UCB MFE UC Berkeley MFE Application Discussion

[EngTurnedQuant]

I applied in the third round and had my interview pretty soon after applying. I prepped a lot for Math, Stats, Prob and logic puzzles, but since I have a PhD in a quantitative field, the interviewer just skipped all of the math and problem solving related questions except for asking me to compute a pretty simple derivative.

I don't have a background in Finance or Programming, so my interview questions focused mainly on those topics. There was a lot I didn't know, so I ended up getting wait-listed with a bunch of pre-reqs related to finance, machine learning and programming.

The interview seems to be two things:
1. Weed out people who really aren't fit for the program (i.e. they may assess your aptitude in problem solving and mathematics).
2. Really gauge where you're at and what would best help you prepare to succeed (if you were eventually to be offered admission).

For those applying in Round 4, this may be helpful to understand that each interview is different and really is tailored to the individual.

 

[Yuanfang Cheng]

Did anyone get an offer for Round 3?

 

[Athena]

not sure how much you can do in only a couple of days but here's a broad outline of topics to prepare:

math
- linear algebra
- prob
- calculus

statistics + ml

finance

programming (python, c++, or whichever language you have experience in)

resume

i'd say projects on your resume should be of highest priority, if you can't answer questions about what's on your resume, you're unlikely to get selected

the next most important topics would be probability and statistics (this is where the green book will come in handy — it's just puzzles??? by that token all math is just puzzles!), then, based on how/what you answer, they can riff off on topics such as ml, related linear algebra or calculus

you will definitely get a question on programming, not super complicated but they will try and gauge if you have decent experience in coding (they're language-agnostic, at least in the interviews, but you'll have to learn python if you get admitted)

and then of least importance would be finance — they'll want to know if you have basic knowledge of, or interest in, the markets, they might also ask simple questions on options — black scholes, greeks and the like

Thank you!

 

[Athena]

I just interviewed. Have you?

Hey, did you receive any communication post interview?

 

[Satoru]

Hi, does anybody know whether the interview is mandatory in order to get admitted? I would appreciate it if those who got waitlisted will be invited to the interview afterwards. Thank you.

 

[Logicalchap]

I applied for Round 3 for Spring 2022 and did one interview a week ago. I received a status update today with the following message:

"The admissions committee was impressed by your application and has decided to offer you a place on our waitlist for Spring 2022 term to the Berkeley Haas Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Program.

Some applicants on the waitlist may receive an update to their admission status as early as one month after being placed on the waitlist. Others may not have a final decision until our application cycle closes.

Please note that we typically reserve spots every year for candidates who are placed on the waiting list. In an effort to enhance your chances of admission to the Berkeley MFE Program at this time, we strongly encourage you to start completing a series of items, herein referred to as “preparation”. You will find this tailored list of preparation items and their respective deadlines listed under "Preparation Checklist" when you log into your online application account. The Admissions Committee will review your file regularly to track your progress."

Does anybody know the chance of admission, given that I am willing to complete most of the "preparation"? It says they were impressed by my application and yet I was placed on the waitlist.

 

[Logicalchap]

I applied for Round 3 for Spring 2022 and did one interview a week ago. I received a status update today with the following message:

"The admissions committee was impressed by your application and has decided to offer you a place on our waitlist for Spring 2022 term to the Berkeley Haas Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Program.

Some applicants on the waitlist may receive an update to their admission status as early as one month after being placed on the waitlist. Others may not have a final decision until our application cycle closes.

Please note that we typically reserve spots every year for candidates who are placed on the waiting list. In an effort to enhance your chances of admission to the Berkeley MFE Program at this time, we strongly encourage you to start completing a series of items, herein referred to as “preparation”. You will find this tailored list of preparation items and their respective deadlines listed under "Preparation Checklist" when you log into your online application account. The Admissions Committee will review your file regularly to track your progress."

Does anybody know the chance of admission, given that I am willing to complete most of the "preparation"? It says they were impressed by my application and yet I was placed on the waitlist.

