Hi all,
Let me start off by apologizing for posting another one of these profile evaluation threads. Reason I'm adding to the pile is that I find my situation a tad peculiar and unrelated to other evaluation posts I've sifted through.
I am a US national. For the first 2.5 years of my academic career, I studied marketing at a European University. Marketing never felt like the right fit for me, but I powered through it for the love of my life and friends abroad. I simultaneously took intro to probability and statistics (marketing stats) along with a market research class, which introduced me to the data science world and I immediately realized I wanted to pursue a career in something quantitative. When COVID hit, I used it as an excuse to come home and transfer to my city's university, and since have been completing a BA in economics with a minor in maths. I discovered quant finance from personal research, and have become increasingly interested as it appears to be the holy trinity of mathematics, programming and domain knowledge.
I will be applying to masters programs this fall (2022)
My credentials:
School: Low-ranked, mid-size state school
Degree: BA Economics minor Mathematics (3.87/4.00)
GRE: Have not taken it yet. Scheduled to do so in 3 months
Experience: 1 internship unrelated to quant finance (working with python)
Publications: None. Although, I have been working on a research project with my econometrics professor for the past 6 months with hopes of having it published before December.
Extracurriculars/other: President of the Economics Club, awarded 3 major scholarships within the business school and Econ department, active in research paper competitions
Concerning maths coursework, I have taken the calc sequence, linear algebra, mathematical programming, logic and proof, ODE, and intro to prob and stat. For economics, I've completed intermediate micro and macro, game theory, econometrics, and a slew of other Econ electives. I have not made anything other than an A in those classes.
Taking mathematical stats, numerical analysis, and an Econ elective in the fall which will fulfill my degree requirements.
I think I can write a killer SOP, and I'm sure I can get some good or decent letters of recommendation. I'm really concerned about what admissions personnel are going to think of me coming out of a no-name state school. Do I have any shot at the top MFE/math fin programs? i.e NYU Courant/Tandon, UChicago MSFM, Columbia MFE, UCLA MFE, CMU etc.?
Sorry for ranting, but could anyone please evaluate whether or not me attending one of these school is a total pipe dream? Or maybe offer some guidance as to how I could bolster my profile. Thanks so much in advance.
Let me start off by apologizing for posting another one of these profile evaluation threads. Reason I'm adding to the pile is that I find my situation a tad peculiar and unrelated to other evaluation posts I've sifted through.
I am a US national. For the first 2.5 years of my academic career, I studied marketing at a European University. Marketing never felt like the right fit for me, but I powered through it for the love of my life and friends abroad. I simultaneously took intro to probability and statistics (marketing stats) along with a market research class, which introduced me to the data science world and I immediately realized I wanted to pursue a career in something quantitative. When COVID hit, I used it as an excuse to come home and transfer to my city's university, and since have been completing a BA in economics with a minor in maths. I discovered quant finance from personal research, and have become increasingly interested as it appears to be the holy trinity of mathematics, programming and domain knowledge.
I will be applying to masters programs this fall (2022)
My credentials:
School: Low-ranked, mid-size state school
Degree: BA Economics minor Mathematics (3.87/4.00)
GRE: Have not taken it yet. Scheduled to do so in 3 months
Experience: 1 internship unrelated to quant finance (working with python)
Publications: None. Although, I have been working on a research project with my econometrics professor for the past 6 months with hopes of having it published before December.
Extracurriculars/other: President of the Economics Club, awarded 3 major scholarships within the business school and Econ department, active in research paper competitions
Concerning maths coursework, I have taken the calc sequence, linear algebra, mathematical programming, logic and proof, ODE, and intro to prob and stat. For economics, I've completed intermediate micro and macro, game theory, econometrics, and a slew of other Econ electives. I have not made anything other than an A in those classes.
Taking mathematical stats, numerical analysis, and an Econ elective in the fall which will fulfill my degree requirements.
I think I can write a killer SOP, and I'm sure I can get some good or decent letters of recommendation. I'm really concerned about what admissions personnel are going to think of me coming out of a no-name state school. Do I have any shot at the top MFE/math fin programs? i.e NYU Courant/Tandon, UChicago MSFM, Columbia MFE, UCLA MFE, CMU etc.?
Sorry for ranting, but could anyone please evaluate whether or not me attending one of these school is a total pipe dream? Or maybe offer some guidance as to how I could bolster my profile. Thanks so much in advance.
