UCB MFE UC Berkeley MFE Application Discussion

[Michaelbevan]

Thanks Kosta for sharing your profile. Your profile looks great to me. Where else have you applied ?

 

[Kosta]

Thanks for the encouragement Moumou and Michaelbevan. But to be fair, I must really downplay my investment experience. My present position is with a very small private issue, and only started a few months ago. So while I applied to many schools this past year, I did not place that job experience on my CV in the majority of my applications.

I applied to Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, CMU, NYU, University of Chicago, University of Toronto, Berkeley and USC (MF). I haven't heard back from USC, I've been accepted to the University of Chicago, and I am waiting for a second interview from UCB.

About Berkeley, I applied to their school in R4 of last year. I received an interview, which I did poorly in.

 

[Kosta]

Speaking of second interviews, I heard from a UCB alumnus requesting a date for that very interview.

 

[Jun]

Sorry to say, a "HOLD" is UCBs way of saying reject(well almost). The idea behind hold, according to them, is that they keep your file for consideration later on. They go on to offer admits to some students and also draw up an unranked WL towards R3/R4. Most of the guys who get late admits(towards Feb) are the ones who move off the WL to Admit. They keep the HOLD as the last buffer, in case the WL empties without UCB filling out their class. Sadly, this rarely happens. Most of the times, people are left stranded on WLs.
I would say, it will be a good idea to make sure all your other applications are sent out in time.

Hi Kittu, where did you hear this from?
Based on what I've read so far it seems like those on HOLD are not very much different from those on WL.
By the way I just joined the HOLD club in R3.

 

[Kittu]

I would say that from personal experience, I can say that. This year things might have changed as many ppl have started reporting getting converted from HOLD. But, in my opinion, WLs come before Holds. Good luck to you.

 

[Jun]

Thanks Kittu!

 

[MrPrices]

Hi, I'm applying for the MFE Prrogram round 3, which has a deadline this friday.

Could you tell me who has a response from Berkeley?

I'm still under review, 1 technical interview 3 weeks ago.

Cheers!

 

[Jun]

I've been put on hold.

 

[MrPrices]

When did you have your interview? how much time did past to receive a response?
Thanks!

 

[Jun]

16 July. Less than a month.

 

[MrPrices]

Thanks for your response June. Could you tell me if in your case was recommended to take some course? the pre-program? or another ?

 

[Jun]

Yes the pre-program courses. I think they send that to everyone even if you have had some experience/background.

 

[MrPrices]

Ok, I supposed, but I don't know why they put you Hold and at the same time recommend you to take that program

Why? because the preprogram begins on January (until March), a few weeks before start the program. So, you must wait until the last time for a response??

In my case I had the same situation, put Hold and take de preprogram course, but if the situation is like I described before, I think to leave the application process. I know a lot people who were accepted together to suggestion to take the preprogram course.

 

[Jun]

Well we can do the pre-program courses online. The lectures are recorded and we will be able to watch them anytime we want.

 

[MrPrices]

Talking with office admission, thet told me that online and in-class preprogram courses are held at the same time. So, it's true that we must wait until the last day to get a final response...

In my case I declined

 

[Jun]

Really? I was told that the classes will be recorded and left online for some time so that overseas students don't have to lose sleep over them. Anyway, good luck for your interview with other schools!

 

[Yann]

Has anyone been asked to re take the GRE to improve the verbal - writting part to 70% percentile minimum?
Do you think they could decide not to take you anymore if you retake it and do not reach this level?

 

[Jun]

For me, I was told to either improve the essay score for GMAT or retake the GRE. I just took my GRE and I got a killer essay question so I think I'm not going to do well. Anyway, the GMAT/GRE is just a part of your application. UCB looks at you overall application when they decide on whether to admit you or not.

 

[Sky]

Has anybody who has applied for UCB MFE during round 4 (i.e., I believe the application deadline was September 1, 2011) for the 2012-2013 school year received any acceptance letters? If so, did you have a phone interview during the past couple of months? I have been told that the last letters should be mailed out by November 1st, which is approaching quickly.

 

[Sky]

I will be interviewing this Friday.