Match Me Please! [3.3 UW, 1360 SAT super score, math/econ]

idk this is kinda making me VERY nervous right now, i really think those grades are holding me back? my sat too? man I tried so hard studying for it, i literally just studied and studied and my best is a 1360 super score

Hi @TheRealMango,

I saw that you intend to pursue quant finance at Stevens. I had not heard about the Stevens program, so I looked at its description. And on the Stevens page, I found the following:

Additionally, the Stevens QF program has been accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. Universities with this recognition incorporate at least 70 percent of the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), making them well positioned to sit for the CFA exams.

The reason I am highlighting this is because there are two types of quant firms: those that don’t care about applicants having finance knowledge, and those that do. Stevens QF program is directed towards companies where candidates are expected to know a great deal about finance.

I mentioned this briefly in my detailed thread.

In summary, Stevens is focusing on quant roles like those in Fidelity or Wellington. People certainly have fulfilling careers in companies like those, and I encourage you to dig into where Stevens graduates end up.

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It’s ok - your record. I just want to understand it.

Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.

There are no dream schools. All have bad profs, bad roomies, bad food, bad whatever.

There’s hundreds where you can excel.

So take the pressure off yourself.

Question - why wouldn’t you be happy at Pitt? What don’t you like about it.

If you tell us, we can maybe remove others like it.

What school do you like most and why?

There will be a like school with easier admissions.

There’s no reason to over stress - it’s just a question of building your list properly - and you can do that with plenty of time.

There is nothing holding you back. Your record is your record and there are plenty of schools that would love to have you.

But you have to open your mind to love to have them too.

No reason to apply to Pitt - you don’t want it.

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thanks

Take a deep breath.

Pitt is your only option if that’s the only place you get into.

You have tons of time to find affordable, achievable schools - and to apply.

What are your preferences ?

Size - Pitt is larger or smaller?

Environment? Pitt is in a city. Others are suburban or rural.

Weather - most yours are in the Northeast - is that a must or are you open to other places?

Do you want big time sports or not really

What’s your budget - you have schools at $80K - so you can afford anything? Your parents will pay?

No reason to be panicked - let’s find you some schools you might like and go from there. You have lots of time.

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I will look into this

I mean, its more about prestige im looking at, idk everyone I know go to these top universitys, top schools and I dont want to be the guy going to pitt, idk I really like some of the schools on my list and if I cant get in idk man. you dont think like some of those schools are like targets?

Prestige in who’s eye? And what makes it prestigous?

Guess what - there are failures from the Ivies and successes who didn’t even go to college - in most every industry.

So if you don’t like Pitt based on lack of prestige, then you don’t like any school you are applying - or maybe IU because Pitt is as well thought of as any on your list.

So you need to change your mindset.

Your record is your record. You can’t change it. Embrace it. Love it. Get to where you go - and kick butt - in the class and outside the class.

People choose safeties each and every day for a variety of reasons. My son chose his safety over a top school so he could have his own dorm room. My daughter simply fell in love with her college.

You are right - a 3.3 UW with a 1360 isn’t going to get you into what I assume you deem as prestigious.

But why care?

You have a lot of value to add - and someone is going to love having you - and then take advantage like my kids have.

Arizona State is on the feeder list but they have a hard to get into program called IBIS. I bet if you google every school name you listed + linkedin+ investment banking or Quant Finance - or whatever you are after - you will find names.

Who are you trying to impress with a name?

I can’t tell you that you’ll get into Harvard or IU Kelley (you will get into IU non-Kelley) or Wesleyan or Vassar.

But I will tell you that ultimately, you will make your success.

I can also already tell - you can be your own worst enemy with all the pressure you seem to put on yourself.

Your 3.3 and 1360 aren’t changing.

So let’s find the right school for you.

I mentioned Charleston - my daughter turned down feeder W&L and others like UF, UMD, American, etc. Her friend there turned down Penn, Rice, and Vandy.

The world isn’t as black and white - no one would turn down “prestigious” for non prestigious - or only prestigious is successful.

I don’t know if you will be successful in life or not. But I know ,if you bust tail and represent yourself well, you’ve got great odds!! I believe in you - and it has zero to do with the school name you attend.

So snap out of this trance - it doesn’t matter why you have a 3.3/1360, that’s what you have.

So embrace it and let’s find the right school.

So what didn’t you like about the Pitt campus (you just said you didn’t like it) - tell us more - maybe Miami Ohio (which is a beautiful campus, sort of like a large LAC with a fantastic b school) - it’s more rural, about an hour from Cincninnati. Maybe a school like that fill fit - it’s name impresses EVERYONE.

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I mean, I just want to go to a good school that has a reputable program, helps me find internships and helps me land a good job out of school, I want to go for my masters in something maybe statistics math or fintech idk yet but yea this sounds bad but i just want to go to a school with a low acceptance rate, idk

Some universities that are considered “prestigious” are also stressful. Admittedly I am largely thinking of schools that are not an option with your GPA and SAT scores. However, the same issue is one to keep in mind in general.

As one example, I remember a friend who was near (or probably at) the top in his high school in math, had 800 on the math SAT, went to MIT, and dropped out during his freshman year. I do not remember whether he made it to the Christmas/New Year’s break, but he did drop out before the end of the first year. I still remember being shocked when he told us he was leaving and going home. I think that he could do the work, but couldn’t handle the stress. He probably would have been better served to attend almost any university at all other than MIT (or Caltech, which is similar in terms of stress).

Pitt is quite a good university.

