COMPARE UCB MFE vs Georgia Institute of Technology QCF

[Rahul Budhadev]

What are the chances of conversion of UCB MFE waitlist to admitted status? I currently have a GAtech QCF offer. Should I take it or wait for UCB?

 

[Soccent]

Here is a stratagem that I was told worked to get one off the waiting list, at least in the old days, at least for law and MBA programs. I do not know if it actually worked then (but it makes sense) or if it still works now.

Show up on the day everyone reports. At least for MBA and law programs, which have at least 100 students in a class, someone ( perhaps many someones) who said he was coming changes his mind and does not show. (He forfeits his deposit.) Maybe he said he was coming and got in at the last minute off the waitlist to a school he preferred. Or may be he decided to spend the year surfing. Who knows?

The admissions office has a problem. It wants to fill the class. If you are on the wait list, you are qualified. Do you think the admissions office wants to spend the day frantically calling the number one guy on the wait list, the number two.

When someone steps up and says, I am on the wait list and I am here now, ready to go, what do you think the admissions personnel are going to say. No, you are 23rd on the list. We want to frantically hunt for number one and two. No, you are there. Their problem is solved. You are in.

(This might work less well in this age of cell phones, but the logic is still pretty good.)

 

[MrBigChest]

Wait so you are recommending Rahul to wait 10 months (while he has an offer from a good school, which will definitely be long gone by then) just on the off-chance that somebody will not show up AND that person will not inform the school that they are not coming beforehand AND the admissions office will simply let Rahul tag along? Solid advice.

 

[Soccent]

Well lets be hystrionic. Wait. I am not recommending anything to anyone. I am sharing a stratagem that has supposedly worked in the past. And where does 10 months come from. It clearly works less successfully if the two schools are as far apart as Berkeley and Atlanta.

In my business school class, we had at least three students who had paid a deposit to Harvard and were in the picture book of incoming students at Harvard and got in to our school fairly late off the wait list.

If I am a young person with an issue, it is useful to be exposed to a variety of possible solutions. You can always reject one. You cannot accept or reject an options of which you are unaware.

And wait. Nowhere did I suggest he turn down the offer.

 

[MrBigChest]

Well, Berkeley starts on March next year while Gatech starts this August. So your stratagem might not be completely applicable to this scenario but fair enough, as you weren't aware of the dates.

 

[Soccent]

Yes, was unaware UCB began so late.

But, depending on how bad he wants to go to UCB, he could sign up with GT and keep on the waitlist. And go to UCB, forfeiting his GT deposit, if he gets off the waitlist, if he gets off the wait list early enough.

 

[idkmyname]

Go to GAtech. As far as I know, UCB has a long waitlist, and I know many people are on the waitlist for 2020 with a guarantee for 2021, and they need to reapply, pay the application fee again, just so weird.

 

[Rahul Budhadev]

@Soccent Thanks for the suggestion. As pointed out, the stratagem would be applicable if the courses commenced at the same time. But QCF starts in Aug 2019 and MFE UCB begins in March 2020.

Can someone throw some light on how likely it is to convert from a waitlist?

 

[Rahul Budhadev]

Go to GAtech. As far as I know, UCB has a long waitlist, and I know many people are on the waitlist for 2020 with a guarantee for 2021, and they need to reapply, pay the application fee again, just so weird.

Yes, as of now I am inclined towards that as well. Better to go for it now than wait in uncertainty!

 

[Seemalb]

Hi!
I know UC Berkley is the better program, but how much of a disadvantage will I be in if I chose to go to Gatech and do a dual major over there?

 

[primevera]

I’m in the similar situation, but I just got the UCB admission to 2021 class. Have you made a decision?

 

[Seemalb]

I am confused
UCB is one year only-developing the skillset and looking for employment would be really tough but the brand value that UCB would give us is unparalleled.

 

[primevera]

I have the same concerns as you.
But I really want to do a dual major at Gatech, since many people are saying that nowadays it's more difficult to find a quant job, I'm thinking that maybe a dual degree in CS would provide me with more opportunities.

 

[Seemalb]

Yeah
Do these brand names matter much in Usa
Where are you from?

 

[primevera]

I'm from China. Brand names matter much in China, I don't know whether it matters much in USA. I plan to work in USA for several years if possible, and then come back to China, at that time maybe work experience would matter more than brand names.

 

[Seemalb]

Yeah
They do over here in India also
But I think the skill you acquire matters more,and I think I would walk out with a better skillset from gatech than berkley.

 

[Michsund]

UCB is a tier 1 program. They have had 100% placement at a very high salary for years now. I believe they know what companies are looking for and give you those skill sets. I’ve heard it’s a very hard program as well. I would pick UCB any day of the week

 

[johnbt]

I would like to hear from people who choose Georgia Tech QCF as I am not much aware of advantages of QCF over UCB MFE

 

[varunchan]

Hi All,
I have a decision to make between UCB mFE and Gatech QCF. I know polls are very clear but still would like someone with experience or more info to elaborate.
For GaTech QCF, below are the stats
Avg Base compensation: ~100K, Avg Total: ~134K
Cities: ~20% find jobs in NYC, 20% in Chicago, 25% in Charlotte
Total cost : ~85K

Above employment statistics look good to me and with low tuition I am inclined towards Gatech.
Am I missing something important to consider

 

[EverythingPOINT]

Hi All,
I have a decision to make between UCB mFE and Gatech QCF. I know polls are very clear but still would like someone with experience or more info to elaborate.
For GaTech QCF, below are the stats
Avg Base compensation: ~100K, Avg Total: ~134K
Cities: ~20% find jobs in NYC, 20% in Chicago, 25% in Charlotte
Total cost : ~85K

Above employment statistics look good to me and with low tuition I am inclined towards Gatech.
Am I missing something important to consider

Don’t consider just the employment statistics, but also look at where the actual employment is happening and see if your interest aligns with the those employment opportunities.

I don’t think cost is as much a factor in choosing between these top programs. Also, look at the curriculum and maybe ask specific questions to the “experts”.