Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and need some advice/opinions on my 22 MFE application (I apologize for the erroneous 21 in the title, which seems impossible to edit).
Here is my profile:
BBA in ACCT from a university in China (2010-2014), GPA 2.52;
MS in Applied Econ & Fin from UCSC (2017-2018), GPA 3.47;
TOFEL 104; GMAT 790 (took in 2016);
TOFEL 115; GRE 335 (took this Jan);
CPA designation; CFA III candidate;
2 years work experience in China as an accountant;
1.5 years work experience in the US as an accountant;
1-year working experience in the US as a web developer & financial analyst;
(All of the experiences are from small firms.)
Advanced Javascript user;
Intermediate Linux & Python user;
Learning C & C++ now;
(Coding has always been a hobby of mine. I started to systematically learn it from Udemy in 2020 after I decided to quit accounting)
I understand that top-tier FE programs are highly competitive and that an undergraduate GPA of 2.52 would be a critical problem. My graduate GPA of 3.47 is also not good enough. With regards to these concerns, I have the following questions:
1. Do I have a chance for the UCB MFE program?
2. If not, which programs/schools should I aim at?
3. I already took undergraduate calculus, probability, statistics, ODE, PDE courses, but considering my abysmal undergraduate GPA, should I took the same courses again (to achieve better results)?
4. Which courses are more helpful for the application, MOOC or local college online courses?
5. What could I do to improve my profile, efficiency-wise?
Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.
Here is my profile:
BBA in ACCT from a university in China (2010-2014), GPA 2.52;
MS in Applied Econ & Fin from UCSC (2017-2018), GPA 3.47;
TOFEL 104; GMAT 790 (took in 2016);
TOFEL 115; GRE 335 (took this Jan);
CPA designation; CFA III candidate;
2 years work experience in China as an accountant;
1.5 years work experience in the US as an accountant;
1-year working experience in the US as a web developer & financial analyst;
(All of the experiences are from small firms.)
Advanced Javascript user;
Intermediate Linux & Python user;
Learning C & C++ now;
(Coding has always been a hobby of mine. I started to systematically learn it from Udemy in 2020 after I decided to quit accounting)
I understand that top-tier FE programs are highly competitive and that an undergraduate GPA of 2.52 would be a critical problem. My graduate GPA of 3.47 is also not good enough. With regards to these concerns, I have the following questions:
1. Do I have a chance for the UCB MFE program?
2. If not, which programs/schools should I aim at?
3. I already took undergraduate calculus, probability, statistics, ODE, PDE courses, but considering my abysmal undergraduate GPA, should I took the same courses again (to achieve better results)?
4. Which courses are more helpful for the application, MOOC or local college online courses?
5. What could I do to improve my profile, efficiency-wise?
Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.
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