跨专业申请MFE，真诚恳求各位CDer给出建议

sprinttime

先说说楼主背景：港本（最好的那个），学位是工商管理，但是专业是information systems，上的课大致是60%商学院，40% computer science，课程倒是几乎没有跟IS有关的，都是基础课。

GPA:3.63（目前），GRE和T都还没考，打算这学期结束的时候考。


经历：国内一家顶级PE实习，四大的consulting实习，business case competition得奖，下学期会去美国TOP 20的学校交换（但这所学校的Finance不行...），然后即将到来的暑期实习还没落实...正在努力


楼主半年前决定申请MFE 2014 Fall，深知自己背景薄弱，申请了一个minor mathematics，已经上了2门了，下学期去美国打算再上4门。


Finance的课上了corporate finance, investment, derivatives。


这几天看到各种OFFER捷报，很是羡慕，恳求各位为以下问题给出一些建议，楼主一定会在将来全力回馈CD：


1. 大部分的数学课都是下学期上，但是申请也在下学期，这会成为一个巨大的劣势吗？
2. 以IS的背景申请到好学校的几率大吗？楼主现在特别担心这点，在考虑去考个CFA。
3. 对于楼主这个背景来说，MSF是否比MFE更难申请？


真诚的希望各位学长学姐们多多传授经验，如何才能更好的为MFE的申请做好准备？？


感谢各位！！！

JonFrank

Hi, my friend! Thus far, you have a great background. You have a good undergraduate education and academic scores. In addition, your work-related experience is very impressive. These factors will be helpful in your future application, and I’d definitely suggest that you aim fortop-tier programs. I’d also like to offer you a few pieces of advice as you move forward.

First, as you may know, an MFE is more of a math degree, and schools are looking for candidates who havevery strong backgrounds in math. You need to study courses like stochastic process, calculus, and advanced statistics. This background will better prepare you for an MFE program.

Secondly, you need to present strong programming skills, based on C++ or MATLAB. These are necessary tools for success in the real world with an MFE degree.

Finally, if you can pass the CFA level oneexam, that would be a huge advantage. Because your undergrad major is I.S., you also need to show your interest and preparation in finance.

You wanted to know whether it would be harder for you to get an MSF degree. An MSF is a pure finance degree so if you want to apply for this program, you need to take on more finance courses and definitely aim to ace the CFA.

Hope this helps!

Jon Frank
HBS 2005

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2013/2/20 11:40:24)

Hi Jon,


Thank you so much for this comprehensive reply. I apologize for this late reply ( I didn't check it regularly...)


Next Semester, I will take an exchange program at Notre Dame in which I plan to study 4 Mathematics courses to enhance my Mathematics background. But this might be a little bit too late since when the result came out, most applications shall have ended. Nevertheless, I will give it a try.


Now the problem really is the timing. The ideal time for me to submit the application is definitely late December because I will have a great GPA at a U.S. College (hopefully, haha), one or two convincing reference letters from ND and more importantly, a more suitable background.


Any tips on how I should spend my time at ND? Football is definitely on schedule, haha.

-- by 会员 sprinttime (2013/2/25 0:40:45)

Hi there, my friend. It’s clear youhave solid goals and a firm plan. For your exchange program next semester, Ithink it’s a great idea to take math courses to improve your quantitativeskills. Even thought you might not be able to get the final grades in time foryour new applications, you can speak about your exchange experiences in yourapplications. Getting one or more reference letters from math professors at ND wouldbe hugely helpful. And of course, enjoy the Fighting Irish football! Notre Damehas a great team.

One last piece of advice for yourexchange time… Since you will be in the States, you can actually arrange visitsto the schools you are interested in applying to. While you’re visiting them, Iwould definitely recommend sitting in on a few classes and introducing yourselfat the admissions office. This is a great way to establish a connection earlywith any university. Hope this helps!

----Jon Frank

sprinttime

Hi, my friend! Thus far, you have a great background. You have a good undergraduate education and academic scores. In addition, your work-related experience is very impressive. These factors will be helpful in your future application, and I’d definitely suggest that you aim fortop-tier programs. I’d also like to offer you a few pieces of advice as you move forward.

First, as you may know, an MFE is more of a math degree, and schools are looking for candidates who havevery strong backgrounds in math. You need to study courses like stochastic process, calculus, and advanced statistics. This background will better prepare you for an MFE program.

Secondly, you need to present strong programming skills, based on C++ or MATLAB. These are necessary tools for success in the real world with an MFE degree.

Finally, if you can pass the CFA level oneexam, that would be a huge advantage. Because your undergrad major is I.S., you also need to show your interest and preparation in finance.

You wanted to know whether it would be harder for you to get an MSF degree. An MSF is a pure finance degree so if you want to apply for this program, you need to take on more finance courses and definitely aim to ace the CFA.

Hope this helps!

Jon Frank
HBS 2005

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2013/2/20 11:40:24)

Hi Jon,


Thank you so much for this comprehensive reply. I apologize for this late reply ( I didn't check it regularly...)


Next Semester, I will take an exchange program at Notre Dame in which I plan to study 4 Mathematics courses to enhance my Mathematics background. But this might be a little bit too late since when the result came out, most applications shall have ended. Nevertheless, I will give it a try.


Now the problem really is the timing. The ideal time for me to submit the application is definitely late December because I will have a great GPA at a U.S. College (hopefully, haha), one or two convincing reference letters from ND and more importantly, a more suitable background.


Any tips on how I should spend my time at ND? Football is definitely on schedule, haha.

