we discussed a case study on a company issuing convertible debt. We debated the pros and cons of issuing such an instrument versus straight debt or equity. This is an example of how Professor Lucas includes real life examples to help us understand the concepts behind options and futures.
2:30 p.m.
This is me and Paul Svidrun, MFin ’24. We are discussing a homework assignment and deciding on a topic for our term project. Paul is one of my closest friends in the program. Even though we come from very different countries – Paul is of Ukrainian descent raised in Germany while I was born and raised in India – we have bonded over time.
3:30 p.m.
On this sunny day, my friends and I take a short walk around campus. Between classes, I catch up with my friends, work on some assignments, or refuel with coffee.
3:45 p.m.
Along with Paul, Joyce Zou, MFin ’25, is one of my closest friends. Our diverse backgrounds have only brought us closer together. There’s always something new to talk about. Joyce is also helping me learn a bit of Mandarin. We love hanging out during our free time.
4:05 p.m.
Rose Smith, MFin ’25, and I share a passion for gaming, and we were discussing the recent MIT Gaming Industry Conference, where I volunteered. Here we’re in our Quantitative Investment Management class which ends at 7 p.m., so when it ends, I usually take the shuttle back to Tang Hall. On some days after class, I like to hang around and finish up assignments or just chat with my friends. I usually prefer to study at the Trust Center or the Margaret Cheney room at MIT, since both are equipped with coffee machines.
