Profile Evaluation MFE Fall 2025

[finquantjohn]

Hello, could you all please evaluate my profile and give me some suggestions for schools to target? I'm planning to apply for MFE Fall 2025, and any honest opinions on where I should apply or what I should do to strengthen my application in the meantime would be greatly appreciated.

Experience: 2 summers interning at an exchange, first summer being client facing with some research, and second summer being full on market/company research, analytics, & strategy. Currently building a HFT algorithim in one of my courses with a group of 3 other students that will be finished by end of the semester. Have been involved in countless business/finance organizations throughout my time in college.

Coding: Python (Utilized it in many of my courses and at work for mainly data analytics), SQL (Used it at work this past summer)

Education: Top 5/10 US Undergrad Engineering School

Projected Undergrad GPA (Industrial Engineering): 3.57

GRE Projected: 167 Q / 160 V (Taking it at the end of the month)

Coursework: Algorithmic Market Microstructure, Financial Engineering, Numerical Methods, Deterministic Models in Optimization, Analysis of Data, Decision Analysis, Intermediate Microeconomics, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus, (Various other courses that satisfy probability/statistics)

Letters of Rec: I think they will be extremely strong from my work experience and a solid one from a professor who I am close to

Career Goals: I don't have a dream job, but something within Quant Research or maybe some support/analytical role for a trading firm. Realize a lot of my strengths are with interpersonal skills and building relationships, but I really enjoy the quantitative side as well. Still figuring out the specifics. From Chicagoland area and would want to go Chicago or west coast.

Colleges:
1. UChicago (Really like their program)
2. UCLA (Love Cali/LA)
3. NYU?
4. Cornell?

How far of a reach are these colleges? What are some other target/safety schools and the bests ways to approach choosing a school given my background? Complete honesty and transparency is greatly appreciated!

 

[Chuanzhen Wang]

I think your profile is quite strong, especially with your hands-on experience at an exchange, relevant quantitative coursework, coding skills, and strong recommendations.
I think you need to emphasize the HFT Project in your applications. If possible, highlight any tangible outcomes, such as simulated performance metrics or technical challenges you solved.
To balance out your list, here are some additional target and safety options for you that might suit your profile:
Columbia University (MFE): Columbia’s MFE program is well-regarded and located in NYC. It’s highly competitive but could be a good fit with your background.
Safety Schools:
Georgia Institute of Technology (QCF Program): The Quantitative and Computational Finance (QCF) program is well-regarded, with strong placement in finance roles, especially in Atlanta and NYC. It’s competitive but more accessible than some of your reach schools.
Fordham University (MSQF): Fordham’s MS in Quantitative Finance program is in NYC and could be a good safety with practical exposure to quant finance.
There are a lot of information about application and real study of these schools. You can find them here:2024 QuantNet Ranking of Best Financial Engineering Programs. And forum is a nice place to communicate with other candidates.
May you success!