Seeking Advice on Strengthening My Profile for Top MFE Programs

[platanopower]

Hello everyone,

I hope you're all enjoying Veterans Day. I’m currently finishing up my Bachelor’s in Finance (Financial Management and Capital Markets track) at Rutgers Business School, expecting to graduate in Spring 2025. I’ll be 25 by then and have three years of work experience as a broker, where I’ve worked with SMB and mid-sized companies, helping close financing deals totaling $6MM+. Through this experience, I’ve developed a strong passion for working with numbers, funds, and clients, and I’m exploring a path in quantitative finance. I've also always had a passion for the equities market , trading in my spare time here and there.

My Current Profile​

• GPA: 3.05 (aiming to improve this with strong final semesters).
• GRE: Just started prep; scored 161V/141Q , AWA: 4 on my first practice test (without review). My goal is a Quant score of 167+ to offset my GPA.
• Math Background: Took basic calculus in undergrad and high school, but I recognize I need more.
  • Planning to complete Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and C++ by summer 2025. I’m also taking Probability & Statistics this spring.
  • Considering Baruch’s Pre-MFE courses to fill in the gaps, though I understand they’re selective.

Target Programs​

I’m aiming for Fall 2025 admissions in one of these programs (I’m open to suggestions too):

• Princeton - MFE
• Carnegie Mellon - MS in Computational Finance
• MIT - Master’s in Finance
• Stony Brook - Quant Finance
• Columbia - MFE
• NYU - MFE
• UC Berkeley - MFE
• Cornell - Operations Research and Financial Engineering
• University of Chicago - MSFM
• Fordham University
• Baruch College

Letters of Recommendation​

I plan to secure LORs from:

• One of my finance professors
• My current boss
• A client I’ve befriended who holds two PhDs and has sold a company for 9 figures

My Questions​

1. Realistically, is it worth investing the next 6-12 months to strengthen my profile for top MFE programs given my GPA and current standing? I’m fully committed to "no life" for the next year if it means I have a shot at a top program.
2. Are there specific math courses or projects that would make my application more competitive? Any advice on resources or courses to reinforce my math and programming skills would be invaluable.
3. For those who have taken Baruch’s Pre-MFE courses: How rigorous is the application process, and do you recommend this path for someone with a finance background?
4. Application Strategy: Any tips on how to present my finance experience to resonate with MFE admissions committees would be appreciated.

Thank you all in advance for any insights or advice. I’m determined to put in the work to make this career shift happen, and I’m grateful for any guidance you can provide!

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Straight talk: no STEM degree, not enough math, no programming, weak GRE Q. You may get into Stony Brook and Fordham based on them having the highest acceptance rates among the programs list.
That said, it's not a given as this will depend on the strength of each admission cohort.
Why do that when you can properly prepare and aim for more competitive programs which results in better career prospects.
Spend a year and plan for Fall 2026. Use @grxthy plan and do those courses.
In the mean time, keep working, getting work experience, and be in a much better position this time next year.

 

[platanopower]

Straight talk: no STEM degree, not enough math, no programming, weak GRE Q. You may get into Stony Brook and Fordham based on them having the highest acceptance rates among the programs list.
That said, it's not a given as this will depend on the strength of each admission cohort.
Why do that when you can properly prepare and aim for more competitive programs which results in better career prospects.
Spend a year and plan for Fall 2026. Use @grxthy plan and do those courses.
In the mean time, keep working, getting work experience, and be in a much better position this time next year.

Hi Andy, Thank you for the straightforward feedback—it’s exactly what I needed to hear. I appreciate you being candid about my current profile and its challenges. I’m determined to put in the work and aim for Fall 2026 with a more competitive profile. I'll look into @grxthy plan like you mentioned.

 

[platanopower]

Update on my progress so far as I've completed/taking math courses and am graduating this semester (December 2025). I think I will be targeting Fall 2027 or even 2028 to truly craft a strong profile for admissions and see how the job market shakes out.

Calculus I - B
Calculus II - A
Probaility & Statistics - A

GPA without including these new grades is currently 3.12. Also, due to all the math classes I was planning to take the school recommended I turn it into a math minor to have on my degree as well.


Calculus III - In Progress ( B+ currently in the class)
Elementary Differential Equations - In progress ( A currently in the class)
Linear Algebra - In Progress (A currently in the class)
Numerical Analysis - In Progress ( A currently in the class)
Derivatives - In Progress ( A currently in the class)

I'm planning on taking the following courses from Baruch Pre-MFE offering if I am accepted into their seminars. Seeing as its probably not a good idea or plausible to take these all at the same time I'll try to break it up along 2026 through 2027, but the sooner I complete them the better. I'll also take the GRE during that time.

Intro to C++, Advanced C++, Probability, NLA, Machine Learning

After doing more research on QuantNet on specific programs I'm really interested in going to one of the following programs on the East Coast due to their curriculum and placement outcomes. I'm really interested in trading / market making / quantamental roles / portfolio management.

Baruch, CMU, Princeton,
Chicago, Cornell, Columbia

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Thanks for the update. I appreciate you taking the advice on preparation seriously.
You are taking the long shot, exactly what one needs to do to succeed in this competitive field. Getting into a top tier program gives you such a huge lead over the thousands of eager students from lesser programs.
I have seen people graduating from a second tier MFE programs trying to apply to top tier programs because they couldn't find a job.
All of this can be avoided by spending the time and get into a top program with a proper career service.

 

[platanopower]

I'll be sure to keep you in the loop as I check off these courses and get further down the application timeline. I would hate to be in a situation like that one you described. And ,thank you for building QuantNet. It's an awesome resource, and it's been super helpful as I figure all this out.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Target Programs​

I’m aiming for Fall 2025 admissions in one of these programs (I’m open to suggestions too):

• Princeton - MFE
• Carnegie Mellon - MS in Computational Finance
• MIT - Master’s in Finance
• Stony Brook - Quant Finance
• Columbia - MFE
• NYU - MFE
• UC Berkeley - MFE
• Cornell - Operations Research and Financial Engineering
• University of Chicago - MSFM
• Fordham University
• Baruch College

FALL 2026
After doing more research on QuantNet on specific programs I'm really interested in going to one of the following programs on the East Coast due to their curriculum and placement outcomes. I'm really interested in trading / market making / quantamental roles / portfolio management.

Baruch, CMU, Princeton,
Chicago, Cornell, Columbia

I see that you have filtered out your target list quite a bit from Nov 2024 to Nov 2025. I'm always curious why you picked Stony Brook originally.
Glad to see you are able to utilize the information here (ranking, reviews, discussion) to narrow down your choices.

 

[platanopower]

I see that you have filtered out your target list quite a bit from Nov 2024 to Nov 2025. I'm always curious why you picked Stony Brook originally.
Glad to see you are able to utilize the information here (ranking, reviews, discussion) to narrow down your choices.

Stonybrook pick was inspired by the book "The Man Who Solved the Market" through the QuantNet reading list, and Jim Simons’ work there definitely got me thinking about the research and PhD path initially.

But I quickly realized the top MFE programs are just a faster, more efficient path into the trading jobs I want. That focus on "proper career service" you talked about is the real key. That’s why I filtered the list down to the best placement schools.

Being a US citizen helps, too. I figured that gives me a slight advantage, making me a zero visa hassle hire, which should help my chances getting into a top programs once my profile is complete.