University of California, Berkeley - Master of Financial Engineering

UCB MFE UCB MFE Admission Discussion


  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
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  • 2025  Enrolled mr_spectre has a tracker for this program.
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got a mail yesterday mentioning that they are going ahead with the admission, on condition of an interview. What are some Frequently Asked Questions for the MFE interview? my profile is one of a software engineer, with a little financial exposure.
 
  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
It will depend on who interviews you. It can be technical if an alumni interviews you. Otherwise, it will be behavior (why UCB MFE, career goals, etc).
Make sure to go over your resume well and can answer anything you put on it.
 
  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
According to the latest review, UCB MFE will announce a new director soon. Some big name that will make the program better.
Unsure if the latest review posted today referred to the new program director. No announcement has been made so lot of guessing.

Screenshot 2025-01-17 at 1.12.29 PM.webp
 
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Unsure if the latest review posted today referred to the new program director. No announcement has been made so lot of guessing.

View attachment 55569
This is not referring to the new program director. New program director seems great so far, has a great background in the industry, and I assume they will make some public announcement on it soon. We met the new director for the first time this week. I think the new incoming batch will be in much better hands with the new executive director, versus our time with virtually no director or support at all haha.

In this review, the mention in this review about how someone was just hired I believe is referring to a new career service person that was also recently hired (not our new director).
 
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Hi everyone,

Is there a whatsapp group for people joining in the batch of 2026? Want someone to send me the link of the group if it exists. Looking forward to connecting!
 
  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
There is a review posted today that I don't think belong. The reviewer is not a student in the program and everything seems hearsay at best.
Given the poster just signed up to post this, I deleted the review and copy what he posted here.

Headline Cheating in MFEs
Class of 2026
I was recently admitted to UC Berkeley's MFE program for the class of 2026, but I also had the option to attend MIT's MFin program.

Currently, I'm interviewing for quant trading roles at firms like Belvedere, Geneva, and Optiver. During these interviews, multiple firms mentioned that cheating has become widespread in MFE programs. One even cited an example of an MIT MFin graduate who allegedly used GPT to secure a role at SIG.

The reason I'm sharing this is that, during these discussions, I was also told that the valedictorian of the MFE 2024 class was caught cheating, and the matter was reported to the Executive Director.

This raises serious concerns about the level of supervision during exams in these programs.
 
  • lindak has no tracker for this program.
My name is Linda Kreitzman and this is my response to the person who posted on Quantnet that "Former ED Linda kept begging alumni to give the class some jobs (clearly she did not trust this new ED) - I hope this will help me and other people (80% still got 0 offer)."

To you, let me say this: you are attributing to me a quote I've never said.This is not acceptable and I ask that you formally and immediately apologize and remove part of that post where you mention me. Finance and ethics go together. And this is why I am responding to your post- that you learn to be ethical.

Now, I work successfully with the new ED whom I value tremendously. I have now returned to the MFE for the time being to help place the students and placement is not at 20 percent. In fact, I know several students are sitting on offers right now and I am waiting for them to confirm their offer formally. Exaggeration is a tool used by disgruntled individuals who prefer to look at reasons why they are not placed rather than look at their own failures and personal character which, incidentally, weighs heavily on firms' decisions to hire someone. How do I know that? Because I am an expert when it comes to placing students in the world at any level and at ANY firm where I have developed close relationships with industry professionals, and not just my former students, those who hired them, etc. Quant skills only don't get you to the finish line. Character does.

Last but not least, no one can build a career as successful as mine through begging. Begging is not my practice; it would not have worked or work now when it comes to placement. As I write to you, I just notified an MFE26 that he is in the running for a second round of interviews at a HF for an internship - and he has yet to start the program at the end of March. Tackling/placing two classes at the same time is what we do at Berkeley. A program that attracts the very best. And those who succeed are those who are ethical, hard working, those I have loved to help place and who will always have my help and attention, care, and respect.

Linda Kreitzman
Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member @UCB, MFE Program
Senior Adviser @Avant Protocol & Terra-Invest
Adviser to multiple startups in the US, France, LATAM & MENA region
 
  • sixu has no tracker for this program.
My name is Linda Kreitzman and this is my response to the person who posted on Quantnet that "Former ED Linda kept begging alumni to give the class some jobs (clearly she did not trust this new ED) - I hope this will help me and other people (80% still got 0 offer)."

To you, let me say this: you are attributing to me a quote I've never said.This is not acceptable and I ask that you formally and immediately apologize and remove part of that post where you mention me. Finance and ethics go together. And this is why I am responding to your post- that you learn to be ethical.

Now, I work successfully with the new ED whom I value tremendously. I have now returned to the MFE for the time being to help place the students and placement is not at 20 percent. In fact, I know several students are sitting on offers right now and I am waiting for them to confirm their offer formally. Exaggeration is a tool used by disgruntled individuals who prefer to look at reasons why they are not placed rather than look at their own failures and personal character which, incidentally, weighs heavily on firms' decisions to hire someone. How do I know that? Because I am an expert when it comes to placing students in the world at any level and at ANY firm where I have developed close relationships with industry professionals, and not just my former students, those who hired them, etc. Quant skills only don't get you to the finish line. Character does.

Last but not least, no one can build a career as successful as mine through begging. Begging is not my practice; it would not have worked or work now when it comes to placement. As I write to you, I just notified an MFE26 that he is in So, up to now, what exactly is the employment rate of this project?he running for a second round of interviews at a HF for an internship - and he has yet to start the program at the end of March. Tackling/placing two classes at the same time is what we do at Berkeley. A program that attracts the very best. And those who succeed are those who are ethical, hard working, those I have loved to help place and who will always have my help and attention, care, and respect.

Linda Kreitzman
Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member @UCB, MFE Program
Senior Adviser @Avant Protocol & Terra-Invest
Adviser to multiple startups in the US, France, LATAM & MENA region
So, up to now, what exactly is the placement of this project?
 
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  • 2026  Waitlisted asdfghjk has a tracker for this program.
Hi everyone,

I got waitlist today (interviewed 3 days ago) anyone being admitted after waitlist and what steps you take?
 
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Hi everyone,

Just got a technical interview for Round 1, can someone who did one recently let me know what to expect? Particularly should I expect a traditional Leetcode style technical interview or more finance+brainteasers kind of interview?

Thanks a lot!
 
  • 2026  Enrolled Haxor has a tracker for this program.
Hi everyone,

Is there a whatsapp group for people joining in the batch of 2026? Want someone to send me the link of the group if it exists. Looking forward to connecting!
Wanted to add onto this and ask if there are any groups. For reference, I applied 1/14 and got admitted 2/14.

Look forward to meeting new people!
 
  • Andy Nguyen is an Administrator
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