MFE 2026 Profile Review

[jsst]

Hey folks!

I’m preparing to apply for Fall 2026 MFE/MSCF-type programs and would appreciate an honest profile review and advice on which programs I have a realistic shot at and any improvements I can make.

Nationality: Indian

Education: B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering with specialization in AI/ML from a Tier-2 university in India. CGPA 8.70/10 (unsure of the 4-point conversion).
Relevant coursework: Calculus and Laplace Transforms, Applied Linear Algebra, Probability & Statistics, Applied Numerical Methods, Differential and Difference Equations, Object-Oriented Programming in C++, Data Structures & Algorithms, Competitive Programming, Machine Learning, Deep Learning.

Tests: GRE 318 (Q164 / V154 / AW 4.5; preparing for another attempt), CFA Level I candidate (scheduled for Feb 2026).

Certs: Options 201 by Akuna Capital; Options 101 by Akuna Capital; Financial Markets by Yale University; Microsoft Azure AI-900; Applied Machine Learning in Python by University of Michigan; Deep Learning and Neural Networks Specialization by DeepLearning.AI.

Professional: Internship at a government organization in ML; Quant Strat Intern at an emerging asset & wealth management firm; Research Assistant in the Mathematics Department at my university; Research Assistant in Machine Learning at my university and at another Tier-2 university.

Research / Quant projects:

• Interactive dashboard for option pricing using standard methods like BSM and binomial trees for fair pricing of options and Greeks analysis.
• Modeling VaR using Monte-Carlo Simulations.
• Contraction analysis of the expectation-maximization map for a two-component Gaussian mixture.
• Hurst estimation for fractional Brownian motion.
• Portfolio optimization using XGBoost for short-gamma positions.
• Lead author in two ML publications (one in a Springer journal and another in IEEE Xplore).

I also have some leadership roles during my undergrad (if that matters at all).

Recommendations: two academic referees from my university (the Dean of the Mathematics Department and the Program Chair of my program [CSE AI/ML], both of whom hold doctorate degrees), and one professional referee (my manager during the quant internship).

Career goal: Start as a quantitative researcher/trader (I want to explore their intricacies during MFE, to see what suits my strengths and preferences) at a hedge fund or HFT, and then gradually progress to a portfolio manager role.

Programs I’m targeting: UC Berkeley MFE, Columbia MFE, CMU MSCF, NYU Tandon MSFE, NYU Courant MAFN, UChicago Booth MIF, MIT MFin — (Fall 2026 intake).

Concerns I’m aware of:

• My undergraduate institution isn’t a top-tier name internationally.
• Limited formal industry experience in quant roles at internationally recognized firms (most experience is self-directed projects, certifications, and finance exposure through an internship).
• I want to strengthen my applied quant profile with more demonstrable projects and, ideally, an internship at a top finance firm before applying.

Thanks, I request frank feedback and suggestions.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Your profile is similar to many applicants from India. Given the large number of applicants from the same country, you will have a tough time stand out from your fellow country men or women, especially from self-admitted second tier university.
I say you should realistically expand your target to Fordham, Rutgers, GaTech, NCSU and aim for quant-adjacent jobs such as risk, pricing, etc.
Even with a top tier credential (legacy IITs, 170Q, relevant work experience), many Indian applicants struggle to get the type of jobs you target.
There are plenty of jobs that pay you $100K in secondary financial markets (Chicago, Charlotte, Boston, etc) that you may enjoy.
Something to think about.

 

[jsst]

Hey Andy! really appreciate the candid feedback, I'll definitely take your advice into consideration, thank you.

Jut two quick questions:
1) Would starting in a quant or risk role at an investment bank post MFE be a more feasible path?
2) I’ll be retaking the GRE, aiming for a 170Q, and I’m also actively applying for internships at international banks. Given that I’m not from a Tier-1 school, what 2–3 additional things would you recommend I prioritize to strengthen my profile?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Yes, traditional job profiles for MFE grads are sell-side pricing roles, risk roles at IB. Outside of IB, there are many financial institutions that employ risk and support roles with comfortable salary. Buy-side roles at hedge funds are harder to get. Only a small number of MFE grads get those, usually from top MFE programs.
There are plenty of things you can do to differentiate yourself. It will take time to come up with a plan and follow through but it's definitely possible. I think it's worth the pain to get into top programs instead of being one of the thousands of similar MFE grads fighting for same jobs.
Many of the articles on the homepage will give you some idea on how to prepare.

J

Baruch MFE Thread 'How to Improve My Chances of Getting into the MFE Program at Baruch College'

3/18/23

Are you considering pursuing a Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) degree at Baruch College? As an undergraduate student in my second year of studies at the Universidad de San Andrés in Argentina, I am already looking for ways to improve my profile and increase my chances of acceptance into the program.

The MFE program at Baruch College is known for its rigorous curriculum and high standards, and I understand the importance of building a strong profile to stand out as a competitive candidate. With this in mind, I am reaching out to the quant finance community for advice and...

• JRE_alpa
• Replies: 18
• Forum: United States

• 

Thread 'From Low CGPA to My Dream School: Columbia MAFN, NYU MFE, and More'

3/24/25

Hello QuantNet Community,

I wanted to share my journey to getting accepted into Columbia's MAFN program, NYU's MFE, NCSU's Mathematical Finance, and Nanyang Business School's MFE in Singapore. I'm still waiting on decisions from Columbia's MFE and GaTech's QCF. My hope is that this post helps those who feel limited by a low CGPA but are passionate about breaking into the world of quantitative finance.

My Biggest Drawback

• Low CGPA: I had a CGPA of 2.98/4.00 in both my undergrad and grad studies.
• Poor Math Grades: I had a B- in Mathematics 3 and a...

• Leggoo MFE
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Articles

• 
• 

Thread 'MFE Recruiting Reality Check: What Every Incoming Student Needs to Know'

4/10/25

So you got into a MFE Program… Now What?​

There are plenty of articles on how to get into a MFE program… but how do you prepare for the intensely competitive internship recruiting that comes with a graduate program in quantitative finance?

I’m happy to share some insights from my three years of experience working in Career Services for Carnegie Mellon’s MSCF (Master of Science in Computational Finance) program.

The Reality of U.S. Recruitment
*Note: As majority of my students have landed internships and full-time roles in the US, I will focus on how to prepare for...

• Ash Cross
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Articles

• 
• 

 

[jsst]

Okay, I'll refer to these threads. Thank you so much for all your guidance Andy! Will keep you in the loop through my progress