Columbia MAFN Columbia MAFN decisions...

[Reyn S]

Greetings everyone,
I am currently waitlisted in Columbia MAFN, and it is said that it's a short waitlist and takes just few weeks to get the final result. However, I am currently admitted into Oxford Mathematical and Computational Finance, and they request me to accept my offer before 10th of May to get into it. So here comes the problem, should I just wait or go to the Oxford program?
here's some pros and cons:
Oxford
Advantage:
1 Nice brand reputation.
2 Relatively low living cost and tuition fee ( which I do not care so much ).
3 Perfect living and academic environment.
4 30-40 of class sizes.
Disadvantage:
1 Not easy to the City because of immigration policy, and because I have no time for internship during this program, it is hard to stay in UK for financial working, maybe I have to move to HK or Singapore after graduation.
2 The course structure is quite theoretical and extremely heavy.
3 It goes directly from October to August next year, no time for internship.
4 The career service is not so good, or I should say, almost no career service in this program.
5 It seems that this course is kinda phD oriented.

Columbia
Advantage:
1 Also nice brand reputation (IVY!).
2 New York city, USA, tons of opportunities.
3 It is said that it's more practical.
4 3-semesters structure, this allows me to get some internship during summer vacation. Also, that wouldn't put a heavy burden like Oxford to rush all courses in 10 months, and if possible, I could learn more things by this longer time.
5 Highly ranked in Quantnet!
6 According to an alumni, they do have a great chance to get internship during summer, even for asia.
Disadvantge:
1 Relatively high living cost and tuition fee.
2 Maybe few computing courses in this program?
3 Have no advantage compared to Columbia MFE and New York MathFin, so the competition is quite fierce, even though more opportunities.
4 The environment may be a little bit fickle? or maybe the public security is not so good?

So could you please give me some advice, I would really appreciate that. And if possible, anyone could tell me some tips to get higher in waitlist?

 

[Mensa]

Just email Laurent your situation, and request an early decision by May 10th.

 

[Reyn S]

Just email Laurent your situation, and request an early decision by May 10th.

But it's said that early decision would be extreme strict, that takes risk.

 

[Mensa]

But it's said that early decision would be extreme strict, that takes risk.

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

 

[Reyn S]

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

Thanks for your advice. But actually my point is more focused on the comparison of these two programs, any advice?

 

[Mensa]

Thanks for your advice. But actually my point is more focused on the comparison of these two programs, any advice?

I am not familiar with Oxford MCF program, but considering the visa policy in UK, if you get Columbia, I suggest you go.

 

[Reyn S]

I am not familiar with Oxford MCF program, but considering the visa policy in UK, if you get Columbia, I suggest you go.

Thanks a lot, it's all about the visa policy.

 

[stellarsubset]

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

So you're saying that most of the people that have gotten admitted so far are the ones that have requested early decision because they have offers elsewhere?

They claim they do rolling admission on their website, yet most people are still in the 'Pending' stage on the Tracker. I'm assuming they are just waiting until all apps come in at the deadline?

 

[Reyn S]

So you're saying that most of the people that have gotten admitted so far are the ones that have requested early decision because they have offers elsewhere?

They claim they do rolling admission on their website, yet most people are still in the 'Pending' stage on the Tracker. I'm assuming they are just waiting until all apps come in at the deadline?

Maybe they said that it is just a short waitlist，but the result would be announced only after they finish all reviews.

 

[stellarsubset]

Maybe they said that it is just a short waitlist，but the result would be announced only after they finish all reviews.

Oh really? Did they say that in the email? I'm just shocked that they are able to place people on the waitlist this early. I understand if there's a very strong candidate and they admit him/her. I also understand the opposite situation, if the person doesn't have enough credentials. But why not just wait to respond to everyone else who is in the middle?

Just curious, when did you apply and when did you get the waitlist notification?

 

[Reyn S]

Oh really? Did they say that in the email? I'm just shocked that they are able to place people on the waitlist this early. I understand if there's a very strong candidate and they admit him/her. I also understand the opposite situation, if the person doesn't have enough credentials. But why not just wait to respond to everyone else who is in the middle?

Just curious, when did you apply and when did you get the waitlist notification?

Really no idea, actually I do not think that my profile is so competitive compared to others'.
I applied on 10th of February, and received the notification this Monday.

 

[stellarsubset]

I have read that the MAFN program has a rolling admissions process whose deadline is May 15th. But how in the world are candidates being placed on the waitlist and subsequently admitted before all applications are reviewed or even submitted?! I see quite a few still 'Pending' statuses in the tracker for this year's cycle.

From my understanding, most waitlists exist because all offers of admissions have been sent out already and if the offers are not accepted, then the next qualified candidates are selected off of the waitlist. Does this mean if I decide to submit an application today, the best I can do is get waitlisted? In other words, is it safe to assume that all original offers are out there already, and they are just filling the last few spots?

