UCB MFE UC Berkeley MFE Application Discussion

[jetforcegeminix]

I had a 2nd interview with Linda and she told me that I was admitted.

 

[Dave Lee]

I had my first interview early in the Feb, but I have not heard anything back yet. Is this a rejection?

 

[Vivek Ahluwalia]

I had my first interview in second week, but I have not heard anything back. Well, they look at the overall application and it doesn't only depends on interviews. It's not necessarily a reject if someone hasn't heard but mostly one can end up in Hold or Waitlist.

 

[moretodo]

what are your profiles by the way ?

 

[Pablo Bertisch]

I have been accepted into the UC Berkeley MFE program yesterday, on 2/27, for the Spring 2015 term. However, I was assigned several conditions that I must meet such as:
-Raise GRE score
-Pass CFA Level 1 exam
-Pass preprogram courses
I was wondering if these or other conditions are usually assigned to admitted students and what would happen if, for example, I attempt but fail to pass the CFA exam. Would by admission be revoked?
Any advice or personal experiences are useful.
Thank you.

 

[moretodo]

They have, as yet to the best of my knowledge, not revoked anyone's offer. It's just to prepare you better for the program going through what they consider the unofficial first year of the program.

 

[HelenM]

Hi Pablo,
When did you get this email? Did you have any second round interviews?

thanks

 

[Pablo Bertisch]

I did not have a second interview and was admitted on 2/27

 

[moretodo]

Congratulations! Its a great program if you have 2-3 years of work experience.

 

[Pablo Bertisch]

What did you mean by "if you have 2-3 years of work experience"? Is it not a good program if you do not?

 

[andytanff]

Hi Pablo~Big congrats! Was it Berkeley's current student interviewed u?

 

[moretodo]

What did you mean by "if you have 2-3 years of work experience"? Is it not a good program if you do not?

You will be at a significant disadvantage since most of your peers will have work experience so you probably would not get as many interviews through the program as your peers with work experience would be given preference. Also, most jobs that come in at UCB MFE are mid career opportunities as opposed to entry level at Columbia which is more relevant and compatible to your profile in my opinion.

 

[curltron]

What did you mean by "if you have 2-3 years of work experience"? Is it not a good program if you do not?

Hi Pablo. I'm actually a current student in the program, graduating in a few weeks. Not sure how moretodo is getting this information as he is not, to my knowledge, a current student. I came into the program without any experience, and was able to secure an internship at Goldman Sachs, and recently took a full-time offer in automated trading at a different bank.

The lack of experience in this program can actually be a huge advantage as your projects become your experience in interviews. In my case, I did projects that I was extremely passionate about and hence got interviews for positions I was passionate about. The program is in my opinion the best in the world when it comes to selling you to employers, but you do need to make sure you have interesting selling points. However, I don't think you would get an offer if they didn't think they could sell you easily.

On the topic of admit conditions, all I can tell you is I completed all of mine. One of mine was the GRE, and I found it helpful when it came to interview tests, which can sometimes follow the GRE math format. The preprogram classes get you prepared for the material in the program, and they're actually taught by professors you'll see in the MFE. To my knowledge everyone took the preprogram courses that were assigned. I wasn't assigned the CFA so I can't comment on that, but I know quite a few students were and completed it.

 

[moretodo]

Hi Pablo. I'm actually a current student in the program, graduating in a few weeks. Not sure how moretodo is getting this information as he is not, to my knowledge, a current student. I came into the program without any experience, and was able to secure an internship at Goldman Sachs, and recently took a full-time offer in automated trading at a different bank.

The lack of experience in this program can actually be a huge advantage as your projects become your experience in interviews. In my case, I did projects that I was extremely passionate about and hence got interviews for positions I was passionate about. The program is in my opinion the best in the world when it comes to selling you to employers, but you do need to make sure you have interesting selling points. However, I don't think you would get an offer if they didn't think they could sell you easily.

On the topic of admit conditions, all I can tell you is I completed all of mine. One of mine was the GRE, and I found it helpful when it came to interview tests, which can sometimes follow the GRE math format. The preprogram classes get you prepared for the material in the program, and they're actually taught by professors you'll see in the MFE. To my knowledge everyone took the preprogram courses that were assigned. I wasn't assigned the CFA so I can't comment on that, but I know quite a few students were and completed it.

