My Interest in Finance developed during my college days. In those days, I observed my mother

who was trading. I started gaining knowledge and I started my own trading account in January

2014. With my own account, markets became quite accessible and I started applying my

strategies. I'm successful many times and I consistently optimized my strategies and created new

one's. With this enthusiasm, I started investing significant money and I was able to achieve some

ambitious targets. I had decided to pursue finance as my career.

By the time I was out of my college, I started pursuing trading as my occupation. I

strengthened my skills I used failures as learning opportunities. By Nov 2015, I was able to

achieve an "IRR of 2.36% per month". I was doing well, but while I'm trying to optimize them

more I realized the importance of further Knowledge and skills. I got enrolled in various courses

like Technical and Fundamental Analysis. I started coding various strategies in Language “Trade

Script”. Most of them are doing well. I’m currently working on a code which would generate buy

and sell signals for a short term. I understood the necessity of computational knowledge and

started learning python. I achieved a 100% grade in "Computational Investing Part 1" by Georgia

Tech University. I completed many courses like “Introduction to Finance” by University of

Michigan, “Introduction to Computer science and Programming using Python (MIT 6.00.1 X)”

by MIT, “Principles of Economics with calculus” by CaltechX, “Critical Perspectives on

Management” by IE business school.

In July 2015, I got a job as an "Equity Advisor" in Karvy Stock Broking Limited. As an Equity

advisor in Karvy Stock Broking Limited, I advise and manage portfolios of about 35-40 Clients,

based on their risk appetite. Most of them are long-term investors, I analyze and find

fundamentally strong companies and ensure that my clients buy those stocks at a reasonable

price and I keep track of those stocks. Some of my clients are short-term traders, they trade with

momentum and I ensure that they enter at a near low price and exit at a near high price and

maintain a strict stop loss. A few of my client’s trade in Futures and Options, a lot of strategies

have to be applied in this segment. I always ensure that I maximize the profits and minimize the

losses. I use every mistake as a learning opportunity and use them to optimize my strategies. One

of my short term goal is to advise my clients with high accuracy and ensure that they are a

profitable maximum number of times. I cleared NISM series VIII Certification which is a

prerequisite for associated persons functioning as approved users and sales personnel of the

trading member of an equity derivatives exchange or equity derivative segment of a recognized

stock exchange.

In July 2015 I felt uncomfortable with PE levels in the market and various global events, I

predicted that some significant downside would be taking place and I liquidated my entire

portfolio of INR 2.5 million. As predicted, a crash took place on 24/8/15. I used this opportunity

to reinvest. I found the right stocks through fundamental analysis and I continuously search for

good stocks to invest.

All the challenges I’m facing now made me understand the necessity of further education in

finance. When I decided that I’m going to pursue Finance in my post-graduation, I did a lot of

research to find the right program for me. When I came across the University of Chicago's

Financial Mathematics, I was amused by its curriculum and reputation. While I’m fascinated by

the entire Curriculum of University of Chicago’s Financial Mathematics program, subjects like

“Regression analysis and Quantitative trading

Strategies (FINM33150)” and most importantly “Computing for Finance 1, 2 &3 (FINM32200,

FINM32300 and FINM32400)” reflects my interests and passion.

When I was researching for the right program, I found that grades in Undergraduate studies,

especially grades in Mathematics are very important. Unfortunately, my grades in early academic

years are low. But as time passed I improved my grades a lot. My SGPA increased from 5.36 in

the first semester to 8.35 in the final semester. In Managerial economics, I secured ‘A’ grade,

highest in my class. To compensate my low grades in my initial college years, I prepared for

GRE with utmost dedication and scored 322, Quant score 168 (95%) in my first attempt. I even

wanted to take a mathematics subject test to compensate my low grades. But the next test date is

on 16/4/2016. I can’t wait for that long. So, I started looking into some alternatives. I completed

the “Calculus1” with Ohio State University with a final grade of 100%. I’m also enrolled in

courses like “Calculus2” by Ohio state University, “Probability: The science of Uncertainty” by

MITX, "Econometrics: Methods and Applications" by Erasmus University Rotterdam, "Financial

Engineering and Risk Management Part 1" by Columbia University, "Financial markets" by Yale

University. I will complete all these courses with the same dedication and commitment and

would try to achieve 100% in all of them.

Coming to my goal, One day I want to start my Own Hedge fund. Like I mentioned earlier, since

childhood I was willing to own a business with a financial touch. This desire made “Hedge fund”

as my Long term goal. I believe the admission in university of Chicago's Financial Mathematics

will be a big leap towards fulfilling my dream and the employments perspective are also very

attractive. I believe that by getting admission in University of Chicago Financial Mathematics I

would gain the necessary knowledge and skill set and I would have bright chances of getting

employment in a reputed Hedge fund. From that I can gain experience in real time working on

Hedge fund and one day when I feel that I’m ready- I will be setting up my own Hedge fund

start-up.

I strongly believe that my personal experience with financial markets and the invaluable

experience I’m getting through my Job would help me to reach my goals. I believe that my

profile would help me to get into your reputed program. Once I’m admitted, my real time

experience would help me apply concepts that I learn in the class room in real time markets.

More ever due to my Job I have to create and implement strategies for people with various risk

appetites. This would help me in excelling in various environments and gives me an added

advantage in my MS studies and in my future job. My experience with coding trading strategies

in Trade script and my knowledge in Python and C++ would help me excel in the Computation

subjects. I tried my best to overcome the flaws and sharpen my positive points and I promise I

won’t stop improvising myself further, for myself and societal benefit. I hope my efforts would

help me getting admission in University of Chicago's Financial Mathematics.