Non-target school

[micmie]

Hey guys. I am currently at a non-target school. I am doing very well, lots of ECs, good GPA, lots of internships, etc. I was wondering if the fact that I am going to a non-target is a bad thing for MSFE recruiting, or whether it does not really matter that much. If it isn't a good thing, should I transfer? I'll only be able to do about 1 major and a minor and my ECs will probably suffer since I won't be able to become an officer right away. What do you guys think?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

MFE admission is all about checking off all the requirements and standing out among the thousand plus applicants, just like finding a job.
How exactly you will do that, there is no formula as there are numerous factors involved. Going to a non-target is not a hindrance, just as Wall Street is made up of people from various educational background.
The idea of "non-target" is irrelevance as how exactly you define "target". It is in the eye of the beholders, in this case, the people who read your application.

 

[micmie]

Thanks a lot for the response!
You said that there are thousands of applicants. I thought that these programs only get about 200-400 applicants a year. Has admissions really grown that much?
Also who do you think is the ideal "target" for a FE program's admission committee? I understand that they seek quantitative-type people, but is there anything else I should be aware of?
I am a math, econ (honors with math emphasis) and french major, with a cs minor, which is think is a pretty quantitative set, but is there anything else I should be concerned about?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Several programs have passed the 1,000 mark in recent years
https://www.quantnet.com/resources/admission-statistics-from-mfe-programs.51/

As for the type of applicants who got in, your best bet is to look at our Tracker because it's the most accurate data-driven picture you can get across the board.