Jane Street SEE Programme Guide

What is the Jane Street SEE Programme?

SEE brings students into the world of trading and research, software engineering, and strategy and product. Each track approaches the same business from a different angle, so the most useful first decision is which kind of problem you want to explore.

Who can apply to Jane Street SEE?

SEE is aimed at current university students interested in understanding how Jane Street solves real problems. You do not need prior knowledge of finance to apply.

A background in mathematics or computer science can give you a natural starting point, but the programme is about curiosity and learning rather than an existing finance qualification. Students from statistics, physics, engineering and other disciplines can connect their academic work to the activities.

Check the session that fits your circumstances

Start with the official SEE programme page, then follow the application for your nearest location. Confirm the available tracks, dates and student criteria on that application before submitting.

Jane Street asks applicants to apply only to the location nearest them. The location choice matters because programme schedules and available tracks are tied to individual sessions.

The three SEE programme tracks

Jane Street describes three learning tracks. The menu on the actual application determines which ones are offered at your location, so choose a track for the subjects you want to work on rather than for a job title you think sounds most prestigious.

Important distinction between locations

The general SEE programme covers all three tracks, while the London SEE application currently offers Trading and Research and Software Engineering. Select from the options shown for your chosen session rather than assuming every track is available at every office.

For a student choosing between trading and engineering, a useful test is to ask which activity you would enjoy more: pricing an uncertain outcome and defending the assumptions, or writing and testing the software that processes the resulting transactions.

What happens during the programme?

SEE combines teaching with active participation. You learn concepts in short sessions, try them in exercises and talk to the people who use similar ways of thinking at work.

Approach the exercises as learning opportunities. When a model or solution fails, identify what changed, ask a precise question and share the reasoning that led you to your answer.

Questions worth bringing

• What assumption tends to be most important when you move an idea from a classroom problem into real trading?
• How do engineers test a change that could affect systems used by several teams?
• What is an example of a decision where trading, technology and operations needed different things?

How to apply for Jane Street SEE

Start at the official programme page and choose the application associated with your nearest location. When a session is not taking applications, use the notification option on that page to hear about future opportunities.

How SEE selection works

Jane Street selects a group of students from programme applications. Your most useful preparation is a focused CV, an accurate description of your studies and a clear reason for choosing SEE and your track.

The application itself centres on student background, timing, track choice and a CV. Prepare for the process as an educational programme application rather than importing the hiring rounds used for full time trading or engineering roles.

What makes an application useful to review?

• Evidence of curiosity: a project, problem, module or activity that led you to explore a subject more deeply.
• Evidence of learning: a concrete improvement you made after testing an idea, receiving feedback or finding a mistake.
• Track alignment: an explanation of why mock trading, programming workshops or business case work particularly interests you.
• Clear communication: a CV that names what you actually built, solved or studied without relying on inflated claims.

Write a stronger motivation note

A good short note connects something you have done, a question it raised and the part of SEE that would help you explore that question. Avoid claiming that you already know exactly what working at Jane Street involves.

Example for the trading track: In a probability project, I found that a small change to an assumption could reverse which decision looked best. I want to learn how traders test those assumptions, respond to new information and manage the risk of a decision that initially looked attractive.

Use your own experience rather than copying the example. The most convincing version is specific enough that you could discuss it naturally with a programme participant.

How to prepare for each SEE track

Preparation for SEE should help you learn more from the workshops, not imitate a demanding job interview that you have not been invited to take. Choose one of the original EverythingQuant exercises below as a warmup, then practise explaining your answer aloud.

Trading and Research: price a simple uncertain payoff

Suppose a ticket pays $12 if the sum of two fair dice is at least 10 and pays nothing otherwise. You can buy the ticket for $1.60.

Your task is to calculate a fair value, decide whether the offered price is attractive and explain one risk that matters even when the expected profit is positive.

For a second attempt, change the rule to a sum of at least 9 and recalculate the odds before looking at the previous solution. This practises the probability and decision making that appears in the Trading and Research curriculum.

Software Engineering: maintain a position from events

Write a function that takes a stream of pairs containing a symbol and a signed quantity, then returns the current net quantity for each symbol. A positive quantity increases the position and a negative quantity reduces it.

Use this input and verify the final state before looking at the implementation.

events = [
    ("ABC", 5),
    ("XYZ", -2),
    ("ABC", -8),
    ("XYZ", 3),
]
# Expected: {"ABC": -3, "XYZ": 1}

def net_positions(events):
    positions = {}
    for symbol, quantity in events:
        positions[symbol] = positions.get(symbol, 0) + quantity
    return positions

assert net_positions(events) == {"ABC": -3, "XYZ": 1}
assert net_positions([]) == {}
assert net_positions([("ABC", 2), ("ABC", -2)]) == {"ABC": 0}

Jane Street uses OCaml extensively in its engineering work, but its interest in programmers extends beyond one language. For this preparation exercise, use a language you know well and focus on correctness, tests and communicating your design.

Strategy and Product: compare two financing choices

A team needs to finance a $20 million position. Option A costs 5.1% per year with no setup fee, while Option B costs 4.8% per year plus a one time $30,000 fee.

Assuming simple interest and no other costs, identify the cheaper option for a full year and then for three months. The change in time horizon is the important part of the problem.

This is a small version of the structured reasoning used in funding and operational decisions. State assumptions, compare alternatives on the same basis and show how your recommendation changes when a constraint changes.

A short preparation plan

Travel, accommodation and programme costs

Jane Street covers travel to and from SEE, meals, housing and social activities. Participants also receive a set daily amount for other expenses associated with the programme.

Once selected, follow the organiser's instructions for travel arrangements, arrival times and accommodation. Keep relevant travel documents ready and clarify booking procedures before making personal travel purchases.

SEE is an educational experience with expenses covered, not a salaried internship. Its benefits are access to people, teaching and activities that help you understand what different careers at the firm involve.

What can SEE lead to?

The immediate outcome is a much clearer understanding of quantitative trading, software engineering or strategy and product work. Students also gain practice discussing technical ideas and meet employees who can describe what the work feels like beyond a job description.

Attending SEE does not itself constitute an internship or guarantee a later interview or job. If you decide to pursue Jane Street afterwards, use what you learned to choose a suitable role and make a stronger, more informed application through its normal recruitment process.

Make the experience count

• Write down one technical idea you changed your mind about and why.
• Record the distinction between the work of the track you attended and that of another team.
• Choose one skill to develop through a course, project or problem set over the following month.
• Use specific experience from the programme when explaining your future interest in a role.

Jane Street SEE frequently asked questions

Official SEE information and further reading

For the next step, use the SEE page for programme updates and application access. The other resources help you explore the work behind your chosen track.

• Jane Street SEE programme page: purpose, tracks, programme support and session notifications.
• Jane Street programmes and events: discover other events and educational opportunities.
• SEE London application: example of the details and materials requested for that location.
• Technology at Jane Street: an introduction to engineering and functional programming at the firm.
• What Jane Street does: how trading, research and technology work together.