Columbia University - Masters in Financial Engineering

Columbia MFE Columbia MFE Application Discussion

Columbia MFE is a full-time program under the IEOR department

  • leetcode has no tracker for this program.
It's funny that you mention that because he did message me, I believe he is in the year behind me so has not graduated yet. I do agree with your assessment though, it seems that the MSFE program is one of a group of programs that all seem to be quite similar from the IEOR department. At the moment I do have good Python skills that would allow me to contribute, and I'm actually using them to do some free work for a crypto market maker and a machine learning algo trading firm, but it seems that maybe I should start practicing my C++ as well.

I do appreciate the response though. It's been quite demoralizing as I've been trying so many different avenues but I guess I just need to keep trying new things.
Yes, there was a discussion recently with @weab who is in your Columbia MFE program.
I think the fact that Columbia MFE has so many students competing against so many other MS IEOR students who took the same courses, it's extremely hard to distinguish yourself. It's impossible for career services to be able to provide customized career support for this many students.
I think you need to take it up yourself to stand out.
Do you have a strong C++ or Python skills that you can contribute on day one? If you have in demand skills over your friends, it gives you a leg up.
Learning these skills are not that expensive and will take a few months but it will pay off immediately and serve you a very long time.
Wait what... how is that an excuse for career services? There are too many kids paying 100k for a Master's degree so we can't give them adequate help?
 
  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
I think we have several current and recent Columbia MFE grads participating in this conversation who share their personal experience. It is very valuable and greatly appreciated.
We have student reviews which are very insightful and hard to come by. Thanks to those who shared with our community.
Given the amount of data we currently provide, my question is how we improve as a data provider so that applicants can make a wise career decision and not regret later about their $100K investment?

Looking at the application numbers of the past few years, it appears the program has no issue getting people to apply. They are easily top 3 programs with most applicants.
 
  • 2025  Pending ShivC has a tracker for this program.
  • 2024  Rejected Zhaoyao Zhu has a tracker for this program.
  • 2024  Rejected kwatz has a tracker for this program.
Just received a rejection. So they waited over 6 months to review my application and it took them less than a week to reject? This is some "Ivy league" levels of incompetence displayed by the IEOR department. An extremely disappointing admissions process by Columbia, and I'm sure many other candidates will share my sentiment. For a college that boasts of high rankings and charges astronomical fees, the admissions team has displayed the rigor you'd get in a tier 4 college, maybe worse. The high volume of applicants is not a valid reason, it is simply a lame excuse for their inability to adapt. The MAFN program had a rep coming in and communicating with the candidates here, whereas from IEOR all we got were boilerplate responses. What a let down. I hope someone from the IEOR department has some level of awareness and reads this thread to see just how many candidates have been anxiously waiting for an update.

If the admissions process is anything to go by, I would say @weab's review of the current state of the program is on point.

And an honorary mention for a dragged out admissions process goes to NYU - maybe big name NYC schools need to step up in the way they respect a candidate's time and efforts.
 
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  • littlemelon has no tracker for this program.
  • iamsorry has no tracker for this program.
Yes. But as an international student I am not sure if I'll be able to get done with the visa and after enrollment process on time even if I get into.
 
  • 2024  Rejected ActuallyAlpha has a tracker for this program.
Same here. Technically I'm waiting but even I end up getting an offer I'll likely reject it due to being international.
 
  • 2024  Rejected texano has a tracker for this program.
  • iamsorry has no tracker for this program.
Are we even going to get a decision from them😂. In some of the previous years, they sent out rejections at the end of August!
 
  • Millionaire seeking more has no tracker for this program.
Just got this:

Thank you for your continued interest in the Columbia Financial Engineering Master of Science Program. We are writing today to let you know that you are one of a select number of students who remain on our waitlist for the Fall 2024 class.

At this time, there has been no movement on our waitlists. We hope to share more positive news with you soon and will provide you with an update by or shortly after July 30th, 2024.
 
  • iamsorry has no tracker for this program.
  • Dpouss has no tracker for this program.
Just got this:

Thank you for your continued interest in the Columbia Financial Engineering Master of Science Program. We are writing today to let you know that you are one of a select number of students who remain on our waitlist for the Fall 2024 class.

At this time, there has been no movement on our waitlists. We hope to share more positive news with you soon and will provide you with an update by or shortly after July 30th, 2024.
July 30th haha wtf is this shit show?
 
  • Dpouss has no tracker for this program.
I also got the same message btw. Seems like it’s not happening because end of July is way too late now…
 
  • 2024  Rejected texano has a tracker for this program.
  • bootstrap has no tracker for this program.
  • 2025  Waitlisted jmepowl has a tracker for this program.
  • Millionaire seeking more has no tracker for this program.
  • iamsorry has no tracker for this program.
One of my friends called. They said that there's still no movement on the waitlist. They are still waiting for spots to be open. I don't think there's any point waiting now
 
  • quantape has no tracker for this program.
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