The chances of being accepted into the program

[Evisa H]

Hello, and thank you to this forum—I’ve found so much helpful information here! I would really appreciate an assessment of my chances and any advice you can offer.
Here is my profile: I am from a small European city and currently study Management at a mid-ranked university (top 100 nationally). In 2027, I plan to apply to MFE programs in the United States (I’m considering Baruch, CMU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and others). After reviewing admitted student profiles, I realized my chances may be limited, as many successful applicants come from highly ranked universities in the U.S. or their home countries and often hold degrees in mathematics or economics.
My plan is to complete the Baruch pre-MFE program, score as high as possible on the GRE Quant section, participate in case competitions at my university, and pursue internships/work experience in investment banking and consulting before applying. If time permits, I will also attempt the CFA exam.
I’m not sure what else I can do to become a competitive candidate and improve my chances of admission. What do you think—do I have a realistic chance, or would it be better not to pursue this path given the likelihood of rejection?

My goal in pursuing an MFE is not to work as a quant; rather, I hope to spend a couple of years in investment banking and private equity, and also gain experience at a startup or a venture capital firm.
Thank you in advance for your guidance and insights.

 

[fabiantum]

Hi,
as your goals aren't quant heavy (investment banking), why would you want to study an MFE program? I think a finance heavy curriculum would better suit your career goals. And also your Management background seems to be more compatible with a finance degree.

 

[Evisa H]

Hi,
as your goals aren't quant heavy (investment banking), why would you want to study an MFE program? I think a finance heavy curriculum would better suit your career goals. And also your Management background seems to be more compatible with a finance degree.

I noticed that most of the programs I found in the U.S. are primarily MFE, and only MIT offers a Master in Finance, so at the moment I don’t really see another option.

 

[indexquanty]

there are definitely other options and frankly going through the hassle of prepping for an MFE would not be a good use of time. I believe the IB/PE track is usually done with MS finance or maybe even an MBA. Do some research for the countries you are after. Basically find the equivalent of QN for IB/PE im sure its out there... efinancalcareers, reddit etc