Curltron is right. I'm not an UCB MFE student; neither past, present or future. While I agree with everything you've stated in principal, can you please confirm if every student who went to the program with you straight out of college have had significantly better access to opportunities than other Tier 1 programs as it seems to be in your case or are you an exception?

 

[curltron]

I'd expect all of the fresh graduates in the program to give feedback similar to mine, but I can't read minds nor will I try. The gist though is that the program wouldn't give an offer to a student they didn't think they could place. They have quite a selection to choose from, and good potential applicants are watching placement statistics like a hawk, as this thread demonstrates.

 

[moretodo]

I'd expect all of the fresh graduates in the program to give feedback similar to mine, but I can't read minds nor will I try. The gist though is that the program wouldn't give an offer to a student they didn't think they could place. They have quite a selection to choose from, and good potential applicants are watching placement statistics like a hawk, as this thread demonstrates.

A response that would make a politician proud! You should perhaps consider running for office if and when you retire. Congratulations on your offer! Wish you my best.

 

[duxingxia]

Did anyone hear from the school about the final result? I online chatted with them and they said all applicants will be notified by Apr 4, 2014.

 

[vtomar]

Hi moretodo, I am a UCB MFE student. You had private messaged me earlier to inquire about the program. You had then mentioned that you had applied to the program and got waitlisted. Please make this information clear in your postings or else you are misleading applicants. Also, you mentioned that you are not from India but then you went on to ask questions about non-IITians and if they are disadvantaged in the program. After having sent that message, you realized I might have figured out that you are an impersonator, so you ended up sending me another message clarifying that you are asking all this information for one of your friends and not for yourself.
I am made to wonder, if you think spreading false second hand information about the program is going to bump up your application from the waiting list to being admitted.

 

[TraderJoe]

Hi moretodo, I am a UCB MFE student. You had private messaged me earlier to inquire about the program. You had then mentioned that you had applied to the program and got waitlisted. Please make this information clear in your postings or else you are misleading applicants. Also, you mentioned that you are not from India but then you went on to ask questions about non-IITians and if they are disadvantaged in the program. After having sent that message, you realized I might have figured out that you are an impersonator, so you ended up sending me another message clarifying that you are asking all this information for one of your friends and not for yourself.
I am made to wonder, if you think spreading false second hand information about the program is going to bump up your application from the waiting list to being admitted.

EXCELLENT POINTS. I always get suspicious when people advise others to decline admission to Berkeley. If you take a look at their placement statistics, it is a no-brainer to accept an admit from Berkeley. So these guys are misleading others to decline a Berkeley admit so that they can get admission themselves. This is really pathetic of these guys. I hope they land in IIT-Chicago and get help from BBW for their placement.
I think that he has advised someone else on thi forum to decline Berkeley and go to Columbia MFE.

 

[moretodo]

Hi moretodo, I am a UCB MFE student. You had private messaged me earlier to inquire about the program. You had then mentioned that you had applied to the program and got waitlisted. Please make this information clear in your postings or else you are misleading applicants. Also, you mentioned that you are not from India but then you went on to ask questions about non-IITians and if they are disadvantaged in the program. After having sent that message, you realized I might have figured out that you are an impersonator, so you ended up sending me another message clarifying that you are asking all this information for one of your friends and not for yourself.
I am made to wonder, if you think spreading false second hand information about the program is going to bump up your application from the waiting list to being admitted.

I am not an impersonator. Yes, I had personally messaged you regarding the same since it so happens that an ex-work colleague (my firm was his client) has been admitted to the program who happens to be an Indian and I was asking on his behalf. Since he helped me quite a bit with my work, I was merely trying to return the favor.

Your assumption that I am spreading "false" information with the hopes that my application would eventually be accepted is quite frankly short sighted and unbecoming of a UCB MFE student whom I thought are generally smart. I don't see how affecting the decisions of the MFE2015 admits would affect my chances of making it to MFE2014.