Columbia MAFN Columbia MAFN Admission Discussion

[Swarna]

I just got my admission decision as waitlisted .... I guess the chances now are really really low at this point ....... I wonder why they still waitlisted me ..... I had submitted my application quite late on April 6th ..... I wonder what would have happened if I had turned it in earlier ....

I just got my admission result .... got accepted with no financial aid though ....this is cutting it very close ...Phew ....

 

[lonely]

congrats, I dont think they give aid to anyone....but you have to rush if you are international student..

 

[Swarna]

congrats, I dont think they give aid to anyone....but you have to rush if you are international student..

I am an intl student ....But I already have an admit from NYU poly ... also paid the admission fees thr .... I think i will get the I20 and pay the SEVIS for Columbia later once I get my VISA stamping since its due in a week .... I know poeple who did that...

 

[lonely]

aah..you mean you paid tution for semester or just the token fee..if you already have funding arranged you might go for I 20 straight..it takes just week..and another 3-4 days for VISA..

 

[Azamat Bagatov]

Congrats Swarna!

 

[Nav]

Hi guys..Is there anyone from Bangalore, India who will be joining this Fall?

 

[Swarna]

Um, when? Right now? Or after I settled down in NY?

Hi
I just spoke to my MD in my previous firm Credit Suisse.... He from a recruiter point of view said that short duration of MAFN course is definitely a point of consideration... He said an internship would add much more value to the resume and also help international students get an idea about different jobs in the field plus build contacts too.. In addition he pointed out that most firms avoid recruiting MAFN candidates as they graduate around August / September when the quota for H1B VISAs is exhausted.... Have you found out how the 3 semester thing pans out? Can you give us more details on it ?...

 

[Shadowfox]

FYI! MAFN Candidates do not graduate around August/September they graduate in May

 

[cdirnfeld]

Hi everyone,

I was accepted (a while ago) into the MAFN program.

 

[Shadowfox]

If any one has created the facebook group for incoming student please let me know..Else I am happy to create one.

 

[cdirnfeld]

I don't think anyone has created a group so please feel free to start one.

 

[Shadowfox]

group done.. P.S. I have never moderated a facebook group before. In case someone is interested in moderating the group, Please let me know. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ColumbiaMAFN2013/

 

[FlowerShin]

Hi
I just spoke to my MD in my previous firm Credit Suisse.... He from a recruiter point of view said that short duration of MAFN course is definitely a point of consideration... He said an internship would add much more value to the resume and also help international students get an idea about different jobs in the field plus build contacts too.. In addition he pointed out that most firms avoid recruiting MAFN candidates as they graduate around August / September when the quota for H1B VISAs is exhausted.... Have you found out how the 3 semester thing pans out? Can you give us more details on it ?...

Thank you so much for your information.
I have asked Laurent Breach, the coordinator of MAFN.
He said that more details should be explained during the orientation. In the mail, he explained that for the third semester, you should take at least one selective. Once you've finished the 6 mandatory and 4 selective in 2 semesters, you have to graduate at once.
Besides, written on my I-20 form, the length of program is up to 18 months.
And I have also heard that for MAFN students, it is possible to have an OPT visa for up to 12+17 months.

 

[Reyn S]

Greetings everyone,
I am currently waitlisted in Columbia MAFN, and it is said that it's a short waitlist and takes just few weeks to get the final result. However, I am currently admitted into Oxford Mathematical and Computational Finance, and they request me to accept my offer before 10th of May to get into it. So here comes the problem, should I just wait or go to the Oxford program?
here's some pros and cons:
Oxford
Advantage:
1 Nice brand reputation.
2 Relatively low living cost and tuition fee ( which I do not care so much ).
3 Perfect living and academic environment.
4 30-40 of class sizes.
Disadvantage:
1 Not easy to the City because of immigration policy, and because I have no time for internship during this program, it is hard to stay in UK for financial working, maybe I have to move to HK or Singapore after graduation.
2 The course structure is quite theoretical and extremely heavy.
3 It goes directly from October to August next year, no time for internship.
4 The career service is not so good, or I should say, almost no career service in this program.
5 It seems that this course is kinda phD oriented.

Columbia
Advantage:
1 Also nice brand reputation (IVY!).
2 New York city, USA, tons of opportunities.
3 It is said that it's more practical.
4 3-semesters structure, this allows me to get some internship during summer vacation. Also, that wouldn't put a heavy burden like Oxford to rush all courses in 10 months, and if possible, I could learn more things by this longer time.
5 Highly ranked in Quantnet!
6 According to an alumni, they do have a great chance to get internship during summer, even for asia.
Disadvantge:
1 Relatively high living cost and tuition fee.
2 Maybe few computing courses in this program?
3 Have no advantage compared to Columbia MFE and New York MathFin, so the competition is quite fierce, even though more opportunities.
4 The environment may be a little bit fickle? or maybe the public security is not so good?

So could you please give me some advice, I would really appreciate that. And if possible, anyone could tell me some tips to get higher in waitlist?

 

[Mensa]

Just email Laurent your situation, and request an early decision by May 10th.

 

[Reyn S]

Just email Laurent your situation, and request an early decision by May 10th.

But it's said that early decision would be extreme strict, that takes risk.

 

[Mensa]

But it's said that early decision would be extreme strict, that takes risk.

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

 

[Reyn S]

But you have no choice, and there were cases that people got admission after requesting early decision.

Thanks for your advice. But actually my point is more focused on the comparison of these two programs, any advice?

 

[Mensa]

Thanks for your advice. But actually my point is more focused on the comparison of these two programs, any advice?

I am not familiar with Oxford MCF program, but considering the visa policy in UK, if you get Columbia, I suggest you go.

 

[Reyn S]

I am not familiar with Oxford MCF program, but considering the visa policy in UK, if you get Columbia, I suggest you go.

Thanks a lot, it's all about the visa policy.