Do I have a chance to get in top MFE program with a low undergrad GPA?

[jelquant]

Hi guys,

This is my first time to post here. I am considering applying to MFE program recently.
But i have some concerns about if I can get in a top one due to my low undergrad GPA.

Below is my background:
Based in US. 25 yr old Female. Passed CFA level II

Undergrad:
Double majored in - CS and Math. GPA: 3.2 (round up)
A state university - The school's CS and Math rankings are top 15 in US

Graduate school:
Top 10 in US - CS. GPA:4.0
Doing research on machine learning stuffs

Work experience:
Before graduate school, I worked 2 years as a software engineer/technology analyst in a rotational program
in a bulge bucket investment bank(the name that most of the people will know) in NY.

GRE:
I think I can get a pretty good score in GRE although i havent took it yet.


Should I even bother considering applying to any top MFE program(CMU/Princeton/NYU/MIT) at all?
I have a low GPA from undergrad.
I think that if I can't get in any top programs then I will not apply for MFE.

I don't want to waste my time to apply and overestimate myself.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Lyle_C]

Well, I am kind of in the same boat as you. I am planning to apply for MFE programs (mainly Baruch/NYU/Columbia). I have terrible undergrad GPA (Econ), but pretty good grad GPA (General Finance). I don't have much work experience. But I think my math is pretty good, so the plan is to meet all the basic requirements and do well enough in interviews to get myself in. It's a long shot, but if I do finish an MFE program, it'll be a huge boost for me career-wise. So I think it's worth taking the risk and going for it.

Not much of an advice, but you are definitely not alone with your situation.

 

[jelquant]

Anyone have similar experience? Where did you end up getting into? And do you think i have some chances to get in those top programs? Any help will be appreciated!

 

[WZhang]

I took the GRE and did really well(Got a 333). I spent all 4 years undergrad workign 35-40 hours a week to pay for my education with a very similar background as yours at a 3.16. I am currently doing the Quantnet C++ course(Currently unemployed due to this economy and covid-19).

 

[jelquant]

I took the GRE and did really well(Got a 333). I spent all 4 years undergrad workign 35-40 hours a week to pay for my education with a very similar background as yours at a 3.16. I am currently doing the Quantnet C++ course(Currently unemployed due to this economy and covid-19).

I am sorry to hear that... If you have compsci skill i think it is still easy to find a job these days?
Where are you thinking about applying to for MFE?

 

[noether-skolem]

I had a BS in applied maths with 3.4 GPA (if scaled to 4) and an MS in maths with 2.8 GPA. I got admitted to some top 10-15 programs and one top 5 (Columbia), also got an interview from Princeton. If you're really worried you could probably email the admissions offices from some programs and ask them if there's a minimum GPA requirement for admission, or if they have any advice. Otherwise just (like me) apply for a bunch of programs and hope for the best after strengthening your profile from different angles (maths courses, programming courses/experience, work experience, good essays and recommendation letters).

 

[jelquant]

I had a BS in applied maths with 3.4 GPA (if scaled to 4) and an MS in maths with 2.8 GPA. I got admitted to some top 10-15 programs and one top 5 (Columbia), also got an interview from Princeton. If you're really worried you could probably email the admissions offices from some programs and ask them if there's a minimum GPA requirement for admission, or if they have any advice. Otherwise just (like me) apply for a bunch of programs and hope for the best after strengthening your profile from different angles (maths courses, programming courses/experience, work experience, good essays and recommendation letters).

How many programs did you apply? 5-10？

 

[WZhang]

I am sorry to hear that... If you have compsci skill i think it is still easy to find a job these days?
Where are you thinking about applying to for MFE?

Yeah I was planning to apply for MFE. I have tons of research experience during school and always wanted to apply to MFE school. I took the GRE and did really well. I went to Stonybrook however.

 

[noether-skolem]

How many programs did you apply? 5-10？

Planned to apply to 8 of them, but only went through with 6. Withdrew my applications to two because I got my results from Columbia quite early.

 

[jelquant]

Planned to apply to 8 of them, but only went through with 6. Withdrew my applications to two because I got my results from Columbia quite early.

Thanks for the info! It is helpful!

 

[dr.strangelove]

My undergrad is in Finance (small relatively unknown private school, 3.5 GPA)... Looking into these programs, been working ~1.5 years in financial services.

Are MFE and Quant Finance masters possible stepping-stone programs to Ph.D. in Finance? If so I see tremendous upside in industry potential for a salary while keeping the door open for a Ph.D. to do research on banking & financial institutions, corporate finance, etc. Any info would be great.