Baruch College's Financial Engineering MS Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the acceptance rate for this program?
A: The admission rate for Fall 2007 admission was 14%. For more information, see the Admission Stats page.

Q: What is sufficient fund I have to show on my financial statements to obtain my I-20 from Baruch International Student Service?
A: As stated on their website, you will need to show available fund of at least $57,800. For more information, please see ISSC website

Q: Are there any loans available to international students ?
A: According to ISSC website, there are several loans that international students can apply. A detailed listing is available here

Q: How many students do you admit in your program?
A: We do not have a quota for admission, and we do not have a quota for enrolled students. We admit as many students as we believe have a good chance of being successful in the program, meaning that they will graduate from the program and find a job in the financial industry. The enrollment numbers might vary from year to year; see the Admission Stats page for more details.

Q: I would like to know what GRE or GMAT scores are you requiring or looking for?
A: The the test scores and GPAs of the students admitted into the program in previous years can be found on the Admission Stats page. Note that we look at every application as a complete package, which includes not only the quantifiable parts, such as the GPA and the test scores, but also the Personal Essay, the letters of recommendation, and other general considerations, such as relevant work experience and the strength of the mathematical and C++ programming background of the applicant.

Q: Do you accept both GRE and GMAT scores?
A: Yes, we do. However, we prefer you take the GRE, if you did not take the GMAT just yet.

Q: I am a full-time employee in a big New York investment bank, how long would I have to complete the program or is there no time limit?
A: We encourage our students to graduate as fast as possible. Usually, part-time students graduate in five semesters. The time limit within CUNY is five academic years since the semester you started the program.

Q: What prerequisites do you require for admission into your program?
A: Two semesters of Calculus, one semester of Probability, one semester of Linear Algebra, programming knowledge (preferably C++), as demonstrated by one undergraduate class, having a certificate degree, or work experience, and knowledge of Finance, as demonstrated by one undergraduate class or work experience.

Q: Can I still apply for admission, even if I do not fulfill all the prerequisites?
A: Yes. When evaluating the applications, we look for candidates who are able to successfully complete the program. If you lack in any of the prerequisite areas, but we believe that you are otherwise a good candidate for admission, several options are available to you before starting the program in September: you can take undergraduate level courses in these areas (either at Baruch, or at other schools) during the academic year before the target enrollment date, or you can take some of the refresher courses offered by our department during summer. For more details, see the Refresher Courses page.

Q: What are the refresher courses?
A: Some applicants may be admitted even though their background is not as strong as needed in certain areas, as long as they are deemed to have the potential of being successful in the program. To bring them up to speed in all areas, they will be required to take some refresher courses before the start of the program. This year, we will offer refresher courses in C++, Advanced Calculus, Probability, and Linear Algebra. These courses will focus on topics to be examined in greater detail in the program, and will cover a number of challenging financial applications. The refresher courses are taught by faculty who teach the graduate courses in our program. For more details, see the Refresher Courses page.

Q: Do you have Spring admission into your program?
A: No, for the following reason: any incoming student takes at least one of the following two core math courses in the first semester of study: either MTH 9821 Numerical Linear Algebra or MTH 9831 Real Analysis and Probability. But these two courses are only offered in the Fall.

Q: Where can I find more information about your program?
A: You should visit QuantNetwork Website at www.quantnet.org. It is the official website for students in our program. We strongly encourage you to ask questions on the forum. We strongly recommend prospective students to take a look at Baruch wiki entry on Quantnet and its extensive list of questions, answers.

The Baruch wiki is at www.quantnet.org/wiki/Baruch