Chance of getting admitted without math courses

[quantnabe]

Hi,

I’m preparing to apply to some MFE programs for Fall 2025 and hope to get some advice for my profile. Below are my details:
- Experience: 2 years working as an actuarial analyst at an insurance company in the US, 1 actuarial internship and 1 research assistant position for an economics research at my college.
- Education: BA in Quantitative Economics from a small, no-name LAC in the US, 3.9 GPA
- Courses taken: some CS courses including Intro, Data Structures, Algorithms, Database and Machine Learning; a Stats in econ course; 3 finance courses.
- GRE: unofficial 166V, 170Q
- Technical skills: Python, SQL, VBA, Tableau
- Other: I passed 5 actuarial exams and 6th one pending for results.

What worries me the most is that I didn’t take any linear algebra or calculus courses in college. I was switching from Psyc to Econ major, then was set to become an actuary so I just took the courses related to those fields. I’m hoping to get accepted to GATech QCF, UWash, among others. Do I stand any chance of getting admitted and is there anything I can do to improve my profile? Advice much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

I didn’t take any linear algebra or calculus courses in college.
That's awkward..

How to do Actuart, Quant Econ w/o the above??

 

[quantnabe]

I didn’t take any linear algebra or calculus courses in college.
That's awkward..

How to do Actuart, Quant Econ w/o the above??

It’s not a requirement in my college major at all (I wish it was), and for actuary I just take online courses for the actuarial exams and take the exams.

 

[latus_rectum]

You will need Linear Algebra, Multi-variable calculus, Differential Equations and Probability Theory at the very least to get admitted into a good program.
Analysis (real and complex), Algebra are the topics which can be skipped.

 

[Paul Lopez]

I'd imagine you need it on your transcript to be considered.

 

[quantnabe]

You will need Linear Algebra, Multi-variable calculus, Differential Equations and Probability Theory at the very least to get admitted into a good program.
Analysis (real and complex), Algebra are the topics which can be skipped.

Thank you. I’m considering taking some online courses for these topics, can they be a replacement for the college courses?

 

[latus_rectum]

Thank you. I’m considering taking some online courses for these topics, can they be a replacement for the college courses?

Not for all programs, but for some programs it can be. I would suggest to go with online courses. It's not like you have any other option.
Consider taking pre-mfe courses. Few programs offer those - baruch, uchicago etc. Do well in those courses. All the best.

 

[quantnabe]

Not for all programs, but for some programs it can be. I would suggest to go with online courses. It's not like you have any other option.
Consider taking pre-mfe courses. Few programs offer those - baruch, uchicago etc. Do well in those courses. All the best.

Thank you! Do these online courses need to have grades on them or certificate?

 

[jarryds]

I'm not really sure how you end up pursuing quant positions without a formal mathematics background. It must be a little difficult to know what you are getting yourself into.

A lot of these programs assume you already have the background and will focus on the application of these topics. You will probably need to do a ton of catch up self studying to make the program even worth it. I would suggest considering non MFE programs, MS in applied math/cs.