My biggest concern here is that I do not see a safety on your list. However, I am also not sure what your unweighted GPA is by year of high school, which is information that could be helpful. My understanding is that your junior year was quite good, which should help you quite a bit.

I am thinking that you might want to apply to some more of the public universities in-state. My understanding is that New Jersey has quite a few very good public universities.

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Tell us what you want in a school:

  1. Helps me land internships - all will try but none actually do this - you do this.

  2. Helps me land a good job out of school - that’s again on you. I put this stat on another thread - the top Electrical/Computer engineering school is UC Berkeley - yet 24% from last year couldn’t find a job. There’s no guarantees.

  3. Masters - put it away for now - let’s get you to a good school for you - and all will prepare you for a top university for Masters
where you go for undergrad will have little to do for your Masters. And your interests may change by then. You will work for a few years before you go for a Masters.

Low acceptance rate doesn’t = better. Sorry.

It’s time to deal with your reality - and your reality is a GPA that is a bit lower and a very good SAT - but very good for certain schools.

I promise, wher eyou go you can and will be challenged if you want to be and you will be far from the most accomplished student there.

Prestige or a low rate doesn’t bring happiness. You will be somewhere four years, day after day - so I’m trying to help you find a school that will be a good fit for you - but you’re not answering the questions.

If we know what you like, we can help. All we know if you don’t like Pitt - but we don’t know why.

Help us help you - and put the prestige and ego aside. It’s not going to help you.

I have NJIT and Drexel as my safteys I just didn’t put it on here because I was confident of getting in those schools

I want a school that would help me land internships and help me land a good job out of school those are my main things so far

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Read my last post please - that doesn’t exist. Not even Drexel and co ops. Not at any school you didn’t apply to that you think is prestigious!!

Drexel is a very good school - can you afford $80K plus? I agree you’re likely but depending on how they weight GPA, yours might be a bit low.

NJIT - a bit tougher - but I’d expect an in at both but not assured - I’ll go likely.

Look at the SUNY list.

And tell us more about what you seek. Drexel is very urban, moreso than Pitt. NJIT is too - so that’s what you want - uber urban?

You’re buying into things (assurances) that don’t exist - sorry.

Look at VCU.

Thanks I will look into it

As per UMD’s CDS, a 1360 SAT score is well below their 25th percentile, and only 0.9% of enrolled students had a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49. So I would consider it a reach, possibly a high reach.

I think Stevens is a much better bet.

@TheRealMango, what is your home state? Sorry if I missed it in this long thread.

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Frankly, your grades and SAT score are not high enough to chase prestige. You need to add more safety schools. Pitt is rolling admission and has been accepting kids for months. Most of the acceptances I have seen have higher GPA’s so you need to apply ASAP. Even Delaware’s lower 25% GPA is a 3.85. I think Penn State UP is highly unlikely, as their average GPA is 3.67. Where are you geographically and how far are you willing to travel? U of South Carolina has an excellent business school, though they have become increasingly competitive. Your SAT score may possibly help you make it in. Maybe Rowan in NJ. I think you need to add at least 2 solid true safety schools just as a back-up and hope for the best.

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I mis-spoke. Sorry - Pitt and U Del. UMD isn’t happening.

I’m guessing U Del happens (likely, not safety) so I hope OP likes it but he seems like like urban hence I mentioned VCU- but likely won’t be merit and will have to decide if it’s worth high $50s vs. in state. U of SC was another good suggestion but a reach. College of Charleston is very urban and realistic.

Anyone know of other urban schools or have a sense of NJIT and Drexel for this student - both are urban, Drexel for sure

But Pitt is a wasted app and should be replaced as he doesn’t like. NJ is the home I believe so a Rowan, Ramapo, Stockton, whatever - should be on the list. NJIT is.

I’ll correct.

Thanks for pointing out.

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Deep breaths. Your high school record shows me that you have what it takes to be academically successful in college. As @tsbna44 has indicated, you can achieve successful outcomes out of many places. Much will depend on how much you seek out opportunities to parlay into additional opportunities.

For clarity, have you taken two years or three years of French? For some colleges, that can make a difference in admissions. You want to make sure that you have met the course requirements for any college you apply to, and preferably the recommended course expectations as well. Additionally, how many times did you take the SAT?

Also, which schools on your list would you be happy to attend and which would you be unhappy to attend? You’ve already said that you’d be unhappy to attend Pitt, so it doesn’t make much sense for you to apply unless your feelings about the school change.

You’ve mentioned a desire for internships multiple times. Are you wanting part-time internships during the school year, or are you seeking summer internships, or a preference for co-ops that are longer but that may extend out the amount of time before you graduate?

I’ll be back with some more thoughts.

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In your first post, you wrote:

Asterisk Schools No Asterisk Schools
IU-Finance Bentley-Fintech
Penn State-Econ Stevens-Quant
Rutgers-Finance Udel-Fintech
UF-Math Pitt-Finance
UIUC-Math&Teaching or Econ & Teaching Wisconsin-Madison-Finance
UMD-Math
Villanova-Math (teaching?)
Virginia Tech-Fintech

@TheRealMango, does that mean that you would not be interested in attending the non-asterisk schools? If so, why did you include them?

@MYOS1634, what is the process like for someone who enters as an econ major who would want to switch to a business major at Penn State?

@Mwfan1921, what is the process like for someone who enters as a math & teaching or Econ & teaching major who would want to switch into a business major at UIUC?

This may already be in your thread @hebegebe, but for people interested in a quant finance career, would all of OP’s proposed majors forward him toward his goal equally?