Profile Evaluation MFE Fall 2025

Joined
7/4/24
Messages
4
Points
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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!
 
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!;);)✊✊
 
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