If so, then the advertised deadline seems a bit misleading. Can anyone shed some light on this matter?

 

[Reyn S]

Well, I am also in that waitlist, and it is said to be a short waitlist.
Basically I do not think that whether you get waitlisted or admitted has anything to do with your submitting time. If your profile is strong enough, then they would admit you directly. If you do not have such a strong background to meet their criterion, but you are still a competitive one, then maybe you would be placed in that waitlist and try your luck. So personally I don't think they have sent out all offers right now. And that is the point why we need to wait in that list: by the deadline, maybe the number has not been filled, then the candidates from waitlist would come up.
By the way, I submitted it on 10th of February, but still get waitlisted.

 

[Godzzzzh]

Hi,

I just received the notification from Columbia MAFN. I was put on a short waitlist, and I will be notified a final decision in several weeks. I am wondering how much chances do I have to get the offer for this program. From Risk.net, I see that the acceptance rate for this program is only 35%, does it mean I get a fair chance to enter? Anyone on the same boat want to discuss?

 

[sanchan]

I did a fair bit of research on how the colleges' waitlists work coz I too was waitlisted by Cornell. Waitlists are trickier than they actually look. Many people might already know this but I'll again explain by an example:

Suppose a college has 70 seats to offer and in the last few years, the mean yield (or acceptance rate) is 50%. Keeping this in mind, colleges give out admissions more than what they could accommodate, like 120 or so, in all their rounds of admissions. Number of admissions to give in the subsequent rounds are decided based on the number of acceptances in the previous rounds. All this while, they also send out waitlist to some applicants whom they think are qualified enough for the program at their college, but there are some other applicants with similar background, and just better than the waitlisted applicants in some aspect or the other. The size of the waitlist can be small or big and can vary across colleges. Let's say the size of waitlist in our example is 50.

Now out of 120, suppose 65 had accepted the offer. Now, colleges try to fill out the 5 seats from the waitlist of 50, most of the time trying to balance out the diversity, in terms of gender, work ex, geography etc. Now if you see what had happened, the total number of offers made are around 130 with 70 accepting and the yield is just above 50%. But the chances for waitlisted applicants are purely out of luck with 1 in 10 getting admission.

I was just trying to put the actual picture and no way intend to discourage. This is a generic process but there might be slight differences in the procedures individual universities adopt. All we can do is just pray to convert the waitlist into an admission, especially if the college is the first preference out of all.

 

[Godzzzzh]

I did a fair bit of research on how the colleges' waitlists work coz I too was waitlisted by Cornell. Waitlists are trickier than they actually look. Many people might already know this but I'll again explain by an example:

Suppose a college has 70 seats to offer and in the last few years, the mean yield (or acceptance rate) is 50%. Keeping this in mind, colleges give out admissions more than what they could accommodate, like 120 or so, in all their rounds of admissions. Number of admissions to give in the subsequent rounds are decided based on the number of acceptances in the previous rounds. All this while, they also send out waitlist to some applicants whom they think are qualified enough for the program at their college, but there are some other applicants with similar background, and just better than the waitlisted applicants in some aspect or the other. The size of the waitlist can be small or big and can vary across colleges. Let's say the size of waitlist in our example is 50.

Now out of 120, suppose 65 had accepted the offer. Now, colleges try to fill out the 5 seats from the waitlist of 50, most of the time trying to balance out the diversity, in terms of gender, work ex, geography etc. Now if you see what had happened, the total number of offers made are around 130 with 70 accepting and the yield is just above 50%. But the chances for waitlisted applicants are purely out of luck with 1 in 10 getting admission.

I was just trying to put the actual picture and no way intend to discourage. This is a generic process but there might be slight differences in the procedures individual universities adopt. All we can do is just pray to convert the waitlist into an admission, especially if the college is the first preference out of all.

Don't worry about the waitlist! I just received the offer today. Only one day!!!!!

 

[sanchan]

Congratulations! Lucky you, didn't even take the time that I wrote the reply

 

[Arslon]

I recently got an offer from Columbia MAFN and I am waiting on Columbia MFE (most likely an L tbh). For those of you going to Columbia MAFN how are you funding it (especially international students)? I am in desperate need of some tips. I am an undergraduate studying BSc Maths and Econ at LSE.

 

[quant_aa]

I recently got an offer from Columbia MAFN and I am waiting on Columbia MFE (most likely an L tbh). For those of you going to Columbia MAFN how are you funding it (especially international students)? I am in desperate need of some tips. I am an undergraduate studying BSc Maths and Econ at LSE.

You can check out prodigyfinance.com. They provide collateral free loans for higher education; available to international students as well.

For other financing / funding options, check with the admissions office once.

 

[Arslon]

You can check out prodigyfinance.com. They provide collateral free loans for higher education; available to international students as well.

For other financing / funding options, check with the admissions office once.

Thank you!

I did stumble across Prodigy finance couple of weeks ago. I've seen some mixed reviews about prodigy finance. What is your opinion on them?