UCB MFE UC Berkeley MFE Application Discussion

[ICQuant]

I just got my pseudo-reject (application being held for further review) letter today. It reads:

We would like to inform you that your application for spring 2012 admission to the Master of Financial Engineering Program at the Haas School of Business is being held for further consideration. If you have any questions, please call Christina Henri at (510) 642-4417.

We advise you to complete the following:

• Successfully complete the preprogram courses in C++, Mathematics, and Statistics offered by our department
• Read Crack’s Heard on the Street, Hull’s Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, Brealey, Myers, and Allen’s Principles of Corporate Finance and Zhou’s A Practical Guide to Quantitative Finance Interviews and read the Wall Street Journal regularly
• Retake the GRE/GMAT and raise your analytical writing score to a 5 or higher and quantitative score to 90th percentile or higher.
• Successfully complete coursework in Corporate Finance and Macroeconomics.

There is no guarantee that you will be recommended for admission if you fulfill these requirements. The admissions committee will review your file regularly and make a final decision before the close of the admissions cycle in March 2012.

Our preprogram courses, which are offered by our department in January, are available online for students who cannot be in Berkeley until March. If you have any questions, please call Christina Henri at (510) 642-4417.

We would like to continue to consider your candidacy. We appreciate your interest in Haas and the MFE Program at Berkeley.

This really sucks. I thought my phone interview went really well, so this comes as a shock. I'm concerned how thoroughly they looked at my application, because (1) I have a BS degree in applied mathematics (it has only been 2 years since I graduated, and I -- like many other fairly recent grads -- have been struggling to find a job, so I took whatever came my way, which didn't happen to use any of my degrees at all) and (2) I already took a macroeconomics course in my economics minor, as well as having corporate finance knowledge from other courses.

I guess I'm just not good enough for Berkeley (I wonder if I'm good enough for Carnegie Mellon or Baruch...). It's like you have to have all of the knowledge that comes out of an MFE degree before you even start the degree itself.

Does anybody know what the acceptance rate is for somebody who has been put on hold status (that is, assuming he / she completes all of the required stuff in between)?

you shouldn't take their suggestions seriously man! It's just an automated message. I received a very similar one asking me to prepare and take CFA level 1 when I already passed the CFA level 2 exam and asking me to get the 90th percentile quant score in GRE when my GRE quant score is perfect! lol
Ridiculous man

 

[Sky]

I have been moved up from "Hold" to "Waitlisted" as of about 3 weeks ago, now. I'm going to do the 3 pre-program courses online, which will hopefully show to them that I am a serious candidate. In the meantime, I'm cranking through the problems in Dan Stefanica's "A Primer for the Mathematics of Financial Engineering"

 

[nightkid]

I have been moved up from "Hold" to "Waitlisted" as of about 3 weeks ago, now. I'm going to do the 3 pre-program courses online, which will hopefully show to them that I am a serious candidate. In the meantime, I'm cranking through the problems in Dan Stefanica's "A Primer for the Mathematics of Financial Engineering"

I am also waitlisted as of 2-3 weeks ago.

Please, if somebody did not go from Hold to Waitlist (and instead, from Hold to Rejected or stayed as Hold), could you speak up? Really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Me.rahul]

Hello Sky, nightkid,

Are you guys registering for pre-program courses? I have also been put on waitlist. Frankly speaking, don't want to spend $1500 doing basic math course unless and until I get admission into the program.

 

[nightkid]

Hello Sky, nightkid,

Are you guys registering for pre-program courses? I have also been put on waitlist. Frankly speaking, don't want to spend $1500 doing basic math course unless and until I get admission into the program.

Hi Me.rahul, I may take the Stats and Math courses since I've been out of school for about 5 years. The programming course is probably not necessary for me since I have a pretty solid programming background.

 

[Sky]

Yes, I have already registered for all 3 pre-program courses (even though they may not be truly necessary for me or any of us for that matter). I know it sucks to spend about $1500 per course (not to mention the time spent doing coursework and other money on textbooks). But I've come this far, and I don't want to give up. I hope that completing the 3 pre-program courses successfully will show the admissions committee that I am indeed a serious candidate.

 

[Michaelbevan]

I have also been moved to waitlist status..but frankly speaking it looks like there are lot of people in waitlist pool...fighting for a small no. of seats and it is really a big commitment in terms of both money and time wise to take the preprogramming courses...I am confused here whether it is all worth it.

 

[ICQuant]

It seems UCB has gotten some good strategies to raise money!

 

[Me.rahul]

Has anyone got any update from UCB?

 

[Sky]

Does anybody know the exact start and end dates for UC Berkeley - MFE for the 2012-2013 school year? I only see the 2011-2012 calendar on their website.

 

[MrPrices]

March 26, 2012 to March 29 2013....

You are an accepted student?

 

[Sky]

No, I'm on the waitlist. I just need to know such that I can start making arrangements if I do get in.

 

[Sky]

Sorry to hear, Sky. Best of luck!
EDIT: Also, Sky how many interviews did you have? And around when? Thanks

ICQuant - Not yet. I tried their number yesterday but it went straight to the answering machine. Had thought of mailing them today but as Sky received his result, I am assuming the results must be on their way. <Fingers crossed>

I had one interview at the beginning at the end of October.

 

[Sky]

I have a question about being accepted to UC Berkeley's MFE program during round 4. I went from a hold status to a waitlist status in round 4, and I am currently taking their pre-program courses, in hopes that they'll accept me by the time classes start. (The pre-program courses end the week of March 17th, and the school year begins March 26th.) Has anyone ever been in this situation before? If so, what is the probability of being accepted for this coming school year at this point? Thanks.

 

[parka]

I'm in the same boat as you right now. I applied very late and got put straight on the waitlist. Just like you, I'm taking the pre-program courses hoping that it will "enhance my candidacy". I called to ask for information about how they select from the waitlist, if they go in chronological order, etc. but they wouldn't give me any details.

Basically I think you are just expected to wait until other people drop out and could get an acceptance up to a week before the program starts. It's a very nerve-wracking experience considering your life, job, family, etc. are in limbo until you get a final response.

Anyways, hope we both get accepted!

 

[Sky]

Totally! I can't apply for a job right now because nobody will take me on board if I'm going to leave for Berkeley soon. But, it really doesn't matter, since I'm spending about 60 hours per week doing homework for the pre-program courses. (I'm in all 3. It wouldn't be so bad, though, if we could just scan in our hand-written assignments! I'd say 3/4 of my time is simply typing everything in LaTeX.) And I totally hear you on everything else... My family is getting stressed out because I can no longer spend time with them... And apparently you have to figure out your own living situation once admitted (they don't put us up in dorms), as well as get all loans approved once admitted, which is really going to suck if they let us know one week before classes start.

I really hope our taking the pre-program courses puts us at the top of the list. Best of luck!

 

[parka]

It's frustrating too considering the courses cost so much and it doesn't guaranteed admission. I figured that if I didn't take the courses, I had little chance of being accepted and if I didn't get accepted then they are a good prep for if I get admitted into another school. UCB is my first choice though and it is driving me crazy with the start date approaching.

 

[Sky]

It's driving me crazy, too. I had to set up a weekend for a time share I have down near Berkeley to find a place if I get accepted. My deadline to cancel the time share is approaching quickly, though, if I don't get in.

 

[haoluck]

Does anyone get UCB interview invitation? Will the interview only have technical questions?

 

[MrPrices]

Hey guys, I think you have the chance to be accepted. From 68 available spot, I saw that still left about 10 spots.
I wish you lucky!