- Headline
- BU MSMFT
- Class of
- 2023
Background:
I graduated with a major in Math from a U.S. college before attending the BU MSMFT program. My GPA was just below 3.5, and I didn’t have a lot of working experience. My GRE scores were Quant 169, Verbal 160, and Writing 4.5. In my class of 2023, there were 106 students, most of whom came straight out of college. The program included a bootcamp and three semesters in total. I also attended an optional fourth semester to extend my student status and have more time to look for a full-time job. After graduating, I landed a full-time position at a bank as a financial data analyst.
Schoolwork:
The two-week mandatory bootcamp covered the basics of programming, math, and stats without extra fees. It was a good refresher that prepared us for the actual courses in the program.
Each semester, we chose four courses worth 3 credits each and one 1-credit career prep course. In the first semester, everyone took the same courses: Stochastic Calculus, Stats, Programming, and Finance. These courses helped me build a strong foundation as a quant and were even helpful when preparing for job interviews. The stochastic calculus course was rigorous—great for those considering a PhD in finance but maybe a bit too academic for students planning to enter the workforce directly. To address this concern, a new course was developed, but I didn't have the chance to take it. However, the feedback from my classmates was positive.
Starting from the second semester, we had the freedom to choose courses based on our interests, though some third-semester courses had prerequisites. I chose Fixed Income, Machine Learning in Finance, Portfolio Theory, and Financial Econometrics (a corequisite for Portfolio Theory). In the third semester, I took Corporate Risk Management, Credit Risk, Economics of Fintech, and Accounting Risk Management. The workloads were reasonable, with homework assignments, exams, and final projects. It was great that we could showcase our academic projects on our resumes. I also appreciated learning about machine learning, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, keeping us up-to-date with cutting-edge technologies in finance.
In the optional fourth semester, I took courses outside the MSMFT program, such as Big Data Analytics, Corporate Financial Management, ESG Investing, and Time Series Analysis and Forecasting. Through these courses, I learned valuable skills like Spark, SQL, financial modeling, ESG investing, and time series analysis. I believe these will provide long-term benefits in addition to the rigorous training in mathematical finance. I'm glad the program provided the flexibility for international students like me to have more time to look for full-time jobs.
Career:
Throughout the one and a half years of the program, alongside schoolwork, we needed to focus on resume preparation, submitting job applications, and networking to land a full-time position in the U.S. It wasn't easy, considering the rigorous courses. Despite help from the faculty and career services, it ultimately came down to our own dedication and effort.
The program offered career workshops almost every week. Some focused on resume and interview preparation, which I found very helpful. Others featured industry professionals from various financial institutions sharing their experiences. These were great opportunities to learn about different applications of mathematical finance skills and to network. However, since not all speakers were hiring and students sometimes lacked background knowledge in their fields, not everyone valued these workshops as they should. It could be better if the faculty or the Math Finance student club provided some background information beforehand, so students could have the right expectations.
Additionally, the program offered internships and research projects during the summer after the second semester. Many classmates struggled to secure internships due to limited opportunities, so it was great that many found positions internally or participated in research projects supervised by professors.
We could also request one-on-one appointments with career coaches who are current industry professionals. They provided personalized guidance on resume improvement, interview preparation, and even salary negotiation after receiving job offers.
The BU MSMFT alumni network is also a great asset. Alumni provided personal advice during networking events in Boston and NYC and were very responsive when I reached out on LinkedIn.
Faculty:
The professors were professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about the students. They were always willing to talk with us—whether during lectures, in office hours, or via email. Their openness made it easy to seek help and deepen our understanding of complex topics.
A special shout-out to Professor Xing, Professor Jacquier, and Professor Kelliher for their dedicated teaching and valuable advice during my time at BU MSMFT and even after graduation. Their willingness to engage with students made a significant difference in my learning experience. I'm extremely grateful for all the career advice from Jun Fan and Jason during our appointments; their guidance helped me achieve my goal of getting a full-time job in the financial industry. I also want to thank Joe and Abby for hosting networking events and creating opportunities for us.
Summary:
My experience at BU MSMFT was great overall. The faculty is professional and caring, the coursework is rigorous, and the career services are valuable. I highly recommend future students to attend the program.
- Recommend
- Yes, I would recommend this program
- Students Quality
-
4.00 star(s)
- Courses/Instructors
-
5.00 star(s)
- Career Services
-
4.00 star(s)