I. Professional background
In addition to people with backgrounds in finance, mathematics, economics, statistics and econometrics, people in other fields such as computer, physics, chemistry and engineering are also very popular applicants. What about here? Change majors? Among them, students with engineering background account for nearly half.
Second, mathematical ability.
The master of financial engineering in the United States requires applicants to have a good mathematical background. If they are not math majors, they are required to do well in some math courses. Summarize the situation of all financial mathematics majors in the United States. These courses generally include calculus (especially multivariate calculus), probability statistics, linear algebra (including eigenvalues and eigenvectors), differential equations (ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations are very important), probability statistics and numerical methods. If some course applicants have not studied the courses required by the school, they can make up these courses before studying professional courses, and then study professionally.
Other requirements related to mathematics are: the quantification of GRE is better, some require more than 700 points, and some schools with higher rankings require more than 90% of the GRE mathematics part. Purdue University, University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University have very high requirements for mathematics, especially for students from mathematics background, and even require applicants to submit GRE math scores.
In addition, if the applicant has had internship experience in statistics, it will also become a part of strengthening the mathematical background; If you have participated in a mathematical model contest and won an award, it is also very influential.
Third, computer ability.
Computer technology is an important aspect that many applicants who change majors can express themselves.
In most cases, American applicants for the Master of Financial Engineering must have a certain C language programming foundation. Others that are beneficial to the application include C++, Fortran, Pascal, JAVA, VBA, and mathematical software Matlab, Mathematica, Mathcad and other specialized courses such as Cornell University pay more attention to computer technology and computer simulation. Java is the most widely used programming language. Columbia University, on the other hand, has a soft spot for UNIX operating system.
Fourth, the economic and financial knowledge base
The application requirements of financial mathematics do not put the financial knowledge base as a very rigid requirement in the web page information, but as an applicant, if you can't accumulate financial knowledge and know nothing about the content of financial mathematics, it will inevitably affect the tendency to make application materials and the application results.
Microeconomics, accounting principles, and other introductory courses in finance are required reading. If we can establish corresponding mathematical analysis models (such as option pricing model) for financial research objects according to the knowledge we have learned, it will be a convincing proof of professional ability and show strong interest in financial markets, tools and institutions.
In addition to theoretical knowledge and research papers, it is also very good for applicants of the American Master of Financial Engineering to have internship experience related to financial analysis.
Through the above interpretation of the four abilities required to apply for a master's degree in financial engineering in the United States, I believe that many students who intend to apply for a master's degree in financial engineering in the United States can refer to the above information and make preparations and plans for applying for graduate students in the United States in advance.