Princeton Bendheim Inquiries

<p>Dear all,</p>

<p>I am an international who is going to be a rising freshmen at Yale or UC Berkeley. I plan to pursue my postgraduate education in Princeton Bendheim (Masters in Finance program). I plan to major in Economics, would this be suitable to apply for the aforementioned program?</p>

<p>Which school do you think would put me in a better position when I apply to Princeton? (Yale v. Berkeley?)</p>

<p>What advice would you give to a rising freshmen in order to prepare himself to be a competitive applicant at Princeton? (I know about GMAT, but other than that, I’m rather clueless…)</p>

<p>The requirements page for the programme says that economics is a good major to take in preparation. Perhaps this and the “how to apply” page can be of use to you?
[Requirements</a> - Bendheim Center for Finance - Princeton University](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/bcf/graduate/requirements/]Requirements”>http://www.princeton.edu/bcf/graduate/requirements/)</p>

<p>Here is some useful information I got from the FAQ:</p>

<p>"What prerequisite knowledge is required?
At a minimum, we expect applicants to be familiar in mathematics with linear algebra, multivariable calculus, differential equations and with probability and statistics at the level of an intermediate undergraduate course. In addition, we offer incoming MFin students a two-week refresher course in mathematics and probability prior to the beginning of classes in the Fall semester. This course is required.</p>

<p>How about work experience?
While the program does not require formal work experience as a requirement for admission, prior work experience provides an edge in this very competitive job market and more context for studies while in our program. At a minimum, we expect applicants to have completed one or more internships (for instance over the summer while in college).</p>

<p>What are the typical ranges of majors in college for admitted students?
Typical undergraduate degrees include applied mathematics, economics, finance, engineering, physics, and computer science, but we have in the past admitted strong candidates with any undergraduate major. A graduate degree in any of these areas is a plus, but is not necessary</p>

<p>What courses should I take as a future applicant?
A solid math background is required, see the prerequisite knowledge listed below. Many times, we are asked to recommend specific courses for a potential applicant to take in order to fortify an admission application. We cannot make specific course recommendations, as the curriculum varies widely from one undergraduate institution to the next. While reviewing an application, the Admissions Committee does not base its decision on any one factor. The whole application is taken into account. The committee will look at the degree of difficulty of the courses you have taken as well as the grades for your courses. The committee also looks for strong letters of recommendation from your professors who can attest to the type of student you are and can speak to your potential in graduate program.</p>

<p>What can I do to improve my chances for admission to the program?
As we also note later in this FAQ, the strongest candidates for admission to the Master in Finance program have a breadth of strengths. At the minimum, their test scores and grades are exceptional, their personal statements and recommendations are excellent, and their language skills topnotch. But what sets apart the strongest candidates from the rest is a passion for finance, strong communication skills, and in many cases prior work experience in the finance industry. Other helpful experiences might include internships in finance and/or previous work experience in areas such as engineering and technology. We have also found that candidates with Master’s and PhDs in the areas of engineering, mathematics and the sciences have been well-prepared for our program."</p>

<p>I hope this helps.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>

<p>From what I gather, it is <em>relatively unlikely</em> for them to admit fresh graduates as compared to people with working experience - however, I would like to immediately enter MFin upon getting my Bachelor’s degree. Is there any way to go about this - i.e. internships or something?</p>

<p>Many seniors told me that Yale is definitely a better choice.</p>

<p>I would say Yale because of the general reputation, smaller classes, and highly regarded economics program. Also, I think work experience is helpful - not four to five years as with an MBA though, but one to two years in my opinion. This is completely guesswork on my part.</p>