Hey… what happened finally on this if you can update?

 

[Neo_d]

@R3 applicants: have the admission decisions been communicated to you?

 

[ciciyang]

I applied for Round 3 for Spring 2022 and did one interview a week ago. I received a status update today with the following message:

"The admissions committee was impressed by your application and has decided to offer you a place on our waitlist for Spring 2022 term to the Berkeley Haas Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Program.

Some applicants on the waitlist may receive an update to their admission status as early as one month after being placed on the waitlist. Others may not have a final decision until our application cycle closes.

Please note that we typically reserve spots every year for candidates who are placed on the waiting list. In an effort to enhance your chances of admission to the Berkeley MFE Program at this time, we strongly encourage you to start completing a series of items, herein referred to as “preparation”. You will find this tailored list of preparation items and their respective deadlines listed under "Preparation Checklist" when you log into your online application account. The Admissions Committee will review your file regularly to track your progress."

Does anybody know the chance of admission, given that I am willing to complete most of the "preparation"? It says they were impressed by my application and yet I was placed on the waitlist.

I received exact the same email on the waitlist and they listed a bunch of courses for me. They even need me to do the pre-program courses. I'd love to know how you deal with it?

 

[kkp]

I received exact the same email on the waitlist and they listed a bunch of courses for me. They even need me to do the pre-program courses. I'd love to know how you deal with it?

@ciciyang when did you submit your application? And how many days after submission did you receive the interview invite?

 

[ciciyang]

@ciciyang when did you submit your application? And how many days after submission did you receive the interview invite?

I submitted on Oct 1st, and got an interview invite a day after, and interviewed a week after that, and two days after interview, I got the waitlist with a list of courses they want me to take.

 

[sdsd]

Any whatsapp group out there for UCB MFE Spring 2023-24 class

 

[zxwwxz]

Hi PDquant,
I am in the exactly same position as you but in Round 4. I didn't get an interview and was placed on Waitlist. I wonder did you get any update from them as you complete their preparation list?

 

[Shannnnn]

Hi PDquant,
I am in the exactly same position as you but in Round 4. I didn't get an interview and was placed on Waitlist. I wonder did you get any update from them as you complete their preparation list?

Hey, did you get an interview? I was interviewed but no result yet.

 

[zxwwxz]

Hey, did you get an interview? I was interviewed but no result yet.

Nah. I am still working on the preparation list and don't get any updates yet.

 

[anamikaSingh]

Nah. I am still working on the preparation list and don't get any updates yet.

Hi, do you know anyone who was on a waitlist and then rejected? How are they still evaluating?

 

[backlink]

I submitted on Oct 1st, and got an interview invite a day after, and interviewed a week after that, and two days after interview, I got the waitlist with a list of courses they want me to take.

There are a few dozen of waitlisted people, but it is likely that some of them will be admitted periodically.

 

[youukeyyy]

Hey guys, it would be amazing if anyone has information on what the technical interview might be about for UCB's MFE program. Eternally grateful. thank you!

 

[mr_brain]

what courses did they ask to finish?

 

[GQuant]

I was placed on the waitlist initially and then admitted for Spring 23 (ultimately decided to defer, worked for a ~year and now I'm going to Baruch). Even after graduating Summa Cum Laude in Physics and Applied Math, I basically still had everything listed as a pre-requisite (almost as if they didn't care looking through the transcripts tbh). I had to send admissions a thorough email explaining all the courses I took in undergrad, attaching the exact syllabi of my past courses I had to chase my professors for.
Only then I got an interview with an alumn which was really relaxed (I think it was pretty clear to him that I knew math...). After my interview I had only some of the prerequisites checked out and got the offer. Even though I did take multiple graduate-level courses in stats, stochastic calculus, and more, I still had to take Coursera courses to prove that I know my stuff (lol). Not to mention all the required prereqs...
I guess my advice is if you keep updating them on your progress you are likely to get an interview. Best of luck!