Profile Evaluation

[Hyeonjoon Jang]

Merry Christmas, everyone! I have finally prepared all the required application materials for FE/FM grad schools and all I have left is to click the submit button for schools that I chose to apply. However, before doing that I wanted to hear your opinions about my selection of schools based on my qualifications.

GPA&Undergrad Institution: 3.99/4.0 & Purdue University(Industrial Engineering/Operations Research/Econ minor)

No finance related work experience. GRE: 167Q, 155V, 4.5 AW

Classes taken: 3 calculus classes, Linear algebra, differential & partial diff equations for engineering and science, C programming, optimization, stochastic processes, linear programming, 2 probability&statistics for engineering, micro&macro econ, econometrics

Schools I chose to apply: Purdue University CF, Columbia MSOR & MAFN, Georgia Tech, Chicago MSFM and Iliinois.

Just so you know, I am not applying to Columbia's MSFE since I do not have relevant work experience in finance industry.

I would like to hear your honest opinions if I am reaching too high and whether there are other schools you think I should apply to. Thank you guys.

 

[ygmwy]

Columbia MSFE is not out of your reach. Your profile looks better than mine when I applied. I also had no exp. You've proven you're a good mathematician. Now prove that you're a good marketer and marketyourself in the personalstatement. You have everything you need. One thing though: remain humble. Hope this helps.

 

[moretodo]

youre aiming too low. your profile is competitive even for CMU & Princeton

 

[Hyeonjoon Jang]

thank you wayoung and moretedo for sharing your opinions with me. The reason why I chose not to apply to the top 5 programs was because I had no previous work experience related to finance. And from what I read on this website, lots of people said the top 5 put lots of weight on relevant work experience when evaluating applicants. Would you be able to shed some light on this?

 

[Azamat Bagatov]

thank you wayoung and moretedo for sharing your opinions with me. The reason why I chose not to apply to the top 5 programs was because I had no previous work experience related to finance. And from what I read on this website, lots of people said the top 5 put lots of weight on relevant work experience when evaluating applicants. Would you be able to shed some light on this?

That shouldn't be a reason not to apply at a target school. IMO, you should go ahead and put up a strong application as wayoung mentioned.

 

[ygmwy]

I didn't have any work experience when I applied, and I only applied to the top schools. I got interviews from Columbia, Princeton, CMU, and MIT. Although it is a plus, there are plenty of people who don't have work exp. In my school, this year, they actually have the highest percentage of people with work expedience this year. But roughly 25% of the class has none, including me. The fact that they even keep this statistic means that they are willing to look at those with no exp.

 

[Hyeonjoon Jang]

thank you azamat and wayoung again for your responses. I will try to apply to better ranked schools like you guys suggested. and happy new year to you all