Start early. Submitting a grad school application takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will it take a day to complete your application. Plan accordingly.
Know your 'why'. Why you want to get an MFE degree –
Know your 'why'. Why you want to get an MFE degree –
- Going to grad school is a big decision. It’s expensive and if you’re already working, it can be hard to go back to school when you’re making money.
- Applying to grad school because you’re not sure what to do next (so might as well just go to Grad School) often leads to unmotivated applications and subsequently poor results.
- More often than not, there comes a time in your career when you realize you’re missing a certain skill set or feel like you need a push for that next step. That moment you realize WHY you want to get an MFE degree is crucial, and the very moment it ‘clicks’ will help you align your application with your future career goals. This authenticity will be apparent to the admissions committee and will help you craft a winning application.
- Tell your story – The essays are a great opportunity for you to tell your story the way you’d like it to be told. You could be working on revolutionary financial products with the best in the business, but if you fail to properly tell your story, you won’t get far. Use every word carefully. Tell them your 'why', your 'how'. Put data metrics in to give your audience some sense of measure (for example: Instead of saying “Worked at a lemonade stand”, say “Worked at a lemonade stand with 5 team members. Increased sales by 15% over a 6-month period”). It goes without saying that any grammatical errors or typos will not be tolerated. You’re applying to study at one of the foremost business schools in the world. So, naturally, there’s no place for typos or grammatical errors. Proofread everything 10 times, and then proofread again.
- The admissions committee goes to great lengths to admit students with diverse backgrounds which creates an atmosphere of different perspectives and overall, a more well-rounded learning experience. Being yourself helps them see how you’ll fit in this larger picture. The admissions committee sees hundreds of applicants every year. What would make yours special? The essays are your opportunity to do just that. Tell them what you’ll bring to the classroom, tell them how your experiences have shaped you, how your aspirations align with what the MFE program offers, and your 'why'. Be precise and to the point. 500/750 words are not a lot, so make sure you use every word with precision.
- We all know that recommendation letters hold significant weightage in the admissions criteria. So, many people tend to go to the more senior people in their organization asking for recommendations, thinking that it’ll have more impact. That’s the wrong way to think about it. The best recommendations are given by people you worked a lot with, and those who know you well. They can provide better insights into your skills and overall strengths. Given the quantitative nature of the MFE program, it’s best to choose people who can highlight your contributions effectively with an emphasis on quantitative skills and analytical strengths and a focus on teamwork.
- Try and have breadth in your recommenders. That is – all else being equal, better to ask people who worked with you on different projects than similar ones. This will help your letters paint a more holistic and comprehensive picture of you to the admissions committee.
- Genuine recommendations from people who you’ve worked closely with will automatically stand out.
- Dress formal. Be confident, and most importantly, be yourself. If you don’t have an answer to a question, that’s fine. Don’t panic. Try and talk about how you’re thinking about the problem, and where you’re getting stuck. That’s totally fine. At least they can see how you’re approaching the problem.
- Smile – it’s free. Use it.
