Berkeley MFE - which round to choose?

[bingbangbong]

I'm a 3rd year Economics student at a top target in the UK. I am looking to apply to masters as a backup in case I don't convert my GS/JP/MS trading internship this summer.

I was initially going to wait until the final round (Oct 2026) to apply after I hear back about conversion to full time, but could anyone provide some insight on whether the benefits of being a graduate + completed trading internships + saving time by applying in the final round are outweighed by the cons of being a late round applicant?

In simple terms, does it really matter for this programme which round you apply in?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

The earlier you apply, the better. Here are the reasons.

Thread 'MFE application rounds and how to maximize your chance'

10/8/25

In recent years, many graduate programs — especially in fields like finance, analytics, and engineering — have shifted from a single annual deadline to a multi-round admissions cycle. Of the 2 dozens programs on our MFE rankings, there are 10 programs with application rounds. This is a big increase compared to a year or two ago.
Many programs that have rounds in the past now move the first round earlier and/or provide more rounds.

Here’s a detailed analysis of why many graduate programs have moved from a single deadline to multiple admission rounds:

1. Improved...​

• Andy Nguyen
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Application Questions & Strategy

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