-- by 会员 sprinttime (2013/2/25 0:40:45)

貌似只有Cornell的ddl你12月出成绩赶不上。。。UMich得第二轮，可能还有几个得第二轮的。。不过MFE的rolling的没有MSF的那么多，而且比如10月就开放申请了的什么的比较少。估计LZ这背景也只会考虑几个牛的吧，那几个比较牛的可能就Cornell，Columbia你赶着比较费劲点儿，像UCB和UCLA这种的时间都很够的，哦对MIT Mfin也有点儿晚。。。。

-- by 会员 lonaysta (2013/2/25 1:06:31)

谢谢，我还没看过每个学校的截止日期，我以为大部分都是12月1日截止的...

sugaryang7

乃们都是牛人

lonaysta

Hi, my friend! Thus far, you have a great background. You have a good undergraduate education and academic scores. In addition, your work-related experience is very impressive. These factors will be helpful in your future application, and I’d definitely suggest that you aim fortop-tier programs. I’d also like to offer you a few pieces of advice as you move forward.

First, as you may know, an MFE is more of a math degree, and schools are looking for candidates who havevery strong backgrounds in math. You need to study courses like stochastic process, calculus, and advanced statistics. This background will better prepare you for an MFE program.

Secondly, you need to present strong programming skills, based on C++ or MATLAB. These are necessary tools for success in the real world with an MFE degree.

Finally, if you can pass the CFA level oneexam, that would be a huge advantage. Because your undergrad major is I.S., you also need to show your interest and preparation in finance.

You wanted to know whether it would be harder for you to get an MSF degree. An MSF is a pure finance degree so if you want to apply for this program, you need to take on more finance courses and definitely aim to ace the CFA.

Hope this helps!

Jon Frank
HBS 2005

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2013/2/20 11:40:24)

Hi Jon,


Thank you so much for this comprehensive reply. I apologize for this late reply ( I didn't check it regularly...)


Next Semester, I will take an exchange program at Notre Dame in which I plan to study 4 Mathematics courses to enhance my Mathematics background. But this might be a little bit too late since when the result came out, most applications shall have ended. Nevertheless, I will give it a try.


Now the problem really is the timing. The ideal time for me to submit the application is definitely late December because I will have a great GPA at a U.S. College (hopefully, haha), one or two convincing reference letters from ND and more importantly, a more suitable background.


Any tips on how I should spend my time at ND? Football is definitely on schedule, haha.

-- by 会员 sprinttime (2013/2/25 0:40:45)

貌似只有Cornell的ddl你12月出成绩赶不上。。。UMich得第二轮，可能还有几个得第二轮的。。不过MFE的rolling的没有MSF的那么多，而且比如10月就开放申请了的什么的比较少。估计LZ这背景也只会考虑几个牛的吧，那几个比较牛的可能就Cornell，Columbia你赶着比较费劲点儿，像UCB和UCLA这种的时间都很够的，哦对MIT Mfin也有点儿晚。。。。

sprinttime

Hi, my friend! Thus far, you have a great background. You have a good undergraduate education and academic scores. In addition, your work-related experience is very impressive. These factors will be helpful in your future application, and I’d definitely suggest that you aim fortop-tier programs. I’d also like to offer you a few pieces of advice as you move forward.

First, as you may know, an MFE is more of a math degree, and schools are looking for candidates who havevery strong backgrounds in math. You need to study courses like stochastic process, calculus, and advanced statistics. This background will better prepare you for an MFE program.

Secondly, you need to present strong programming skills, based on C++ or MATLAB. These are necessary tools for success in the real world with an MFE degree.

Finally, if you can pass the CFA level oneexam, that would be a huge advantage. Because your undergrad major is I.S., you also need to show your interest and preparation in finance.

You wanted to know whether it would be harder for you to get an MSF degree. An MSF is a pure finance degree so if you want to apply for this program, you need to take on more finance courses and definitely aim to ace the CFA.

Hope this helps!

Jon Frank
HBS 2005

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2013/2/20 11:40:24)

Hi Jon,


Thank you so much for this comprehensive reply. I apologize for this late reply ( I didn't check it regularly...)


Next Semester, I will take an exchange program at Notre Dame in which I plan to study 4 Mathematics courses to enhance my Mathematics background. But this might be a little bit too late since when the result came out, most applications shall have ended. Nevertheless, I will give it a try.


Now the problem really is the timing. The ideal time for me to submit the application is definitely late December because I will have a great GPA at a U.S. College (hopefully, haha), one or two convincing reference letters from ND and more importantly, a more suitable background.


Any tips on how I should spend my time at ND? Football is definitely on schedule, haha.

JonFrank

Hi, my friend! Thus far, you have a great background. You have a good undergraduate education and academic scores. In addition, your work-related experience is very impressive. These factors will be helpful in your future application, and I’d definitely suggest that you aim fortop-tier programs. I’d also like to offer you a few pieces of advice as you move forward.

First, as you may know, an MFE is more of a math degree, and schools are looking for candidates who havevery strong backgrounds in math. You need to study courses like stochastic process, calculus, and advanced statistics. This background will better prepare you for an MFE program.

Secondly, you need to present strong programming skills, based on C++ or MATLAB. These are necessary tools for success in the real world with an MFE degree.

Finally, if you can pass the CFA level oneexam, that would be a huge advantage. Because your undergrad major is I.S., you also need to show your interest and preparation in finance.

You wanted to know whether it would be harder for you to get an MSF degree. An MSF is a pure finance degree so if you want to apply for this program, you need to take on more finance courses and definitely aim to ace the CFA.

Hope this helps!

Jon Frank
HBS 2005

lonaysta

表示持续关注本帖，终于又见到一个BBA背景申MFE的了，这几年一直以为自己是独一个呢……不过LZ背景还是比我犀利太多啦～